Blood Parrot Fish

Question
Hello.
We recently were given 3 blood parrot fish back in January and now one of them is upside down and white.  I have read about the peas and we tried that as well as checking the water temp and changing the water.  It started floating upside down about a month ago, it started when we bought bottom feeters that we did not know were to small and the fish ate them.  All three fish got weird, this onr worse, almost like it had the ick.  Then they all got better, about two days later this one went upside down.  Its been that way as I said about a month and is now turning white. I feel bad for the little guy.  What do you think?

Thank you

Answer
Fish float upside down when Nitrites are in the water, and ammonia.


I have two suggestions to fix this.  I just went through this myself.  Even experts may have issues from time to time.  My poor clownfish...upside down!

Water changes.  At least 50% the first time, and then 25% every 3 days til he rights himself.

That is the only real cure.  You can check the tank for dead material, whether that be carcassses or food on the bottom...no food should ever hit the bottom.

If you're using a canister filter, well, that's the cause.  So many people are under the assumption they only need changed every 3 months.  They, in fact, are monthly to bi-monthly filters.  If you have saltwater...it's worse.  Every week!

The media gets full of nitrates and bacteria and well, it just filters back into the tank!

This causes the ammonia and nitrites to rise.

Happy fish-keeping.