Cory metae breathing heavy... :-(

[nj2tou]

Hey guys, I've had two corydoras metae for several months now and just last night I noticed one of them acting funny. Mostly, he (or she) seems to be breathing heavy. When I first got them, they were all over the tank, but now they mostly stay near the back of the tank, behind the plants, but will venture out to eat and swim around a bit. The seem perfectly fine, eating well, etc. The one that's breathing heavy also sat in the front of the tank, and up on a piece of wood, which is very unsual for it, especially as it's usually with the other one all the time.

My guys are in a planted, cycled Eclipse 6 with 3 otos and a betta. Everyone else is fine. The ammonia and nitrites are 0, didn't test the nitrates, the ph is around 7.4. The tank's been set up about a year and a half, maybe more. Temperature is 76-78. I do weekly partial water changes. The substrate is smooth gravel and there's a fake rock bridge along with a ton of plants in there.

I've got my hospital tank set up, in case I need to isolate him, but I'm hoping I don't have to.

Any idea what would cause heavy breathing? I've checked him out with a magnifying glass when he was up in the front of the tank, and didn't see anything unusual.

thanks for any help or advice!

[nj2tou]

Ok, guys, no replies yet, but now I'm looking at him and he's in the front of the tank, perpendicular to the gravel, up against the glass, on a piece of anacharis. I just looked at him through the magnifying glass again and it appears that the fin on his underside has some red (blood?) streaks in it. Also the gill on his left side (can't see the right at this angle) seems a bit red.

Does that sound like a bacterial infection?? I feel like I should isolate him and medicate him. What's the best med to use in this case?? I believe I have maracyn and maracyn 2 as well as maroxy. I also have the edible gel-tek drops of ampicillin and tetracycline.

Help please!

[nj2tou]

My poor little fishie! He is just not well and I feel so bad for him. He's swimming funny now and I just couldn't bear it. I put him in the quarrantine tank and added maracyn 2. I also put some sinking wafers that I soaked in the gel-tek ampicillin drops in there, but I don't know if he's eating and if he'll eat any of that. I turned the lights out and will let him be. I hope he makes it.

[OldMan]

It does not sound like he is doing well. One thing I just read is that the high end of their temperature tolerance is lower than your tank temperature. Try using the search feature and see if you can match his needs a little closer. After all, what could it hurt?

[nj2tou]

Yeah, I know about the temp, but with summer heat, it's hard to keep it cooler than that, even with the air conditioner running.

I've had him in the hospital tank for a few days now and he seems to be getting better - no thanks to you guys! LOL! j/k

I've been using Maracyn 2 and ampicillin soaked food. He's eating and not swimming funny anymore. He's in a 2.5 gal minibow and I changed half the water last night and re-dosed the meds. He really likes bloodworms and got all excited when I put some in this morning. I put more in there than I thought he'd eat and would have to suck them out, but they're all gone.

I'll keep it up for a few more days and hopefully he can go back in his real tank with the rest of his buddies soon.

[OldMan]

Congratulations on his cure. Sounds like he's recovering OK. Sorry I couldn't be more help but I seldom need to deal with illness so I don't know how.