Why is my fish shaking?

Shimmying is a symptom rather than a single disease, and an indication that a fish no longer has proper control of its nerves and muscles. It occurs when fish are under severe stress, most often because of environmental problems. The classic scenario is when mollies are kept in soft or acidic water conditions.

How do you treat fish shimmy?

If your livebearer is shimmying, provide the optimal living conditions with higher pH levels from 7.0 to 8.0, warmer temperatures between 76° and 80°F, and increased mineral content. If you have soft water, minerals can be easily added with supplements such crushed coral, Wonder Shell, and Seachem Equilibrium.

How do you know if a fish is dying?

Loss of appetite. Weakness or listlessness. Loss of balance or buoyancy control, floating upside down, or 'sitting' on the tank floor (most fish are normally only slightly negatively-buoyant and it takes little effort to maintain position in the water column) Erratic/spiral swimming or shimmying.

What does a fish seizure look like?

Sometimes the fish is genetically predisposed to seizures and might even be epileptic, but most times there is a singular reason for the episode. If you notice your tropical fish moving or twitching rapidly and unintentionally with shortness of breath, then your fish might be having a seizure.

Why is my fish swimming erratically?

Fish Swimming Erratically: If your fish is swimming erratically, he could just be playing or exercising. If your fish does it this consistently and seems unhealthy, the cause may be poor water quality.

SEVERE Twitching

Why is my fish moving so fast?

Rapid Gill Movement

The gills of your fish are in constant motion as the fish breathe, but it could be a sign of illness if the gill movement becomes much faster than usual. Rapid gill movement can be a general indication of stress or it might point to a particular disease like flukes, mites, or Ich.

Can you save a dying fish?

Most dying fish can be easily revived with changes to the water. Maintaining water quality is essential to keeping your fish happy and healthy—and alive. You can buy a fish tank water testing kit at most pet stores. These tests can help you identify any problems with the water, such as high ammonia.

How do you comfort a dying fish?

A dying fish is comforted greatly by having clean, warm water along with a safe and quiet environment without bright lights or loud noises. A dying fish should also be removed from any other aggressive fish in their tank and not overfed to avoid stomach pain or discomfort.

How do I know if my fish has ammonia poisoning?

Why is my fish losing balance?

Poor water quality can result in sudden and chronic stress in fish. Stress causes disruption in regular homeostasis, which can result in negative or positive buoyancy disorders. If your fish presents with a buoyancy disorder, water quality should be checked immediately and corrected if necessary.

What is fish flashing?

Flashing is a behavior fish utilize to itch their bodies, most commonly associated with parasitic infections. Since they do not have arms or fingernails, they must use objects in their environment to scratch themselves.

Does putting a fish in the freezer revive it?

Certain species of fish do survive in frozen or near-freezing temperatures, during what is called an “overwinter” by the NOAA. They will go dormant, often burrowing into sand or hovering in large groups, and “revive” when the water warms up or thaws.

Why is my fish not moving but still alive?

The impaired buoyancy in fish is caused by a malfunction of their swim bladder. When affected by Swim Bladder Disorder fish will often lose the ability to properly swim. They will float uncontrollably to the top of the aquarium, turned upside down, while still being alive.

Can a stressed fish recover?

Aquarium fish can become stressed by any number of things ranging from poor water quality to disease to changes in tank parameters. In some cases, mild stress is something your aquarium fish can recover from but, in many cases, it is an early sign of something that can become a major problem.

Should I flush my dying fish?

I know a lot of people think that you should just flush dead fish down the toilet. Well, little ones at least. But I don't recommend this. Flushed fish can end up in local waterways.

Why is fish laying at bottom of tank?

When the water temperature inside your aquarium drops too low, your fish might lay motionless at the bottom of the tank to conserve energy. On the opposite spectrum, if the water temperature rises dangerously high, fish will stay on the bottom because that's where oxygen levels will be higher.

Should I remove dying fish from tank?

Any dead fish should be removed, as its body will quickly rot in the warm, bacteria-laden water. A corpse will pollute water, risking the health of other fish in the tank. If it died from disease the last thing you want is other fish consuming its body parts, so remove immediately.

Can salt save a dying fish?

Aquarium and Epsom salts are very beneficial to your fish. You can use any salts to clear any wastes or toxins from your fish body and revive it. These salt baths are best when the fish has overfeeding issues or mild infections. Make Epsom salt bath as recommended, and your fish will survive.

What's wrong with my fish?

Obvious physical signs, such as spots, lumps, missing scales or frayed fins are the easiest signs of sick fish. More subtle behavioral signs, such as incorrect buoyancy, listing, decreased appetite or increased respiratory effort take more experience to spot.

Why is my fish laying on its side?

Swim bladder disease is a common fish illness and it's often the reason why your betta fish is laying on its side. Swim bladder disease refers to a condition that means the swim bladder can no longer function correctly.

What does a fish in shock look like?

Some fish succumb to pH shock immediately. Others may exhibit symptoms including thrashing, darting, gasping, swimming near the water's surface and trying to jump out of the tank. Such symptoms are the same as those that indicate toxins in the water -- either cause is serious.

How do I give my fish more oxygen?

Increasing water movement is the quickest way to increase oxygen (O2) levels in a fish tank, as it allows more O2 to dissolve and carbon dioxide (CO2) to be released. This can be easily done using an air pump, performing large water changes, manually stirring the water, or placing a fan near the aquarium.

How do you know if your fish isn't getting enough oxygen?

When oxygen is critically low, fish will gasp at the surface of the water where oxygen levels are highest. You also may notice them hanging out where the filter tumbles water back into the tank. Other signs include fast breathing, lethargic behavior or swimming off-balance.

Can my fish drown?

Most fish breathe when water moves across their gills. But if the gills are damaged or water cannot move across them, the fish can suffocate. They don't technically drown, because they don't inhale the water, but they do die from a lack of oxygen.