Floating and Spasms

[Jacquie]

Hello,

I'm a bit worried about my Leia...She's floating and has been all day and possibly all night...

Yesterday I had changed my substrate from large stones to Play Sand.

I was careful every step of the way in re-introducing my 3 axies to their new environment. The axies were taken out for the big move and put in a large container of their original tank water, the remaining water in tank was taken out and transferred to a large container, the large rocks taken out, filter was left alone in tank (no repositioning or fiddling was needed), rock substrate taken out and replaced with the sand. Once sand was in, I put the large rocks back in and the water.

Axies were reintroduced to their renovated home - I ensured water temperatures for the transfer between container and tank were the same. All were happy with their new home setup. But the next morning I discovered Leia floating.

When Leia started acting strange - I tested the water and parameters read as: Temp 15.8, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 40, PH 7.0 - Before the sand was introduced this reading would average as more alkaline in the range of 7.8 upwards - does sand effect PH?

Leia is eating well, she will swim down to the bottom of the tank when being fed, but when finished will float to the surface. She will also on occasion throw an odd 'spasm' or 'fit' while floating - her body contorts to the side and then she rights herself. She will also on occasion keep jumping at the surface as if trying to get out, and then will calm down and float.

I have moved her to a shallow container of water that just covers her back and she seems more relaxed. I wish I were!

I have popped her in the fridge as I'm not sure if she is trying to pass something - is the above normal behaviour for this?

I'm sorry about the epic size of post but I am stumpted as to what could be wrong with her.

Cheers Jacq.

 

[digger]

Popping her in the fridge is the best thing, she might just of got over stressed by the upheaval.
Hope she is better soon.

 

[ianclick]

Hi Jacq,

Whilst putting her in the fridge will cause her to slow down and destress it will not help if the issue is not stress or impaction.

Did you rinse your sand? Its normally a good idea to let the tank settle for a day and where did you buy the sand from? Are there any signs like diminishing gills?

 

[madeve]

I agree with Digger , she is probably just stressed and fridging is best for Leia at this time.

 

[sharelkaye]

I just added sand also a couple of days ago and gizmo my wild type seems that he can't stay down and keeps floating to the top he is still eating which is good and the temp is 65 constantly because I have a chiller to keep them cold, but the other two are fine....is this bad? Is he sick?:errr:

 

[Jacquie]

Hi Jacq,
Did you rinse your sand?

Hi Ian,

I rinsed the sand thoroughly until the the water run off was clear.

Its normally a good idea to let the tank settle for a day

A day? that part I missed, it was left to settle for four hours though before plunking them back in.

and where did you buy the sand from?

Bunnings

Are there any signs like diminishing gills?

No sign. I have forbidden my axies to even contemplate morphing on me!

 

[Jacquie]

Floating and Spasms - She's alright now

Many thanks everyone!

After a nice spell in the fridge, Leia is back in the tank.

This morning and during the night she was down the bottom where she belongs, was relaxed and looking beautiful (it's odd to sleep with a torch I know, but I had red celephane on it as not to alarm her with my inspections ).

Cheers Jacq.