I bought a huge 10'' parrot last week and he has been fine, tonight he is laying on his side up against the rocks, water chem is ok although nitrates are a little high at aroung 50 ppm, no other fish are showing symptoms, oxygen levels are fine and he only started doing this an hour or so ago, can anyone help? i did a 30% water change 2 days ago

did u move it to a smaller tank than wat it was in? . nothing that mit be piking on it ie a cat fish or larger cichalid

No i bought it last thursday and it's been in my 5 footer since then

i take it its not gasping any more than usal if not id just keep a eye on it ive had the od fish in the past thats seem to have a off day srange tho it sounds
keep us informed tho mate eh . ooo do u know its age ?. im not sure of a parrots age span

you have done what needed to be done (waterchange)

is it breathing normal? gill moving equal .....anything visably different?

its always difficult when its new stock as we dont know they history

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I did another water change and no3 is now between 5 and 10ppm on the colour chart, no improvement, gill movement normal if a little slow, i will check on him again in an hour or so, thanks for your replies, i'm just baffled, been fine for a week then boom! it's so frustrating

It happens unfortunatly

I had similar kinda thing happen. Had a Wild Caught Kitumba Frontosa, had him in a tank for a few months was fine. Moved him to another tank as the bracing bars on his tank broke . He was fine in there for 3 days then dead the next. Was eating fine, water was perfect, hadn't been attacked, no disease, just died in unexplainable cir***stances, so a £100 fish ending up in the bin . Was my most reliable tank hadn't had a death in there for since it was set up over a year ago and not one since.

Really hope your parrot doesn't end up like him.

ok, my input.....hmmmm

-- 50 Nitrate or thereabouts, not an issue

-- Would the pH have drastically changed for anyreason (i think this is big long shot, prob not even worth me asking, but some fish csn br more susceptible to this)

-- Other fish not showing symptoms indicate its very unlikely to be a parasite (although could be), but could still be a bacterial problem. If the gill movement is slow and the parrot is weak enough to be on its side, then it might be not be getting enough oxygen (due to bacterial issues) and simply doesnt havent strength to climb to surface to gulp for water

-- Any colour loss? or colour change?

-- I also find parrots can be quite "sulky" i've had parrots lay on there side sulking when i've moved them, then perk up quickly. I know its new to your tank, so just wondering if its mental health is playing up (and i am serious)

-- I would say it gets worse or the movement becomes more laboured then it sounds like he is dying, but why? If he gets worse, definiely try to move him, might just perk him up, Parrots can take some salt, might be an idea to put him in small tank, bucket, plenty of air and some salt, i cant exactly list a load of reasons why, but if he gets on his last legs, salt does have benefits i believe (if the fish some osmegulatory (sp?) distress. it can also kill/control some parasites if thats an issue.

-- Are any of his fins damaged, this is important, especially if it cannot be explained though other fish nipping them (there is therefore a bacterial problem and not necessarily fin rot)

-- Wow 10" parrot, even i feel sad! I am not saying to add meds, especially if other fish are ok, but what you got in stock med wise?

-- As we know a lot of fish (maybe all) carry potentially harmful parasites and bacteria on them, then at times of stress the fish's immune system becomes overwhelmed, so sometimes meds are required in times like this

-- Oxygen levels must be maintained at MAX level you can manage, that i am sure of

-- Does the Parrots have any brown or black spots or lumps or markings? even if they have come and gone away, have you noticed anything?

-- What the water temp, ensuring its 76-78 region may not cure, but could help judging by symptoms and this wont affect other fish (having slightly cooler temp)

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Thanks Lex, he didn't make it, even stranger, the 8'' one i got at the same time died in the night too. She was fine, no signs of anything with her, i'm gutted.

The tank has some juvinike blackbelts and other parrots and my turtle, all other fish are thriving and water is perfect, my ph hasn't alterted but i'm wondering if the shop ph was different and they just haven't acclimatised? i guess i'm grasping at straws now.

going back to the lfs today and see what they think, they had a tank full of these huge parrots so i willa sk if they have had any probs.

they were the most beautiful parrots i have ever seen, bright yellow faces with bright pink bodies and pink edges to the fins, never seen them so nice before.

Sooo annoying!
thank s for all your help guys.

sorry to hear that

ask the LFS how long they have had them in,

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