Topic: severum swimming head down

[edcamilleri]

My green severum is most of the time swimming head down, tail up (say at a 30% angle). Sometimes it swims in the normal position and does eat normally from the surface, mid or bottom of the tank. Is this a disease or normal behaviour?

Other fish in the tank (1 x severum, 2 x nicaraguense, 2 x firemouths, 2 x clown loaches, 2 x algae eaters) are normal.

This has been happening for the last 10 days. Could not find anything similar on the internet. No external signs on the body.

Thanks

[tracey]

I've noticed a similar tendancy in my 4 Green Sevs to spend a lot of time swimming with their nose towards to bottom.  If he's not showing any other sign of illness, no swelling, bloating, cloudy eyes, funny patches on his scales, then I think its relatively safe to say its just a Severum personality thing 

[edcamilleri]

thanks tracey. No I don't see any problem with him, maybe a slight bloating, but he was always like that, kind of eating too much. I reduced feeding from 3 times / day to 2 times. he is now 2 years old, and about 20cm in length.

[tracey]

He's a good size, all that extra food maybe    Might be worth keeping an eye on that slightly boated stomach.  If he's just a little fat from too much food it should either stay the same or reduce slightly now you're feeding less.  At two years old you could cut his feedings down even more.  Mine are about the same age and I only feed them once every two days.  If the bloated stomach increases in size any more, you might want to dose the tank with some Epsom Salts, just to make sure he hasn't got a touch of constipation 

[Maddy mad man]

I've noticed a similar tendancy in my 4 Green Sevs to spend a lot of time swimming with their nose towards to bottom.  If he's not showing any other sign of illness, no swelling, bloating, cloudy eyes, funny patches on his scales, then I think its relatively safe to say its just a Severum personality thing 

Yep mine do the same from time to time - i worried too the first time i saw it but now realize that its just them

[Tony]

My severum is still youngish but havent noticed it swimming like that,,,its always chasing the silver shark around and battling it "carefully" out with the caryfish (Larry the lobster as my youngest daughter named it,,its her favourite one,,you know Larry outta spongebob? lol) for its cave

[edcamilleri]

thanks for all your input.

Tracey I do feed twice/day but only all they can eat in 1-2 minutes each time. If this is still a lot please tell me so that I will reduce. I do like to split the food during the day. Furthermore I noticed that its feces are white or nearly transparent. If I remember right before these used to be solid and brownish. does this indicate a problem?

[tracey]

Hmmm, that could indeed indicate a problem.  The most common reason for white, stringy poop is internal parasites.  The best treatment for these is Metronidozole.  Aquarium Pharmaceuticals make a product called General Cure which is Metro in powder form that can be disolved in tank water.  If the Sev is the only fish thats showing any signs of the white poop, then you might want to isolate him in a hospital tank and treat him there.  I'm not sure what affect the Metro might have on your Clown Loaches or algae eaters.  They can be very sensitive to some medications 

How is the slight bloating in the stomach area looking at the moment?

[edcamilleri]

the bloating is still there.

clown loaches are very sensitive to treatment. I don't have a hospital tank, but if there is no other way, then I will buy one and move part of the media from existing filters.

do you think that the internal parasites may be causing him to swim at an angle?

[tracey]

It could be.  The parasites could be causing the bloating in the stomach area, which could be pressing on the swim bladder, making it difficult for him to stay totally upright, but like I said in my earlier post, I've seen my Severums swim with their heads on a downward angle as well.

[edcamilleri]

instead of medicating the tank, do you think I can start by giving them antiparasite (medicated) food first? maybe its easier on the loaches.

[tracey]

That would be a great idea, if you can get medicated food    The problem with Clown Loaches is their sensitive skin and lack of true scales, its all on the outside, so even eating bits of medicated food shouldn't cause them any problems.  You're lucky that your Sev is still eating, it can be a real trial to get some fish to eat the medicated food especially if they have an advanced case of parasites that has put them off their food.

[edcamilleri]

its still eating well. tomorrow I will buy the food. thanks for your help.

[tracey]

You're very welcome    I hope the food does the trick and he's back to normal soon.  Keep us posted on how he's doing, ok?

[Tony]

thanks for all your input.

Tracey I do feed twice/day but only all they can eat in 1-2 minutes each time. If this is still a lot please tell me so that I will reduce. I do like to split the food during the day. Furthermore I noticed that its feces are white or nearly transparent. If I remember right before these used to be solid and brownish. does this indicate a problem?

Thats a big sign of hexamita,,,personally Id mix specifically metronidazole with pre-frozen food (processed beefheart maybe) 100mg per table spoon of food. shame you havent a second tank, good investment just for a small one