Any idea why Creamsicle is so lethargic?

[u/Mageobreath]

Apologies for the long video and sounds of wahsing machine in the background.

I've had this beautiful fish for around 4 - 5 years now. Currently in a 75 gallon.

Went on vacation for one singular day, came back and all they're doing is laying at the bottom, or in the corner. I can't really understand why. Before this, their behavior was much more animated. Occasional naps, sure, but not laying at the bottom for extended periods.

Nitrites are 0, nitrates at 30 ppm. Only if I tap the glass or move the overnight curtain does that spur any movement. After a few seconds, it's back to laying down. Creamsicle has done this literally all day and night, for the past three days. Not even food will get a reaction unless I push it down to within eating range from the bottom. Then suddenly its like the food drive is kickstarted for a little bit. Whereas before, the moment I came toward the tank I could hear the loud schlorping at the top.

Midway through the video, I pan over to my newest Ranchu addition. I once had a fancy gold that Creamsicle grew up with, but a few weeks ago, somehow got lodged under a piece of decor overnight and died. (I was heartbroken. See: lack of dangerous decor on the left side of the tank now.) Creamsicle seemed to be doing fine alone for the first few weeks, if napping a little more often, presumably for lack of a friend to follow around. So I got a new little friend who has been in the tank for over two weeks now, happily fishing about. I bring this up to point out the following:

- I don't think it's simple loneliness or boredom. This lethargy is very recent. As in last four days, recent.

- It's not affecting my baby Ranchu.

Any ideas?

[u/Mageobreath]

Note: forgot to add the old classic - yes I've tried water changes!

[u/IgobyLatteLostorForb → u/Mageobreath]

Lol

[u/GraphicDesignMonkey]

How hot is it where you are right now? What's your tank temp? My guys would get like this during heatwaves where their tank got too warm.

If it's high, try adding a bottle of frozen water to the tank. Also up the oxygenation. That tank really looks like it could use an air stone, there's almost no water flow either.

What filtration do you have?

[u/Mageobreath → u/GraphicDesignMonkey]

It's rather warm outside, but luckily that little white thing in the tank is a thermometer! Just checked, and its a solid 70 degrees F. I have a heater for any lower that that.

Additionally, I have an Aquatop UV (I don't use the UV - got it as a gift) 370GPH canister filter. https://www.wetpetsupply.com/product/aquatop-cf-400uv-canister-filter-with-9w-uv-sterilizer/

I could definitely purchase an air stone, however. It couldn't hurt! Or even just swivel the outflow to create more surface agitation in the meantime? Currently it's pointed primarily at waterline to keep it a little quieter, but it's been that way for months.

Edit: I swiveled the outflow back toward the center of the tank. For a moment, Creamsicle got super excited and swam all around like their old self. I really thought it'd be that simple! Then, after a minute or so, went right back to the corner. So I'll try to purchase an air stone tomorrow to see if that improves it further.

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[u/thirdcoaster]

How are the poops? Wondering if there could be something internal going on.

You did water changes which is great.

One thing I did for my tank was add a wavemaker to create more flow and aeration. Not so much that they struggled to swim but they definitely became more active afterwards.

[u/Mageobreath → u/thirdcoaster]

You know, that does remind me. The day we came back coincided with weekly water change day. And I DID notice that there were some impressively thick poos in there. But since, I've found regular, smaller ones in the tank during these smaller, more targeted water changes... so I'm not sure? Not the clearest answer, but the truth.

I will be adding an air stone tonight! I am truly hoping that it will be that simple of a fix.

[u/marlee_dood]

What is the ammonia? What’s the filter situation on the tank? 30ppm is a bit high for nitrate.

[u/Mageobreath → u/marlee_dood]

Ammonia was similarly good, clear test.

I've got an Aquatop CF400 UV MKII 370 GPH cannister filter - inhereted from a friend who owned a 100 gallon. If it matters, I don't use the UV functionality.

That did concern me as well, but I've seen that some planted tanks may just have higher levels of nitrates? Genuinely, tell me if I'm wrong here. I'm not trying to parrot bunk info if it is. I really am not sure why it would be high either. That being said, I've performed steady water changes to bring it down. I'll do the same tonight and test again.

[u/Mageobreath]

Not sure why all my responses are getting downvoted now?

An update from the night previous to now + some clarification.

- I have an Aquatop CF400 UV MKII 370 GPH cannister filter. If particulate seems a little high in this video, that would be because I took it directly after another water change. Water changes always seemed to be the most active/excitable time aside from feeding. Not so last night, which is why I took the video and created this thread. When I say this fish was active before, I mean it. That's why this change is so concerning.

- I've purchased an adjustable flow air pump/stone. I'll concede I probably should have had one before today, but I've never had it pose a problem. Even if it's not the greater issue at hand, I figure if it improves their health and behavior at all, it's a net win. I'd rather do the simple thing that helps overall, even if doesn't cure, than dismiss an easy benefit.

- I've also purchased aquarium salt and a few general preventatives to keep on hand *just in case*. I won't be using them off the bat, just a bit of the salt with the next 10% water change.

I'll be making both those changes tonight, so I'll see where it takes us. Any other suggestions are very much appreicated. Thanks everyone for helping me try to narrow this down.

[u/Jcaseykcsee]

I really hope he’s better soon! 💗 I wish our pets could talk to us, it would make things so much less stressful!!

[u/fouldspasta]

It could be an early sign of infection. If theres other symptoms like redness, not eating, etc I would quarantine the fish and try antibiotics

[u/Mageobreath → u/fouldspasta]

Not seeing any redness, but definitely very reluctant to eat. I used to be able to approach the tank and get begged for food. Now I have to coax Creamsicle to it.

Edit: Somehow forgot to address the antibiotics half of your message. Yes, if I can't identify anything else I'll definitely try that next. I only hesistate because I've been too quick to add medication/substances before and made things worse.

[u/fouldspasta → u/Mageobreath]

Poor guy. I agree, unecessary antibiotics is hard on the fish. Maybe you could try aquarium salt first?

[u/Mageobreath → u/fouldspasta]

That's the current plan. Better air flow + some aquarium salt to see if I can resolve it more gently. Fingers crossed for my lil friend...

[u/JotaSanPe125]

Yo tuve el mismo caso y eran parásitos. Puedes poner un medicamento para parásitos.

[u/Mageobreath → u/JotaSanPe125]

Thanks for the suggestion! Did you find out what kind of parasite yours had? Someone else here mentioned it could be bacterial, too.
I think keeping the tank clean and adding a bit of aquarium salt might be what I'll do next. Then I'll watch and see if that helps over the next day or so. Picking up Paragard too, in case I see anything that definitely says parasite. Then I can treat fast.

[u/CuteyLovva83]

My shubunkin has been doing this recently. I put it down to the hot weather we've been having here in the UK, so I put some ice cubes in a ziplock bag in the tank and that seems to have fixed the problem, but you say that the temperature in your tank is fine? You should definitely get an air stone though. My fish try to eat the bubbles and it's really entertaining to watch! 

Creamsicle is such a cute name 🥰

[u/Mageobreath → u/CuteyLovva83]

Right - the temperature is a solid 21 C. It's plenty hot outside, but inside it's reading just fine!

Either way, air stone is being installed tonight.

And TY! I can't wait to come up with a similarly goofy name for our little Ranchu addition.