Need help with my Male Agassizii

[Giant]

The male Agassizii I got a week ago doesn't look like it doing too well.
Need some advise!

It seems to be always resting either on plants (leaves) or the difusser.
Seems to have difficulty swimming straight, when it does swim, its at an angle, head up, tail down.
Also it does seem to be breathing rather fast at times.

The female that it came with is doing alright though. Swimming with the rest fending off other apistos, etc.
Have total of 5 apistos in a 3.5 feet tank.

Any advise?
Have a feeling he won't make it.

[benetay]

swim bladder problem? sounds like it. Occasionally it'll swim to the top of the tank.

I can't advise much if it's swim bladder problem.

[Giant]

Thanks benetay.

So Hoooow

Curable I hope.

Found this treatment.

IMO you could try :-
1. a water change - maybe 20-40% despite your near perfect water parameters, which has the dual advantage of reducing bacterial populations somewhat (or so we hope), and removes other TDS ie. nitrites which a bio filter does not do; and
2. add salt (aquarium or rock salt - non-iodized) at a rate of two tablespoons/ 10 gallons or tops three tbs/10 gallons;

Anyone else has some suggestions?

[benetay]

Yes try to lower the TDS, which makes the water with less total dissolved salt. But when apisto gets an illness normally it's very difficult to revert it.