Hi

I have a small (2'x1'x1'), fresh water, tropical fish aquarium with 11 fish: 
2 zebra danios, 1 leopard danio, 5 neon tetras and 3 cherry barbs.

The aquarium has been going since the end of september without any problems 
until this year when I noticed the leopard danio was getting very thin and 
seemed to have a problem staying down, i.e. seemed to be slightly buoyant. 
Other than that it seemed ok and I have been keeping an eye on it.  However 
within the last couple of weeks one of the cherry barbs has become *very* 
thin too and is looking bad.

Any ideas on the problem here?

Thanks for any help

Phil

Phil Butcher wrote:
> Hi
> 
> I have a small (2'x1'x1'), fresh water, tropical fish aquarium with 11 fish: 
> 2 zebra danios, 1 leopard danio, 5 neon tetras and 3 cherry barbs.
> 
> The aquarium has been going since the end of september without any problems 
> until this year when I noticed the leopard danio was getting very thin and 
> seemed to have a problem staying down, i.e. seemed to be slightly buoyant. 
> Other than that it seemed ok and I have been keeping an eye on it.  However 
> within the last couple of weeks one of the cherry barbs has become *very* 
> thin too and is looking bad.
> 
> Any ideas on the problem here?
> 
> Thanks for any help
> 
> Phil
> 
> 
Could possibly be

Quote from: http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_disease2.php - 02/02/2006

Hexamita (Hole in the Head)
Hexamita infects fish by ingestion of food and begins life in the gut. 
Infected fish will usually appear thin in the stomach and may have sores 
or ulcers around the head. A bad case looks as if someone has chiselled 
out holes in the head. It is said by some that this will cure itself by 
generally cleaning the aquarium and paying extra attention to 
cleanliness and good quality water changes. There are cures available 
from your Local fish store.

"§tudz"  wrote in message 
news:drsnj9$b8j$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
> Phil Butcher wrote:
>> Hi
>>
>> I have a small (2'x1'x1'), fresh water, tropical fish aquarium with 11 
>> fish: 2 zebra danios, 1 leopard danio, 5 neon tetras and 3 cherry barbs.
>>
>> The aquarium has been going since the end of september without any 
>> problems until this year when I noticed the leopard danio was getting 
>> very thin and seemed to have a problem staying down, i.e. seemed to be 
>> slightly buoyant. Other than that it seemed ok and I have been keeping an 
>> eye on it.  However within the last couple of weeks one of the cherry 
>> barbs has become *very* thin too and is looking bad.
>>
>> Any ideas on the problem here?
>>
>> Thanks for any help
>>
>> Phil
>>
>>
> Could possibly be
>
> Quote from: http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_disease2.php - 02/02/2006
>
> Hexamita (Hole in the Head)
> Hexamita infects fish by ingestion of food and begins life in the gut. 
> Infected fish will usually appear thin in the stomach and may have sores 
> or ulcers around the head. A bad case looks as if someone has chiselled 
> out holes in the head. It is said by some that this will cure itself by 
> generally cleaning the aquarium and paying extra attention to cleanliness 
> and good quality water changes. There are cures available from your Local 
> fish store.


I haven't noticed any sores/ulcers/holes but will keep an eye and try some 
water changes.

Thanks

Phil

In article <drr8tr$ltd$1@news.freedom2surf.net>, philbutcher@nospamf2s.com 
(Phil Butcher) wrote:

> *From:* "Phil Butcher" 
> *Date:* Wed, 1 Feb 2006 21:24:09 -0000
> 
> Hi
> 
> I have a small (2'x1'x1'), fresh water, tropical fish aquarium with 11 
> fish: 2 zebra danios, 1 leopard danio, 5 neon tetras and 3 cherry barbs.
> 
> The aquarium has been going since the end of september without any 
> problems until this year when I noticed the leopard danio was getting 
> very thin and seemed to have a problem staying down, i.e. seemed to be 
> slightly buoyant. Other than that it seemed ok and I have been keeping 
> an eye on it.  However within the last couple of weeks one of the 
> cherry barbs has become *very* thin too and is looking bad.
> 
> Any ideas on the problem here?

Could be lots of things up to and including fish TB, which is endemic in 
the far eastern imports.  It is a general sign of an infection, often due 
to poor water quality.  Step up the water changes and keep a good eye on 
the filter.  Do you have problems with algae?

I've only ever know a small fish to recover from this once, usually the 
just fade and die.  Euthanasia of the affected fish is usually 
recommended. 

Roger Sleet
Roger's Aquatic Pages http://www.sleet.plus.com

"Roger Sleet"  wrote in message 
news:memo.20060202152934.1188A@xxx.demon.co.uk...
> In article <drr8tr$ltd$1@news.freedom2surf.net>, philbutcher@nospamf2s.com
> (Phil Butcher) wrote:
>
>> *From:* "Phil Butcher" 
>> *Date:* Wed, 1 Feb 2006 21:24:09 -0000
>>
>> Hi
>>
>> I have a small (2'x1'x1'), fresh water, tropical fish aquarium with 11
>> fish: 2 zebra danios, 1 leopard danio, 5 neon tetras and 3 cherry barbs.
>>
>> The aquarium has been going since the end of september without any
>> problems until this year when I noticed the leopard danio was getting
>> very thin and seemed to have a problem staying down, i.e. seemed to be
>> slightly buoyant. Other than that it seemed ok and I have been keeping
>> an eye on it.  However within the last couple of weeks one of the
>> cherry barbs has become *very* thin too and is looking bad.
>>
>> Any ideas on the problem here?
>
> Could be lots of things up to and including fish TB, which is endemic in
> the far eastern imports.  It is a general sign of an infection, often due
> to poor water quality.  Step up the water changes and keep a good eye on
> the filter.  Do you have problems with algae?
>
> I've only ever know a small fish to recover from this once, usually the
> just fade and die.  Euthanasia of the affected fish is usually
> recommended.
>
> Roger Sleet
> Roger's Aquatic Pages http://www.sleet.plus.com

No problems with algae at all.  Water quality probably not as good as it 
could be though.  The plants in the tank are doing well even without 
feeding - I wonder if this has anything to do with poor water quality?  Will 
start a series of water changes.

Thanks

Phil