Why is my fish flipping, spinning, twisting, spiralling, tumbling, somersaulting?

Question

1 of my rosy barbs seems to think s/he is a circus act. S/he started about 2 weeks ago flipping, spinning, twisting, spiralling, tumbling, somersaulting about 90% of the time and only swimming around normally about 10% of the time. The 90% of the time s/he is acting up, it goes anywhere from a slow pirouette to a frantic kamikaze Roll of Death.

By the time my fish salesman got done laughing at the video footage, he said it looks like a neurological problem. Has anyone else had a fish develop this problem? Does anyone know what it is and if there is any cure? On one hand I hate to flush the pool little thing just because s/he flips out all the time, but then again, I also can't image going thru life with your body a constant uncontrollable whirlwind around you. I don't even know how s/he manages to consume enough food to survive, but when this started about 2 weeks ago I thought for sure death was near.

Hubby thinks we should 'put the poor thing out of its misery.'

Our own test 'scores' at home were confirmed by our sales guy -- we brought him in a water sample along with the video footage and everything is good. We alternate between the water vials-and-chemicals master test kit freshwater tests, the dip stick tests, and taking water in to our sales guy. We haven't had any water quality issues in our long time cycled 75 gallon tank, and all the other water critters, including our other 4 rosy barbs, are normal. We just have the one class clown!

Answer 1

in addition to the good answers Danielle gave, there is the possibility your fish sufferes from an internal parasite that infects the brain and spinal tissues of fish. I have seen some fish with similar symptoms to your that have such parasites and unfortunately it's untreatable and has a 100% mortality rate. It does start with "bouts" of the problem and as the parasite(s) grow(s) becomes more and more frequent until the fish cannot swim properly or eat or in anyother way control itself. Eventually it dies due to internal damage or starvation.

MM

Answer 2

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RE:
Why is my fish flipping, spinning, twisting, spiralling, tumbling, somersaulting?
1 of my rosy barbs seems to think s/he is a circus act. S/he started about 2 weeks ago flipping, spinning, twisting, spiralling, tumbling, somersaulting about 90% of the time and only swimming around normally about 10% of the time. The 90% of the time s/he is acting up, it goes anywhere from a slow...

Answer 3

It does not mean your first is normal. Water scores and internal fish organs are two separate concepts. It's more than likely a fish parasite or swim belly. And it's not eating properly if it's spinning like this. It will starve to death. May not happen right away but after time. Mince up frozen peas and feed it this so it can get some nutrition. And there's medicine u can buy and I would add stress coat to your water changes.

Answer 4

My guess, is something toxic is leeching into the water. Suspect are the ornaments. It may take many months for toxins to reach levels that will disturb the fish this way. Painted rock or ornaments do this. Also if you have pieces of holey rock will do it. Especially the orange and white swirly kind even though its labled safe for aquariums it is not. They are volcanic rocks, and we all know that inside a vocano there are toxic gasses, when the rocks are formed they lock these gasses inside, only to release them in your aquarium water. It would not affect your test kits readings. I would check however your ph and Gh and Kh. If your ph is rising and the water is still soft there lies the evidence of the problem. Ph going up usually indicates leeching since water with fish in it does not naturally act this way. Water usually goes down the ph scale on its own.
What I would do is remove any suspect ornaments, holey rock, driftwood, colored gravel, painted ornaments, or any rock that you can scratch off bits with your finger nail, like sandstone. To remove the gravel you will have to do it slowly over time since it holds your beneficial bacteria. All others just remove. Do a series of large water changes for a couple of weeks. Replace your carbon weekly for that time. Speaking of carbon, if you don't change it regularly it will after time start releasing what it has taken out of the water causing the same thing to happen to your fish. Replace your carbon monthly if you haven't been doing this. The fish may make it if you get rid of the toxins, but I wouldn't bet on it. You must make the water safe for all the other fish or they will suffer too.

Answer 5

Have you been putting Beer in the water again? :-O
First answer a good start. If, you not doing regular water changes your water may be acidic on the pH. Most pet shops can get this for free. Just get some of the water in a clean jar and take it to the pet shop.

Answer 6

my dryer wasn't working a while ago, spinning slow & making a bad noise. I had to call the dryer guy & he used a small tool like a crow bar & popped the top up & then took the front side off, reached in pulled the drum out & replaced the belt. He did it very fast & i can't remember the cost. I wanna say $75.00. I hate when things break, even if i know how to fix it , s/times i don't have the strenght because i'm a girl. good luck.

Answer 7

I have an albino catfish that does crazy things too, but maybe that's their way of playing.
He goes to the surface of the water and skips across it just like a dolphin.
As long as the fish seems healthy, and is eating, why not just leave her be?
It's entertaining if anything.

Answer 8

Although fish can suffer from various nervious conditions, it is also possiable your water quality is poor. Have you tested your water and what were the readings?

A slow nitrogen poisoning can also lead to the fish reacting in this way.

Test your water and check the ammonia and nitrate levels. If this is a problem that just started, it could be a slow poisoning of the water.

Answer 9

sounds like parasites to me...either under the scales, or attacking the nervous system...If it is scale mites, your fish is "itching." If it is internal, your fish is loosing its mind. This is not the way fish act to high or low pH or poisons...they gulp air at the top of the tank. I would get rid of the fish or at least isolate it. Try putting it in a covered bowl, add 1 tablespoon salt to water and see if it goes away. Room temperature will not hurt this fish as long as it is not subjected to thermal shock. good luck

Answer 10

Well, if this was an Oscar, I would tell you that the fish is trying to predict an earthquake, because a study in Berkley about twelve years ago, proved that this is what oscars do...don't kill it, ....fish are sensitive to vibrations under the ground...maybe change the diet you are giving her?...i wouldn't worry about the fish's 'attitude on life' LOL