Used Melafix for mouth rot and havin trouble please help

T

trkyhunter91

3yrs and still learning!!!
Apr 18, 2006
55
0
0
48
Ohio
Hi, thanks for at least looking I will get to it maybe you can help. I have a 29 gallon tank with 1 plecko, 1 clown loach, 2 neons at the moment, 3zebra danios, 2 other danios i dont remember names, and 3 tetras with red tipped tails and light colored body. This is a 3yr old tank so it is cycled. Tested the water at lps and they said all was great though they didnt tell me the readings. Most of my danios and tetras have a little white cotton fungus on mouths and the one that started it my OLD neon is missin his upper jaw, has a crooked body, and for 3 months has been a dark color then he got the fungus.
Yesterday I treated my tank with 2 teaspoons of Melafix cause I was told it was really good, but I'm afraid of meds reactions so I didnt do the full dose. My last clown loach died from a water change and salt so I 'm worried about it.
Anyways tonight I was looking and my neons and some danios are losing their color. And they are gasping for air , kinda like labored breathing. Some are now swimming up and down the side of the tank as if stressed out. My loach is not coming out of his cave much. Only to eat in the mornings now and at night sometimes. The one that is the sickest is the only one showing improvement. Though he has no color he seems to be a bit happier.
Didnt know what to do so I put the carbon filter back in till someone could give me some advice. I dont want to hurt them worse.
They have only had one treatment so far. Will these reactions go away as time progresses or are they trying to tell me to stop the med? Thanks. ANy info will greatly be appreciated. Shannon
 
what are your water parameters: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate

what is your water change routine: how much, how often?
 
In order for melafix to work right you have to treat them with it for 7 days after that if they still don't look good do a big water change and keep treating. I would take the loach out if you have another tank because most bottom feeders, loaches and plecos don't do well with meds. Either way i would treat them the full amount for 7 days.
 
the one that started it my OLD neon is missin his upper jaw, has a crooked body,

Has he always been crooked or is this something that has happened over the last few months? Fish TB can make the body a distorted crooked shape. It is contagious and attacks the internal organs of the fish - it eats them away.

I don't know if there is a cure, but I'd start them on a powerful antibiotic, the melafix is more of a herbel rememdy - it promotes healing - but won't kill off strong bacterial diseases.

See if others have suggestions - I'd go with furanace a broad spectrum antibiotic. You will have to get a test kit though - it will probably effect your bio filter. Since all the fish have been together for so long, I don't know how effective it would be QT'ing the tetra at this point.

Good Luck,
Cathy
Oh, if they were all gasping at the surface, skip the melafix or do a 1/2 dose next time. But, you need something very strong right now and melafix isn't it.
 
trkyhunter91 said:
Hi, thanks for at least looking I will get to it maybe you can help. I have a 29 gallon tank with 1 plecko, 1 clown loach, 2 neons at the moment, 3zebra danios, 2 other danios i dont remember names, and 3 tetras with red tipped tails and light colored body. This is a 3yr old tank so it is cycled. Tested the water at lps and they said all was great though they didnt tell me the readings.
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Please purchase your own test kit and post the readings here. The test tube kit by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals is the most affordable.

We really cannot advise without knowing what your ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH are.

Fungus is a secondary condition and is usually an indication that the water is not right

What is your water change routine -- how much and how often?

Yesterday I treated my tank with 2 teaspoons of Melafix cause I was told it was really good, but I'm afraid of meds reactions so I didnt do the full dose. My last clown loach died from a water change and salt so I 'm worried about it.
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The only way a fish would die from a water change is if you:

a) did not use dechlorinator and your water has chlorine or chloramine in it
b) did not match the temperature
c) have not been doing regular water changes and the water you added is MUCH different from the water that is in the tank already

Why are you adding salt and how much salt is in the tank?

Please stop using the medications. If you can't get a test kit right away, please take a sample back to your LFS and have them test it. Get the exact numbers. If they are using test strips, go somewhere else that uses liquid tests.

We really need those numbers.

Roan
 
the fish has only been crooked and discolored for 3 months or a little longer, but its getting worse. He is acting a little better now, but i put the filter back in. I think that my amonia may be a little high. I will do a water change tonight and see if it helps.
No I've not added any new fish for well over 2 months. The newest addition was my clown loach and a neon. Which has been in there for alot longer than i have had trouble.
I use to change the water bi weekly, but been doing a weekly now for the last month since they are sick. Also I may be over feeding slightly but not much. I give my loach snacks through out the day. Ppl have told me they like to eat off and on 24/7. Is this correct? I feed with full spectrum sinking pelets, frozen brine shrimp, and warley flakes. I only give a tiny bit each time. The shrimp I've only done once and dont really know how much to give. I over did it a bit the 1st time I think.
I used salt with that water change cause I'd forgot to check the filter and my tank was horrible. There was lots of stuff in the gravel and I'm sure that the amonia was up. I done a 50% water change and thought that the salt would make them feel better from my mess up. I ended up killing the loach. I put in the recommended dose of 1tbs per 5 gals.
There is now only4 teaspoons of salt since I didnt trust the dosage on the box. I done my last water change on Friday. Should I put more in when i do another tonight? My loach is stressed out a bit.
I have a 10 gal. with 7 zebra danios, 1 sword tail, and 2 black mollies. My 55 gal. has a 4 lined pimadelia catfish, 1pictus cat, and 4 reg. gold fish that is determaned not to die. LOL We rescued them from the fair for my daughter 2 yrs ago. Out of about 10 they are what is left. My cats dont bother them at all which is weird cause the big 4 lined cat ate all my neons and other small fish when he was in the 29 gal as a baby.
 
I also forgot that one of my zebra danios in the 29 is also a little crooked. He has been for 3 yrs though and has never been sick or acted funny in my tank.
How can you tell for sure about this TB in fish? Can I get it too? I have an iguana that scratches my hands and I frequently have them when i work on my tanks. What should I do I dont have a QT tank at the moment. I just bought a 30 gal, but have to wait till prob. next weekend to start setting it up , after it is cycled I will be putting all my fish in the 10 gal in it.
 
Cathy G said:
the one that started it my OLD neon is missin his upper jaw, has a crooked body,

Has he always been crooked or is this something that has happened over the last few months? Fish TB can make the body a distorted crooked shape. It is contagious and attacks the internal organs of the fish - it eats them away.

I don't know if there is a cure, but I'd start them on a powerful antibiotic, the melafix is more of a herbel rememdy - it promotes healing - but won't kill off strong bacterial diseases.

See if others have suggestions - I'd go with furanace a broad spectrum antibiotic. You will have to get a test kit though - it will probably effect your bio filter. Since all the fish have been together for so long, I don't know how effective it would be QT'ing the tetra at this point.

Good Luck,
Cathy
Oh, if they were all gasping at the surface, skip the melafix or do a 1/2 dose next time. But, you need something very strong right now and melafix isn't it.
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I only used 2 teaspoons instead of 3!!! Should I use less than that? I wont add anymore till I do a water change tonight. The gravel is getting dirty already. Think it was the frozen shrimp.
 
Forget the salt, do you vaccuum your gravel when you do your water changes?

Just stick the syphon into the gravel and out again, it will suck up the gunk with the water. You need to get an ammonia/nitrite/nitrate test kit. Sounds like you may be overfeeding if there is ANY food left on the gravel.

Put rubber gloves on your hands to keep them safe, yes this tb can transfer to humans - it is called Fish Tank Granuloma and is NOT the kind of TB we humans get. The fishy kind will get you big sores on your skin.

There is no way to tell if your fish has tb or not sorry to say. Don't bother putting melafix in, the disease is too strong for it to fight off. If you have any ammonia in your tank, you are burning your fish's gills.

Loaches and tetras don't like salt, if your danio has been crooked for 3 years, it is not tb, it sounds like a birth defect. Go get a test kit and get back to us.

Cathy
 
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