Fish Disease

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Peanutsweet

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Feb 20, 2006
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Hello,
I am hoping someone can give me advice about my sick fish.
I added two cichlids to my 125, and a swordtail. I'm not sure what kind of cichlids they are, but I seen a pic of a Bolivian Ram and I think they look like those? I cannot remember what the LFS told me they were. Anyway, within a week both of them developed a cottony patch on them. One on his tail, just where the tail joins the body. The other on the top of its eye lid, and almost looked like it had a hole in its eye lid. I raised the temp from 80 to 84 and added 1 tbs of aquarium salt for 10 gallons of water. Two days later the one with the eye stuff died. The other is still alive, but he doesn't look good. The swordtail I noticed looks like she has a thin covering of this filmy stuff on part of her body, she sort of 'sits' in the water, and keeps her fins clamped, sometimes she appears to sort of 'flick' herself? I hope that makes sense!

Any ideas on what I can do? I have others in the tank that appear unharmed.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks
 
Cottony patches are fungal infections. You need to treat them with some kind of anti-fungal (Maroxy, jungle fungus eliminator, etc.) It also may not be a bad idea to treat them with a mild anti-bacterial or antibiotic to treat scondary infections.

Salt and increased temperatures is only effective against parasites such as Ick.
 
That is handy to know about the salt/temp.
Well they are both in the tank in the sky now :(
So I will have to try again I guess.

Do I treat the whole tank or only the symptomed fish?
Is it a good idea to treat all fish before adding them to my tank after purchasing?
Thanks for the reply...
 
It's a good idea to get a smaller tank to use as a QT (Quaruntine, sp) to put new fish in before sticking in your main tank. This allows you to see if they carry any diseases, and makes for easier treatment than having to do a whole tank.

If you have a community tank in which some fish become infected, you should remove the infected fish to a hospital tank if at all possible. Depending on the disease, you may want to treat the main tank also. Fungus usually isn't very contagious with healthy fish, but parasites are *extremely* contagious.

However, if you have some (or access to some) maroxy, you could treat your main tank anyway, as it won't hurt the filter or any of the other fish at suggested levels.
 
Update/treating tank after fish die?

Ok the fish died :(

Now my question is what to do next.
The other fish look fine, and it has been over a week since dead fish were first showing signs of fungus.

I think it was a fungus. How do I tell the difference in a fungas or a bacterial infection?

Guy at petstore expained like this.

Fish were not sick when I bought them. They appeared good, and had been in his store long enough to know they didnt have anything. When added to my tank, they were exposed to a pathogen which they had no resistance to and fell sick. My fish are fine because they have an immunity built up to whatever this pathogen is that is probably still in my water and will attack the rams again if I add new ones.

Does that make sense?

If so, what can I do to 'fix' my water so it would be safe to try rams again. His store is the only one within hours of me, so I have to get fish there.
I paid about 11 dollars each for them, is that too much?

I also picked up a Q tank.

Assuming that all above is accurate, could I put new fish in Q tank, and after a week or so, slowly trade water out -a cup a day- for water from my tank, wouldn't that alow the fish to build up immunity to the pathogen by being exposed to a lower amount of it?

Or should I add fish after Q in seperate water, add to tank, THEN if it shows illness, move back to Q tank and treat with Maroxy? Would the fish then have an immunity? or would it get it again after healing and being returned to the main tank.

I'm sorry this is so long.
I hope someone will understand my rambling and be able to help me, I would appreciate it so much.
Thank you
 
While the pet store's explanation may be the case it was designed to put the blame on you. The only fish loss I have experienced lately was the death of a fish caused by the kid banging the net into the fish and pinning it to the glass of the tank. I wonder if some damage could have been caused by the net work of the person who caught your fish for you?
 
the explanation by the clerk at the LFS is 'one' possible explanation.

it takes time for bacterial infections to occur..they may actually have had the first sign or exposure at the fish store. (another explanation)

generally these types of infections are a result of water quality.

test your water , make sure you are within 'safe' parameters. If this is the case and you do regular maintenance on your tanks.. this reduces the chance your tank is the problem

BTW, salt and temp are effective for more than just ick. while widely accepted as a method for battling ick..it is also effective for treating other bacterial infections. many bacteria are suseptible to salt.

raising temp is also effective in treating other parasites.

to be very honest..as good as the filtration system is in many LFS. the fact remains..their tanks are over stocked(the plan on selling the fish before this is an issue)

and since many of them are on community filtration..it increases the probability that they are actually more prone to infestation. after all..many don't quarantine their fish..they float the bags, then add the fish to existing stock.
 
Thank you for the info on the temp/salt.
to answer some of the questions--

This man raises most of his own fish, has for 30 years. In fact he sells to other area stores. he only has a few kinds of cichlids, including angels.
Mostly he as saltwater.
He has a few tanks that are filtered through a main system with livebearers, loaches, ect, not a lot of variety.

All of the angels and cichlids are quarantined. He told me he does not use one net from another, or put his hands from one to another. His fish at the store look healthy, are not overstocked, all the tanks but the cichlids have live plants that look great, and he indeed does have a lot of nets laying around. I am very inclined to think he is honest and has great healthy fish. In fact after finding him, I will avoid petsmart! I think it could have been the female sword I put in the tank the same time as the Rams-bought her from Petsmart and she showed signs of slime.

I guess what puzzles me is why the new ones I bought took over a week to show signs of being sick, why my original fish didnt get it, and if it is safe to try them again.
I do regular water changes, water is at 83 now and salt.

I guess his theory is that community filteration is better in a way because the weaker fish die from exposure to bacteria, leaving the stronger fish which then have immunity. But he was saying the angels and the Rams are very succeptible to disease (say compared to cardinals, plecos, swords ect) so he doesnt put them on a combined filteration.

How would filtering 10 10 gallon tanks together, be different then housing the same amount of fish in a 100gal with its own filter? I guess if they are quarentined/healthy when added to whatever size tank, the filter system would not really be the issue as long as it is capable of keeping it clean.

Does petsmart have a combined filter system?
 
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