Can you identify this disease?

this one is difficult to determine..white stringy poo is indicative of two possible causes..internal parasite and internal bacterial infection.
I tend to side on the internal bacterial infection as it wipes out so many fish so fast. parasitic infestations normally tend to take longer as it takes more time for the parasite to reproduce compared to bacteria.
the other damage could be related to the infection and the inability to absorb nutrients from the food resulting in poor color, tattered fins and other Sx.

Hexamita(not hexamitia) is a protozoan issue normally related to Cichlids.

this does not mean it may not be a protozoa issue..I recently had an angel that went thru similar issues..no response to anitbiotics..then read about a protozoa that has been related to similar issues.. I treated with ich guard(vicotia green, salt and formalin) she responded to this treatment.
but again..this infestation takes time(weeks) to manifest and kill the victim.
 
I'm with star_rider - it truly appears this is a bacterial infection. I would add charcoal for a few hours to filter out the other medications, do a 50% water change, and then add Maracyn and Maracyn-II at the same time (both can be used together and the instructions mention doing so). By using both Maracyn and Maracyn II you'll be using anti-biotics that effect both gram positive and gram negative bacteria...that's the key here - if your anti-biotic isn't for the right kind of bacteria (gram positive vs. negative), it's very likely not going to work.

Considering the host of medications your fish have been on, I'd suggest two courses of combined Maracyn and Maracyn-II because there is a very good chance some resistance to the anti-biotics already used has developed.

Just my $.02 worth.

Eric
 
That's probably a good idea. At the moment, the disease seems at least to be stagnant. I don't see any hints of improvement, but at least it didn't get worse, either.

Maracyn is erythromycin, and I'm not sure whether it makes sense to try that one again. I haven't had minocycline yet, though. Do you have any opinions about Triple Sulfa?
 
Triple sulfa is worth a try - not a true antibiotic but an antibacterial that inhibits bacterial growth (instead of killing bacteria like antibiotic) so the animals white blood cells can do their thing. Triple sulfas are more effective than a single sulfa drug. I'd not mix it with another antibiotic and definitely use carbon for several hours and do a big old water change first.

Eric
 
Thanks.

I know you should not mention when something doesn't get worse, and sure enough, the last Serpae Tetra died this morning. Well, I euthanized him, but he was already lying on his side on the ground, still breathing, but the guppies seemed to be interested in eating him already.

It is remarkable that all the Serpae Tetras died int he same tank as the Glowlight Tetras live, who seem unaffected. I don't want to imply it's Neon Tetra Disease, but does anyone know whether Glowlight Tetras are resistant to that disease?
 
Well, just an update, and unfortunately not a good one. So far all my attempts at getting a grip on this disease failed utterly. The fish are just dieing, some with outer symptoms, some without. It doesn't go fast, but death seems ultimately certain.

At the moment, it's down to one Pristella Tetra and two female guppies. One of the guppies looks already as if he develops a slightly bent spine (downward) and a bloated belly. I guess, in about a month, I'll be able to treat the quarantine tank with bleach and use it for other purposes.

My biggest worry is that some of the other fish bear this nasty disease and will infect any new fish I might introduce into the tanks later on. I really hope this won't be the case.
 
Wow - I really wonder if you're dealing with something like fish TB or some deadly virus. I've not dealt with something like that - but no fish for a month seems like it would be on the safe side...in fact, I'd be tempted to drain the tank, let it sit totally dry for a month, and then start it up again.

Eric
 
I would tear everything down, clean with bleach, and the start cycling the tanks again. Think of it as a good time to change things up. :thud: Just out of curiosity what is/was your maintaince schedule?
 
Yes, it's a weird disease. It doesn't spread too quickly, but it thoroughly kills certain species. As I said, not a single catfish or glowlight tetra got sick. The guppies, serpae tetras and pristella tetras were complete losses. Cherry barbs and espei rasboras were partial losses, although it's not clear whether here the reason was the same disease. On the other hand, they seem to be the likely source, as the disease broke out after I got some of them, and they were early victims. Or the source was a dwarf gourami that died and might have infected the barbs.
Jayhawk said:
Wow - I really wonder if you're dealing with something like fish TB or some deadly virus. I've not dealt with something like that - but no fish for a month seems like it would be on the safe side...in fact, I'd be tempted to drain the tank, let it sit totally dry for a month, and then start it up again.
Click to expand...
That sounds reasonable for a quarantine tank. Regarding the source tanks, I can just hope.
smbjedi said:
I would tear everything down, clean with bleach, and the start cycling the tanks again. Think of it as a good time to change things up. Just out of curiosity what is/was your maintaince schedule?
Click to expand...
Weekly 40% water changes (well, just low enough that the HOB's don't lose suction). Gravel vac can be relatively light, as the tank with the most plants usually doesn't contain any debris and the substrate is fixed by roots, and the tank with sand bottom looks always completely clean and smooth (must be the cories and/or SA bumblebees). The other tanks get a thorough gravel vac. Filter cleaning when necessary (as indicated by lowered flow).
 
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