Okay, I'm really starting to get ticked about this.
Shortly after I purchased my 7 rainbows (10/15), the largest female was bitten by a gourami and lost a few scales on her side. She then appeared to develop fungus (rainbow fish are very suspecticle to fungus) that spread over her entire right side and up over her dorsal fin. She had the classic "saddle back" look. I took a close look at all the rainbows and noticed that two of the males had very small threads on their lips. I added salt, 1 tbsp per 5 gallons, and treated the entire tank with Prima and Mela fix. She looked like she was improving and the fungus seemed to be almost gone, however, the area underneath was recessed and grayish in appearance. I assumed that it was from the injury/fungus and would improve. On 10/23, I saw that the threads on the males were gone and I decided to move the female to the hospital tank where I could keep a closer eye on her. She died from chlorine (so I thought) 5 mins after I put her in the tank. I forgot to dechlorinate the water. I do not know what the chlorine or chloramine content of our tap water is as yet. I'm waiting for my test kit. I now think it may not have been the chlorine that killed her
Three days ago, 10/28, I noticed that my second largest female was displaying fungus in the exact same way the first one had. She also had a recessed grayish area and one of her fins was affected. She was not using it unless she had to. She was with the school, but staying at the top of the tank. I added salt and APPLUS+ Anti-Fungus to the tank (malachite green, arciflavine hydrochlorine). It didn't help at all and she died last night. One minute she was shimmying in place at the top, the next she was by the filter, then she was suddenly in death throws: she flew all over the tank, flipped onto the glass and died.
Her death was very much like the death of the one I had put in the hospital tank and thought I killed with chlorine.
Does this sound familiar to anyone? I'm starting to think that it's possible that my rainbows fish are being attacked by childonella or some other parasite and are developing the fungus as a secondary infection. I can't find a lot of information on this parasite and no pictures of infected fish to compare. Anyone?
My Tank - 36gal Bowfront, planted, flourite substrate
Current Parameters: Ammonia 0, Nitrites, 0, Nitrates 5.0, pH 7.4
I had problems getting this tank to cycle and I thought it was done (I used Bio-Spira) when I added the rainbows. Somehow it went haywire. I'm sure the stress of trying to re-establish the bacteria hurt all the fish and lowered their immune systems.
I'm scared for the rest of my rainbows. NONE of my other fish have visibly come down with this, but I have lost 1 corycat to reasons unknown and several neons to gouramis and who knows what else. I currently have in the tank: 5 Boesemani rainbows, 3 leopard corycats, 1 Agassiz's corycat, 2 neon tetras, 1 glo-lite tetra, 2 platies, and 5 ghost shrimp
I do *not* want to lose any more rainbows!!!! I have 1 more female that is now hanging out by the filter instead of with the school, so I bet a dozen donut she's sick as well.
Help?
Roan
Shortly after I purchased my 7 rainbows (10/15), the largest female was bitten by a gourami and lost a few scales on her side. She then appeared to develop fungus (rainbow fish are very suspecticle to fungus) that spread over her entire right side and up over her dorsal fin. She had the classic "saddle back" look. I took a close look at all the rainbows and noticed that two of the males had very small threads on their lips. I added salt, 1 tbsp per 5 gallons, and treated the entire tank with Prima and Mela fix. She looked like she was improving and the fungus seemed to be almost gone, however, the area underneath was recessed and grayish in appearance. I assumed that it was from the injury/fungus and would improve. On 10/23, I saw that the threads on the males were gone and I decided to move the female to the hospital tank where I could keep a closer eye on her. She died from chlorine (so I thought) 5 mins after I put her in the tank. I forgot to dechlorinate the water. I do not know what the chlorine or chloramine content of our tap water is as yet. I'm waiting for my test kit. I now think it may not have been the chlorine that killed her
Three days ago, 10/28, I noticed that my second largest female was displaying fungus in the exact same way the first one had. She also had a recessed grayish area and one of her fins was affected. She was not using it unless she had to. She was with the school, but staying at the top of the tank. I added salt and APPLUS+ Anti-Fungus to the tank (malachite green, arciflavine hydrochlorine). It didn't help at all and she died last night. One minute she was shimmying in place at the top, the next she was by the filter, then she was suddenly in death throws: she flew all over the tank, flipped onto the glass and died.
Her death was very much like the death of the one I had put in the hospital tank and thought I killed with chlorine.
Does this sound familiar to anyone? I'm starting to think that it's possible that my rainbows fish are being attacked by childonella or some other parasite and are developing the fungus as a secondary infection. I can't find a lot of information on this parasite and no pictures of infected fish to compare. Anyone?
My Tank - 36gal Bowfront, planted, flourite substrate
Current Parameters: Ammonia 0, Nitrites, 0, Nitrates 5.0, pH 7.4
I had problems getting this tank to cycle and I thought it was done (I used Bio-Spira) when I added the rainbows. Somehow it went haywire. I'm sure the stress of trying to re-establish the bacteria hurt all the fish and lowered their immune systems.
I'm scared for the rest of my rainbows. NONE of my other fish have visibly come down with this, but I have lost 1 corycat to reasons unknown and several neons to gouramis and who knows what else. I currently have in the tank: 5 Boesemani rainbows, 3 leopard corycats, 1 Agassiz's corycat, 2 neon tetras, 1 glo-lite tetra, 2 platies, and 5 ghost shrimp
I do *not* want to lose any more rainbows!!!! I have 1 more female that is now hanging out by the filter instead of with the school, so I bet a dozen donut she's sick as well.
Help?
Roan
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