More dead fish...

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Hpisavage21

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Feb 21, 2004
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Yonkers NY
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Hello, I did a fishless cycle and it was done after about 4 weeks. I added 4 painted tetras, 2 serpae tetras, 2 platys and 2 cory cats. I have lost both serpaes, and both platies.
Water tests are as follows...

AMMONIA- 0 PPM
NITRITES- 0 PPM
NITRATES 10 PPM
PH 7.2
Temperature iat at 80*f the fish died with white spots all over there body and white fuzz on there mouth, after they died I did a closer inspection appears there gills were all stuck and kinda looked like puff pastry. I now only have 4 tetras and 2 cories left. The tetras also are showing signs of white dots on there body and there fins are tearing away and kinda swimming at an odd angle. They looked healthy till i added live plants.

I have been dosing salt at 1.5 tsp per gallon, Jungle Labs Fungus Clear and some Melafix. This does not appear to be stopping it from spreading. The cories show no signs of ilness. BTW i also have snails now.
 
That's ich--do a search, there are tons of thread with appropriate treatments. Ich is a parasite, so the fish had it already when you purchased them and the stress of moving likely weakened them enough for the parasite to take over like this. The cories may not have visible spots, but are likely infected as well, since the parasite attaches to the gills initially. The white fuzz is most likely a bacterial infection in the wounds from the ich cysts.

While treating, make sure to monitor for ammonia--many 'safe' treatments will kill off the beneficial bacteria. The resulting spikes are really hard on the already sick fish.
 
On another thread someone said it was a fungus. The reason is that the fins are shreading and everything. Right now I have the temp at 81 and will gradually raise it.I also did a water change and added salt. Table salt is ok right?I have aquarium salt but a few days before the first fish died I added table salt. Hm.. so it isnt a fungus. Do you think that the painted tetras will live if i raise the temp and keepi doing the salt.

Why do you think the tails are shreading. The water has a total of 10 tsp of salt in there and teh heater was set at 81 and the actual water temp was 79. I raised it to 85 so the temp will be around 83*f do you think a fish that has visible signs will die or may he survive?
 
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Table salt is fine--ignore anyone who tells you that the iodine in table salt will cause a problem, it most definitely will not.

True fungus are rare, while bacteria are very common. It's a matter of averages--sort of like how a runny nose and cough is more likely to be a cold than to be pneumonia.

Painted tetras---oh dear. That's a bit more complicated. The process of 'painting' the fish is very stressful and results in fish that are prone to ailments of all kinds. Odds on they are the source of the ich. Can't say if they will survive or not, since they already have a suppressed immune system. Keep raising the temp up to at least 86, do more frequent water changes (replacing the salt as you go, and using water that's close to the same high temp). The frequent water changes will help reduce other stresses on the fish and give them the best odds.

If they do not make it, please don't get more painted fish. Google painted tetras or dyed fish--while you'll get a lot of extremists point of view, you'll also see why they really aren't a good choice and buying more supports the industry, encouraging more production.
 
Thank you very much Orion Girl. I have about 5 tsp of table salt and 5-6 of aquairum salt in there (i didnt have Aquairum salt but now I do) temp is normally at 80*f even though the heater is set at 81*f. I raised it to 85 and tomorrow will raise it to keep it at around 86*f I also read ich uses light to live so I covered my tank in newspaper to prevent the outside light from coming in it.I really hope they live.

Tomorrow plan is:
30% water change
Add 2.5-3 tsp of salt
Add Melafix
PRAY !!!
 
Ich does not use light at all. There are some parasites that do, but ich is not one of them. No need to cover the tank. Otherwise, sounds like you're on the right tack.
 
Both perhaps?

It seems posible that you may have both ICH and a "fungus" From what I have read ICH doesn't have cotton looking growths, but looks like grains of salt. The "fungus" I'm finding out is more likely a bactiria. Its like when people are sick to their stomach, it is often said that they have the flu. We know this to be false, because the flu is a resperatory(sp?) illness. You can't get a "stomach flu."

I cant remember the name of the bactiria that causes the cottony growths, it starts with a C if I remember... mabey someone can fill the blank. Anyhow, I read that it will often grow in places that the fish is injured or weakend, so the wounds from the ICH are a ripe breeding ground for the "fungus".
-OrionGirl kinda already said this part, oops!

Really sorry to hear about your fish. Best of luck with the treatment.
 
Columnaris is a common fluffy looking bacterial infection, is that what you're thinking of?
 
Ich can be a big problem with new fish. Ironically with my experience is that new fish/plants fresh from the LFS will often bring in new parasites that will hard your already existing population and more often than not destroy you present community. Ich is the MOST common of them all.

Cories have a pretty big resistance to Ich from what I gathered thru experience over the years, I'm glad to see that the "old man" made it through again.

I kindly suggest getting a small secondary tank of about 5G with a heater and a small filter and have it running for about a week before you put your new fish in there. Leave your new fish in there for at LEAST 2 weeks before switching them to a new tank. This will allow enough time to spot the problem fish and properly have them quarantined with minimal fish loss.

As stated about the salt/temp technique is great but some fish loss may happen with that high temp as some fish find that alone extremely stressfull. Better that then alot of fish loss though.

:/
 
Okay its more likly to be Bacteria than Fungus, as like Orion Girl said, True Fungus is very uncommon. Your fish tank is full of bacteria, some friendly some not, normaly your fish's immune system deals with the bad stuff without a problem, but if your fish's immune sysem has been weakened, like is probably the case with you where your fish have ich, it makes them prone to bacterial infections, also new tank syndrome which I recently went through when a new tank is 'settling in' can cause bactrial numbers to get out of control. It sounds like your fish are stressed from the ich and the move to a new home and this has caused the fins to shred and a bactrial infection to happen. Your main concern is treating the ich in the way you are. Most fish will be able to get over a bactial infection themselves with time and the salt will help as well just keep an eye on your water conditions.
Here are some pics to give you a better idea. The middle one is a bacterial infection and the other two are fungus, as you can see there is a big difference!

fungus.jpg bacteria.jpg 4bd8e480.jpg
 
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