my fish are turning brown! help

I am still quite a novice, but I will try to help by giving you links that I personally have/use.

http://www.exitfive.com/fishdoctor/skinbody.html

http://www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/stressdisease.shtml

http://faq.thekrib.com/disease-fw.html#ich

http://www.pkpets.com/pets/fishdisease.htm

http://www.fishkeepinguk.co.uk/disease.htm


When fish get sick they display similar reactions to different illnesses, so it can be difficult to pinpoint which disease(s) it is exactly and what caused it. Use the cautions from this site and do some other research as well.
 
I don't want to scare you, it sounds and your pictures look a lot like fish tuberculosis. Someone else please check and confirm this for me?

I'm a member of a rainbow fish mailing list and there has been a lot of talk about this. Rainbow fish have had many outbreaks, even in their native habitats. I'm doing searches for links for you. I do have one I can paste here for now:

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/aquariums/1770

Symptoms:
  • loss of appetite
  • fish remains in seclusion and out of site
  • rapid breathing (respiration)
  • eyes appear to be cloudy or "popping out"
  • fish lies on its side near bottom of aquarium
  • stomach of fish appears to be sunken
  • whittish blotches on exterior
  • degraded and frayed fins

Sometimes fish with TB display some or even none of the above symptoms. They do not have to display all to be TB.

I'll post more as they are found.

One note: Regardless if I'm wrong or whatever, PLEASE take some precautions:

WASH YOUR HANDS AND ARMS THOROUGHLY AFTER PUTTING THEM IN THE TANK. Especially if you have any cuts or scrapes.
Or wear gloves. Fish TB can be passed to people.

Roan Art

Some more links:

http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/Keefer_FishTB.html

This is a good one:
http://www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html#External
http://www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html#TB

Make sure you read BOTH of the above. TB can manifest secondary infections and I've read of some causes where the fish exhibited brownish coloring.
 
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I'd follow the precautions outlined above. While fishTB is not the same as human TB, it's still a serious condition, and the problems you're seeing are very much in line with fish TB symptoms. Personally, if this were my tank, I'd euthanize every fish showing any signs of illness. The remaining fish would be in permanent quarantine--meaning, I'd let them live in a tank of their won, but never add any additional fish, and completely shut down the tank if symptoms show up in any of the survivors. Alternatively, you could eathanize all remaining fish, and start from scratch. Even fish that are not showing symptoms could spread the disease, and any additions are likely to succumb to it as well. Sorry.

There isn't any testing for human contact. It's one of those treatable things you just have to keep in mind to report to the doctor if you ever have any symptoms.
 
Thank you, OrionGirl. I was hoping I was wrong :(

I highly suggest you take OrionGirls recommendations seriously. What most people don't realize is that Fish TB is often carried by fish who display no symptoms and look perfectly fine. It can lie dormat in your aquarium for years.

If you euthanize all the fish, you could try bleach sterilization, or some of the other sterilization methods mentioned in the links I supplied, to remove the virus from your tank. You will have to sterilize *everything* however, and start over completely.

Another option, that is more pricey, is to toss everything and buy new.

Also, the disease didn't necessarily come in on your rainbows, there are other species that will carry it.

You say your tetras came down with septicemia while you were cycling, you'll note that the symptoms for that are similar to Fish TB. Cycling puts a lot of stress on fish and I would hazard that it was those fish that were carrying the disease. The stress would have lowered their immune system and the Mycobacteria marinum would have been free to ravage your fish.

Please let us know how you are doing and perhaps what action you will be taking,

Roan
 
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Now that Fish TB was mentioned again i dont have to make another thread. My wife works in a hospital and they use this stuff called "Purell" to sanitize their hands. Would that be something worth using AFTER getting in touch with tank water ?
 
Eh. You can if you want, but I wouldn't rely on it. This type of bacteria successfully infects outside a specific host (ie, from fish to humans) via direct contact with an opening, like a cut. Purell and other hand sanitizers are not effective against this. They do stop bacteria that spread by coming into contact with mucous membranes, like the eyes, nose and mouth. They are more effective against human to human transmitted bacterial diseases--though of course, adequate washing of the hands in plain old soap and water, covering your mouth when you cough, and limiting contact with sick people are still better means of control.

Using gloves when working in infected tanks is the best protection.
 
we've been doing some research on fish TB and from everything i have read so far it doesnt seem to really be what they are going through.. lets just hope its not that at least.

these are some possible diseases but I haven't fully researched them yet but if you know anything about any of these let me know so i can either look into them further or stop researching them.. thanks to everyone for your help.

and it looks from this site liek it might possibly be these :

Saprolegnia and Achlya
Symptoms: Cotton-like tufts of fungus appear on the body of the fish. As algae grows on the fungus, the fungus turns a brownish colour.
--the stuff almost looked like a light layer of algae growning on them. i said that in the beginning but i didnt think it was possible.. maybe the white wasnt really noticable at first or maybe its doing it out of order since there is white stuff on them now.. but they arent cottony

Costia
Symptoms: The body is covered by a gray layer of slime and the fins are frayed. The fish may swim erratically and rub against rocks. Heavy infestations result in reddish patches on the skin. A highly infectious disease that thrives in acidic water.
--maybe its a slime layer, its kinda greyish brownish. Lardo and some of the other fish look like the fins are kinda frayed and raggedy..

Chilodonella
Symptoms: The body and gills lose colour and become gray-blue in colour. Fish swim erratically and rub against objects.
--again it would explain the loss of color and greyish color
 
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