Possible fin rot?

PuppyFluffer

PuppyFluffer

AC Members
Jan 9, 2008
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east coast USA
I got 5 platys yesterday (and a few guppies) and placed them in a new tank which is running with established filter media.

I should have looked over the fish better but it appears one has a tiny bit of tail fin missing and a whitish margin to that area. I am also suspecting this on one other fish though it's not as clearly visible as it is on the first fish.

I read thru the articles section and the article on ich but didn't see any treatments for fin rot (if this is even what is happening).

The water is reading 0 across the board (API test kit). I will check the water twice daily to make sure the established filter can keep up with the bio load of the fish.

I know water changes are paramount for any issues and I have no problem doing them daily.

Besides staying totally on top of the water quality, are there any meds you would suggest?

Tank is 10 gallons, sand substrate, driftwood. Live plants coming soon.

Thanks!
 
doesn't sound like ich.

does sound like a little bit of fin rot/soft tissue damage. treatment at this point is excellent water parameters.

In any case, it seems your tank is not cycled (0 accross the board including nitrates) so you should be doing minimum daily tests, and water changes when ever you see ammonia or nitrite at .25 ppm or higher.

This is something (the fin prob) which should improve and clear up really quickly in a settled tank, but in your situation it will not take much for it to mushroom into more serious issues. Get right on those tests and water changes (only 10 G so the advantage is easy to do a change, the disadvantage is smaller water volumes are more volatile).

Hopefully the established media will kickstart your cycle.
 
Thanks for the info.

I checked ammonia levels and they were .25 so obviously the established media is not adequate for the bioload I just put in there. I did a major water change - at least 75% and will test the water at least 2x a day if not more and keep water changes going.

One guppy died tonight. He was visually fine but swimming slower than the others. No other signs of distress.

The fish with the tail fin issue looks the same. I have a second platy with some white on it's body and clamped fins.

I went to the pet store today and bought Maracyn, Pimafix and Melafix....figuring I'd get guidance here on which one was appropriate. I will return what ever I don't use.

Will the Maracyn work or do I need the Maracyn II? I'm off to Google the active ingredients in both and see what makes them different. The pet store is open tomorrow so do have access to meds tomorrow.

I'll also call the fish store I got them from and discuss the issue.
 
I would keep up heavy water changes and use mela/pima for starters.
 
I agree, I am not a big fan of medicating without knowing what exactly I am treating. Remember to remove carbon (if you are using it) before adding any treatments to the water. Also, if you decide to use the maracyn products, be especially mindful of your parameters. The only time I have used it, it wiped out my biofilter (although its not supposed to). Best of luck with your new fish. Also, you could always squeeze more of your established media into the qt tank filter to tyr and help more with your nitrifying bacteria. You could also hang some substrate in a nylon in the filter discharge to help as well.
 
mela/pima will do no harm, but ignore the dosing direction (in your case) to dose and leave for a number of days. You need to do water changes and redose after each change.
 
Thanks!

I do know to remove the carbon but thanks for the reminder!

When you say Mela/Pima, do you mean to use both or one at a time? If using one at a time, which should I start with and for how long each?

Sorry for all the questions, it's my first time dealing with any sort of disease.
 
I stumbled across this before. I didn't cycle and all I treated was mela/pimafix...with no wc...ahh those were the days......-_- fish kept dyin and dyin. ots
 
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