Possible Parasites? Please help!!!

[SexySheen]

Hello everyone,

I have a 120g tank with tinfoils, silver dollars, balas, pink and blue gouramis, tsn cat and a pleco. Not long after I added the last bala i noticed he had what looked like a fungus growing on his tail and side. I know what ich looks like...and it is very different from that. I've never seen this before. I immediately started treating for tail rot. Well no improvement. In fact he got worse. It looked like someone literally slashed this poor baby on his sides with a knife and there was white fuzzies growing from these slashes. I then tried a bacterial antibiotic and still no impovement. Now his mouth was full of fuzz and blood red! I noticed also the other balas beginning to have slashes and the tins had some scales missing. The fish also would rub up against the rocks and decor very fiercely as if something was itching them. I did a 25% water change....and the next day they were all breathing very rapidly. It wasn't ong before my dollars jolted about the tank and then just suddenly went belly up! I also lost the bala that was the first to be ill and a few of my tins died after laying on the bottom for awhile. What in the world is going on here? I've treated for bacteria, fungus, ammonia. I'm beginning to wonder if it is parasites? If you notice only the shiny fish are affected. Tins balas, and dollars. The rest remain healthy so far. Are they attracted to shiny fish? Oh someone please help me. I've began parasite treatment and the fishes breathing has seemed to slow down. My tins even ate some today. What do you guys think? Thanks in Advance.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

First of all, test your water and make sure ammonia and nitrites are at 0. You "might" do well to add a little salt to the water(1tsp/5gallons), and treat with Melafix and/or Aquarisol. Be sure to remove carbon from the filter during treatment and try to avoid using antibiotics in the main tank..it can create more problems in that it will destroy the nitrifying bacteria colonies causing the tank to recycle. Be sure to do a large water change after the fish are cured. Though, I would do small, daily water changes just before dosing meds.

 

[yashinfan]

You ADDED a fish with a disease to a tank! Without quarantine? tsk, tsk, c'mon now, you should know better than that. I've heard of the disease your fish have before, as my boyfriend owns a book filled with fish diseases (really gross pictures!!!) Now unfortunately he's out of town and the book is in his house. I believe it was a parasite, from the fact that they are scratching themselves, it shouldn't be another cause. Aerate and turn up the temp if your ammonia levels are 0. If they are >0 than don't because it will stress the fish even more.

 

[Cearbhaill]

Sounds to me like the fungus was a secondary infection in wounds the fish received by rubbing itself on something.
Either fish lice or anchor worms could cause this severe scratching behavior- both are visible to the naked eye if you are able to scrutinize the fish closely enough. If you have them at the level that causes death I'm sure you could see something unless the colors of the fish interfere.
It's easy to cure if this turns out to be what's going on.