Hello. I am rather new to aquarium fish keeping (as of Dec. 2004). I "adopted" a 29 gallon tank with a few fish in it. (3 neons, 1 blue gourami, 2 skirted tetra and a Pleco). I cycled a 10 gal. tank and moved the gourami into it since he was aggrivating the little ones. Everything was fine with the big tank, water conditions and such until I did the stupid thing of introducing a few fish without quarantining them three weeks ago. Now I'm paying the price. I knew better. I know I have ich and I am not sure about velvet. I had a platy, until this morning, that seemed to be covered with a powdery substance, but not wooly. I could not see it unless he turned a certain way. I started treating with coppersafe with concerns for my pleco and neons 7 days ago. I've noticed the "salt" spots are gone, I think, but a Micky Mouse platy still has a whitish spot on his tail that is bigger than the ich spot and now his back is fading to white. The platy that died this morn was orange and black last night. He was almost all white this morning. Why is that? Also, I am concerned the Coppersafe is not working properly since I just read that the water conditioners can neutrilize the heavy metals. So I checked on my bottle of Stress Coat and sure enough, it neutrilizes heavy metals. So, last night I did a water change and added more salt. No Coppersafe because I thought I'd start another treatment because of the water conditioner. Oh, I've been treating with Maracyn II. I am debating on using Ick clear or anything that might harm my neons or pleco (he is my favorite). I really don't know what to do to help my fish. I am concerned about the faded color. Or it is as if the skin came off. I am sorry this is so long. I am so concerned for my pleco and neons or I'd begin using the the malachite green stuff. Also, I know I need a copper tester and maybe a salt tester. I have no idea how much salt is in the tank. Can you get a copper tester at a pool supply store? Thanks so much for any help. I've spent hours reading over the past week. So much info, but don't know which direction to turn!
Skin coming off?
- Thread starter Holley
- Start date
Well it definatly sounds like at least one of your fish has velvet, which i hear is pretty deadly. Ich certainly wouldnt have killed fish that fast. If i were you i would probably use salt to treat the ich, and buy a good velvet medication... I remember haering copper isnt too good of a thing to use, but i could be wronge.
also, when a fish dies it looses its color after a while (also can loose some color if it gets really stressed), thats why it turned white.
also, when a fish dies it looses its color after a while (also can loose some color if it gets really stressed), thats why it turned white.
Thanks for responding! I was using the Coppersafe since it treated ich and velvet, but I am not so sure it is working because of the water conditioner. Do you know of any SAFE medication I could use so I won't hurt my pleco? or the tetras. My pleco is such a sweetie. He came with the tank and he has grown so much in the last couple months. I think he is okay right now. Do you know if plecos are as suseptable to the ich and velvet? I haven't seen anything on him. Just the other fish. He does seem a bit uneasy. He doesn't attach to the wall like he did. I just want to do the right thing. I am very worried about poisoning him and the tetras with even 1/2 doses.
cyberbeer65
Scratch Glass!