Unknow Disease!

RazzleFish

RazzleFish

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Oct 28, 2009
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I have a 30 gallon fish tank and I have discovered that some of the fish are showing signs of illness. Most of the fish have some frayed fins and since they didn't look like fin-rot I wrote it off as a bully in the tank (male GBR or male molly). Well just this morning I noticed that one of my female mollies has something coming out of the bum. I know what it is and have heard it before but cannot for the life of me remember what it's called. The object is white and it looks like there is a round main section with a bunch of little "worms/ fingers" coming off of that. I know it's a poor description and I remember something about one of the symptoms being frayed fins. The tank is stock with the following:

Effected:
Female German Blue Ram
Male Molly (as of this morning)
2 Female Mollies (one of which is the one from above)
2 Black Ruby Barbs

Seemingly Uneffected:
Male German Blue Ram
Female Molly
3 Black Ruby Barbs
Oto

The tank is 30 Gallons and the parameters are 0 Ammonia, 0 NitrIte,s 5-10 NitrAtes. It is moderatly planted and no new fish have been recently added (last one was about a month ago).

I would know what it is if someone said it but I cannot remember what it is! :thumbsdown:

Please help!

Thanks,
Razz
 
The "bum stragglers" for lack of a better word sound like either threadworm or hexamita. Another alternative is Camallanus, which is a pretty stubborn / deadly parasitic infection. A pic of camallanus can be found here: http://www.rhusmann.de/aqua/bilder/camallan.jpg

Treatments will vary depending on the parasite. We need to figure out which this is first, can you get up close enough to get a closer look or post a photo? Which fish were added most recently (the ones a month ago).

Ric
 
RazzleFish said:
Effected:
Female German Blue Ram
Male Molly (as of this morning)
2 Female Mollies (one of which is the one from above)
2 Black Ruby Barbs

Seemingly Uneffected:
Male German Blue Ram
2 Female Mollies
3 Black Ruby Barbs
Oto
Click to expand...

*Edit number of uneffected female mollies

The fish that seems to have the bum problem is super afraid of the camera! I don't know why but as soon as she sees the camera her and the male molly bolt to the back and will not come back out even for food so a picture isn't going to work.

The most recent fish were three young female mollies. Two are uneffected and the third is not the one with the bum issues.

Camallanus is what I was thinking of but after seeing that and other pictures I don't think that is what it is.

The object(s) is all white and it seems like a little ball with tiny (1mm) fingers coming off of it in all directions.
 
Well from between 9:47 AM and now one of the female mollies (effected but not showing the parasite) is dying. She is laying on the bottom of the tank unable to keep herself upright and I don't think she will make it much longer....... :(
 
That, and the fact that you say it doesn't look like Callamanus would make me go with my second choice; probably a common worm infection (threadworm/nematode). This isn't usually an issue and many aquariums / fish have minor nematode infestations without any overt signs of illness until the fish are stressed or immune system otherwise weakened.

From the sounds of it though you've got a fairly acute case. I'd take a trip to the nearby pet stores and look at dog wormer, and look for one labelled as Panacur. Alternatively, any dog wormer that consists of piperazine paste. Dosing would be 25mg paste to 10gm (a couple tsp) of food. Dosing isn't all that critical. If the fish look at you funny and refuse to eat it, try adding a little garlic juice to the mix.

PraziPro, an anti-parasitic / anti-worm medication sold for aquarium use could also be tried although it's many times ineffective for nematode infestations. If chosen, follow the instructions on the bottle.

Again, your mileage may vary, etc.. Rule #1 is remove any dead fish pronto! The fish's waste (poo) as well as their decaying bodies will release new eggs into the water column that can be eaten by other fish.

EDITED TO ADD: Oh! and remove any shrimp / snails / inverts during treatment with Panacur / piperazine. It'll kill any invert, but doesn't stay in the tank and stain like copper based medications.
 
Alrighty, the female molly is going to have to be put down..... She is too far gone.......

I have "Jungle" Anit-Parasite Madicated Fish Food. Will that work?

I am going to do a WC tomorrow since I have guests coming over. (Great timing, right?)
 
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