URGENT: Fish Dieing!

Ok. TERRIBLE day today. I returned back from work and my Male convict is in horrible shape. His entire body is peeling, all of his skin seems to just be shedding of of him and he is breathing very fast. My params are fine, I can't seem to figure out what the problem is. It must be some type of parasitic infection. I posted some pics, they are blurry but its the best I can do with my crappy camera.

All the white blurry spots on this guy is where he is peeling. He looks horrible, I'll be surpirsed if he makes it the night. But I'm definitely keeping my fingers crossed.

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Have you added the Maracyn to the tank? And did you add the maracyn and salt before the pleco died?
 
No, The pleco died before I started any treatment to the tank. Should I add both salt and Maracyn I and II to the tank?
 
Don't Maracyn I and II kill off some beneficial bacteria? Should I move them to the Quarantine with my Barbs ?
 
The Maracyn will kill beneficial bacteria also - by using both types your basically killing all types of bacteria (at least that's my understanding) so it's probably better to have everyone in QT and treat there so you don't lose your good bacteria in the main tank. Does the QT have a water filter, etc?
 
Barbuto, I know you have had this tank up for a long while, and you are no noobie, but this sounds like ammonia burns. What kind of test kit are you using, strips or liquid? If liquid, how old is the kit and could it be expired?

Please forgive me if I'm asking questions that may be unnecessary. If you're using liquid testing equipment and it is not expired then I'm out of line, but I just had to ask.

There was also a thread that dealt with a severe ph crash, causing similar symptoms. Can you please tell us what your ph is now and before the water change.
 
I have API Liquid Test kits. all of the bottles Lot No. end with 08. I am not sure how to find out when they expire. does that mean they expired in 08? or where they made in 08?

ex. 83A0508, 26A0408, etc

I hope that my tanks aren't testing wrong cause that would be terrible. If the test kits are right, and the ammonia is not the problem, I am at a complete loss...
 
I also have 3 other tanks set up in my room, they all use the same exact water for water changes. All three are up and running perfect, with no problems. So I highly doubt something in the water only affected one of my four tanks, the problem one being my largest of the four.
 
How are things going? I'm not sure how to read the expiration on that either.

Did you get a ph reading? I don't know if that has anything to do with this, but I did read a thread in which a ph crash caused some symptoms similar to yours.

I was researching your symptoms and it also sounded somewhat like costia, which is a parasite.

You mention the convict's skin is peeling... are the scales falling off?


I wish I could help.
 
Yea, Unfortunately my male convict passed away yesterday. My female is looking terrible as well, she probably won't last the day. It seems like the meds aren't working. All of my tiger barbs are also infected. I think this wiped out my whole tank.

The scales are falling off. You can see the dead scales floating around the tank from the pleco and the convict that have already passed. As of this morning the convict just had really bad white spots all over her body, the same with the barbs.. None of them are losing skin yet though. The eyes on my barbs are also very cloudy. There are so many symptoms of different problems I don't even know whats wrong with them yet.

My pH levels seem to be stable and have been hovering around the same number for a while now.

I think the whole tank is going to get wiped so I am ready for it. If they all pass should I do a 100% water change? will the parasite/bacteria stay in my tank?
 
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