Your view on these meds...

S

smoochxoxo

AC Members
Jun 15, 2008
166
0
0
NY
I haven't had an issue in almost a year with my fish. My local LFS has pristine quality fish. Well about 2 weeks ago I introduced 2 fish from Petsmart...(yeah I know bad me) One died...no apparent symptoms of why. This morning I noticed something on two of the 4 guppies.

A few ???
We lost power for about 24 hours (fish went without for only 4 hours, I was able to get the generator up and running when I got home) This was on the 10th. Would that stress effect them and make them disease prone?

My other idea is that the introduced fish were ill, which the one died would someting like ich or fungus stay dormant for that long and pop up without warning?

Today I noticed on 2 of the guppies white patches...they don't look like salt granuals more like spots of white along the top of the fish behind fin and on tail fin. One fish actually has a small hole. Is this a fungus or is it classic ich? I am just not familliar with this type of disease, I have never seen a fish IRL with it and pictures look similar but different too.

I have Melafix and Pimafix for meds that I was told I should have on hand by other "experienced fish keepers". If it is ich or a fungus would the Pimafix help? I was planing to dose both since the one has a hole in its fin.

I can't do salt since I have a snail and a hillstream loach and I have heard that would kill them. The loach seems to be fine with no signs of white..As well as the gourami... Should I remove the snail and the loach to my 5 gallon and then treat the 10 gallon with salt and heat instead of the Melafix/Pimafix combo? Or would that essentially contaminate my 5G and just transfer the disease back to the ten when the loach and snail move back in?
I don't have a extra tank to hospital the loach and snail in even So I really don't know what to do!!! :help:
TIA
Hugs
 
petco and petsmart a lot of times dont really train their employees on the best methods of taking care of their fish. a lot end up in really close quarters with questionable water parameters. some donte even get fed. needless to say, a lot of fish that come from the big chains like that seem to have a lot more diseases and problems surviving. unfortunately, whatever the petco fish came home with probably spread to your other fish. the stress from the power outage could have contributed in making them a little more susceptible to whatever the other fish had. not to chastise (this is a learning process) but this is why it is very important to quarantine new fish.
 
but this is why it is very important to quarantine new fish
Click to expand...
Oh I hear ya! I take the big ol slap on the hand for that! But now that it has happened what should I do?
Will the pimafix help if it is ich which I am not sure it is? Honestly the guppies that have this problem are feeder guppies my son brought home months ago from school where they raised them as a class project. So unfortunatly if something happens to them I wouldn't be heart broken but the Gourami and the loach I have had for almost 8 months and if something happens to them I would be very sad! They are the gem of the tank really and I got suckered in with the others. The other 2 guppies which I think are the ones who brought in the 'disease' were bought from petsmart, one is a tequila sunrise (i think is what they called it, male) and female is just a plain jane fancy blue guppy.
thanks
 
Last edited:
A good quality picture would be very valuable here.

Pimafix will do nothing for ich if that is what you are dealing with. However if this is a mild fungal/bacterial outbreak then mela/pima can certainly help. More important however is to provide pristine water conditions. Can you test with a good liquid drop kit for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and post results ?
 
Before water change last night I tested...
Ammonia and Nitrites 0
Nitrates were 20

As for the pic that would probably be a no go. My camera doesn't like up close and personal pics but will see if I can get one.
TY
Water change is every Sunday and is about 3-5 gallons depending on the Nitrates. (10 Gallon tank)
Filter is AC20 with no carbon, just sponge, polyfill media, ceramic rings.
First does of Pima was last night after water change.
 
inkyjenn said:
petco and petsmart a lot of times dont really train their employees on the best methods of taking care of their fish. a lot end up in really close quarters with questionable water parameters. some donte even get fed.
Click to expand...
For Petsmart, each Pet Care employee goes through thorough training for fish care, from acclimating new arrivals to dietary needs of each fish.

inkyjenn said:
needless to say, a lot of fish that come from the big chains like that seem to have a lot more diseases and problems surviving
Click to expand...
This isn't exactly true. The fish at Petsmart don't go into an immediate quarantine, the fish that survive shipment and acclimating go directly into their tanks for sale. They are only treated for illness after that point, when symptoms arise. A lot of LFS, if they are decent, will quarantine new fish or at least let you know that they are under observation. Remember, in most areas, they get the same fish from the same sources. So the fish at big chains most likely came from the same stock at your LFS, same diseases and all.

It's just a good idea to quarantine any new purchase because disease can be anywhere.
 
Well at any rate will treat with pima/mela....if that doesn't work then I will try to find ich meds that is save for the loach and snail. Other than that I think I am screwed! Needless to say this has happened at the worst time. I will be un able to take care of the tank for 2 days if not longer. Soo unless I can get my husband to do the meds they will most likely get worse before I get home from the hospital.
As far as petsmart, well their staff if they do get trained don't know a whole lot. I was there buying food and new sponges and a gal was there buying not only her new tank, nothing set up but buying fish. Customer is always right but they should have limits to what they will sell or do. Other than that I love petsmart. They price match drs. foster and smith catalogs and I get stuff wayyyyyyy cheap.
Hugs and ty for the help
 
Like Coler said, pics would help alot.

As far as the fish quality from X or Y store goes, get to know what day they receive shipments and then WAIT. I never buy any fish from a store until they've been there for at least 2 weeks and I still then quarantine. I WAY prefer to buy from local breeders and other hobbyists. The stock is always 10X healthier IMO.
 
What size tank and what total inhabitants? I just saw that you had a single loach...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom