[fishnovice]

Got 2 spotted danios (possibly a pair) 2 weeks ago. They seemed fine and were happily swimming fast all over the tank. Did 50% water change this morning and immediately noticed danio looking very strange:
[list]

[*]Has humpback deformity on spine - I never noticed it before, back like an arch instead of straight.
[*]Tail twisted to one side so whole body is curved
[*]Swimming oddly, partly on side , probably because of curved spine and twisted tail.
He wasn't like this when I got him and seemed OK yesterday. Is it the water change?Other danio and small jewel cichid I added yeserday seem OK. Water was dechlorinated and temp of new water similar, perhaps slightly warmer.

Looks bad. What can I do to help him? Is it contagious to other fish?

[Wilder]

How many gallons or litres is the tank.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

Bent spine can be old age, injury, stray voltage, internal parasites, fish tb, vitamin deficiency.

Does he look bloated or skinny.
is his anus enlarged or red and inflamed.
What does it look like when he goes to the toilet.

I would issolate the sick fish. If he gets any worse it would be kinder to end his misery.

This post has been edited by Wilder: 07 November 2009 - 03:02 PM

[fishnovice]

Thanks Wilder. No he's not bloated or skinny and has no other symptoms.No idea of his age, adopted him recently. Will check water stats tomorrow (too dark now) but should be OK as I've just done a big water change...and the other 2 fish are fine.Can't isolate him as I already have 5 tanks and no space or heaters for any more.
His bent tail seems to have straightened out a lot and he's swimming faster though still at an angle. He even swam up to surface to feed when I fed them a few minutes ago so he can't be suffering if he's interested in food can he? I'll let him recover naturally unless he gets worse suddenly. Will keep on checking him.

[Wilder]

Ok.
Danio spines can bend with old age.
If you notice anymore symtoms get back to the board.
Good Luck.

[fishnovice]

Wilder, on 07 November 2009 - 08:38 PM, said:

Ok.
Danio spines can bend with old age.
If you notice anymore symtoms get back to the board.
Good Luck.

Sadly he died overnight and his tank mates (probably the jewel) ate his belly and intestines. Even dead, his back was definitely curved in a crescent shape. No idea of his age or any previous injuries as he was rehomed with me 2 weeks ago.

If it's fish TB(can humans catch this?) or parasites, does that mean that cannibal tankmates are also infected? Don't really want to keep a tank with just 2 fish - how long do I have to quarantine them and what disease symptoms should I watch out for?

OOps just realised...also adopted from the same previous owner 4 platy (now in community tank with mollies) and large pleco now in my cichlid tank. Platies and plec seem healthy..but so did the danio till yesterday. What are the chances of danio's old tankmates also being infected and killing all my other fish? Couldn't quarantine them as had no space and was told they were healthy. I would be devestated if they died.

[Wilder]

You can only catch fish tb throw cuts and wounds. Also you have to be exposed to it along time. More prone if you have a weak immune system. It's very rare to catch fish tb.


I would wait at least six weeks before adding anymore fish.

Signs of internal parasites are.
Long stringy white poo, or clear mucas poo.
Worms prutruding from the anus.
Enlarged anus, red inflamed anus.
Fish will look bloated or skinny.
Sunken in belly.
Bent spine.
Fish will sometimes swim on there sides.

Bless him.
R.I.P.

This post has been edited by Wilder: 08 November 2009 - 04:39 PM

[fishnovice]

Thanks, really appreciate your help.I'll watch out for those parasite symptoms, though danio didn't show any apart from bent spine.

Getting very demoralised and depressed now.I started as a complete newbie who had never even heard of cycling but managed to keep 30 fish in several tanks alive and well for 6 months with no casualties and suddenly I've lost 3 fish who showed no previous sign of illness in 2 weeks, 2 in 24hours, all in different tanks .Latest casualty is my lovely young marbled con who was kept on her own as she was being bullied. She seemed OK yesterday but found her dead on tank bottom this morning. No sign of injury or illness at all. Both her tank and the danio's were in the same room but she never had any contact with danio.The only thng in common was that I did a big water change at the same time on both tanks. As danio started acting funny immediately after water change, could it have been the water? I matched the water temp by mixing with hot water from kettle and added usual dechlorinator before putting water in tanks

[Wilder]

fishnovice, on 09 November 2009 - 02:49 PM, said:

Thanks, really appreciate your help.I'll watch out for those parasite symptoms, though danio didn't show any apart from bent spine.

Getting very demoralised and depressed now.I started as a complete newbie who had never even heard of cycling but managed to keep 30 fish in several tanks alive and well for 6 months with no casualties and suddenly I've lost 3 fish who showed no previous sign of illness in 2 weeks, 2 in 24hours, all in different tanks .Latest casualty is my lovely young marbled con who was kept on her own as she was being bullied. She seemed OK yesterday but found her dead on tank bottom this morning. No sign of injury or illness at all. Both her tank and the danio's were in the same room but she never had any contact with danio.The only thng in common was that I did a big water change at the same time on both tanks. As danio started acting funny immediately after water change, could it have been the water? I matched the water temp by mixing with hot water from kettle and added usual dechlorinator before putting water in tanks

Bless them.
R.I.P.

Do you use your water change bucket for anything else.
Could any chemicals gotten into the tank.
is the declorinator out of date.

Signs of toxins are.
Darting, erratic swimming, turning upside down, gasping, laboured breathing, falling to bottom of tank, excess mucas, fish will look pale with clamped fins.

[fishnovice]

Water bucket only used for fish and used regularly. Had someone staying in that room, maybe some contaminant fell in tanks even though they have lids?
Dechlorinator bought 1 month ago, used before and after in all my tanks and had no problems, not even with tiny fry tank.
Cichlid was on tank bottom in corner last night but she usually hid in her flowerpot cave anyway. NO other symptoms and her body showed no signs of injury or disease when I found her this morning.
Used the same water for both tanks with dead fish -could it have been the water? The only other fish death I've had (apart from a fish killed by cichlids)was a convict mum and all her 40 fry who died just after big water change. In that case, mum showed the toxin symptoms you mentioned and I almost lost dad con too. He was lying on his side but managed to save him by transferring to a bucket. He's OK now - the marbled con was meant as a replacement for his dead mate.

[Wilder]

Run tap water for a while.
Water changes and increase aeration.
Triple dose the declorinator.
Run some fresh black carbon and fresh filter floss or matting.

[fishnovice]

Wilder, on 10 November 2009 - 04:28 PM, said:

Run tap water for a while.
Water changes and increase aeration.
Triple dose the declorinator.
Run some fresh black carbon and fresh filter floss or matting.

Thanks I'll do that