About To Lose Entire Tank!

[Offelias]

Hey guys,

Got a major emergency on my hands!!

I have a predominantly platy tank with four Electric blue rams, gourami and two ottos.
4ft planted.

In 18 months I've had no issues with disease. I briefly thought I may have parasites due to some not quite right fish poop a while back, medicated accordingly and no further issues.
Water changes 30% weekly.

last three weeks, I've lost 8 platies and two rams. It started with one that I assumed had died giving birth. Suddenly in the last week, it's spiralled!!
Observation over the last three weeks shows no outward signs of disease. And certainly no signs yesterday either after very keen observation. Today after work, another has died with a second hiding in the smallest space possible, unmoving. I initially thought this one was also dead and went to fish her out, but she was alive and came out briefly - no physical signs - and immediately went back to the hiding spot and hasn't moved since.

No unusual dosing of ferts. No algae issues
No changes to filter/setup to cause recycle
CO2 fine

Water (tested with API and clarified with test strips)
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates only just 5
Ph 6.4
Temp 26

In addition, another platy observed today has developed dropsy and has pineconed. I can tell you for certain this didn't have any visible signs yesterday, so whatever this is - it seems contagious and quick acting!

I regularly sit and watch several times a week just out of enjoyment and prevention, so I'm quite confident I haven't missed any strange behaviours or symptoms.

I've already lost half my stock in a week since the first death three weeks ago.

I'm not sure whether this is relevant but as I've not really experienced death in the tank bar less than a handful since the tank was set up, many of these deaths were found with the chest open and no organs. Given I'm at work during the day, I'm not sure whether this is just fish feeding on the corpse before removal.


Any ideas?
I'm wondering whether internal parasites are the issue and have started dosing the tank as it's not confined to a single fish it seems, but I'd really value any opinions so that I don't lose all my little guys.

Feeling awful poor fish

 

[star4]

When you medicate for internal parasites you need to feed the fish de-shelled peas to flush out their system of the dead parasites. Most likely I am afraid the parasites have died inside the fish since the first medication causing a bacterial infection which cannot be tested for. Your best option is lots and lots of water changes. The ballooning. bursting open is the gases inside the fish, again clean water will flush through the fish's system. If you can do two water changes a day do so for at least a week, then down to one a day for a week, changing to one every other day for a week and so on until you get back to your weekly water change. This should not affect your filter as reducing water changes slowly over time will allow the filter bacteria to catch back up with the bioload. However you will need to test your water just in case.

 

[nic1]

What happened in the end here? This sounds like what I'm experiencing at the moment.... what meds did you use?
Thanks

 

[WILDER]

Symptoms of internal parasites.
 
Long stringy white waste, clear mucas waste.
Enlarged anus.
Red inflamed anus.
Fish will look bloated, or skinny.
Red worms sticking out of the anus.
Sunken in belly.
Sometimes curved spine.
Fish will sometimes swim on it's side.
Spitting food out.
Secondary bacterial infections.
 
It's best to worm fish anyway and there a med called sera nematol  which
is used for camallanus worms..

Link to camallanus worms
http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases/camallanus.php

Med,
 

Med.