Bacterial Infections

[katyj]

Hi guys,

I'm new to this forum and was wondering if anyone had any info on antibiotic treatments. But first my stats

Tank size: 150 L
pH: 7.0
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 0
kH: 1
gH: 6
tank temp: 26 C

Very well planted tank and has been running for a year before moving a month ago, but maintaining all media aside from 50% of water (external prime filter and air filter installed)

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
the two neons and one glow light have swollen belly, all the fish are slow & lethargic not very hungry, exept for two of the glow lights that dart and flick regularly. The most bloated neon rubs occasionally. One of my cardinals looks like he's scrapped off his red stripe.

I just had a bacterial bloom, which turned the tank almost completely opaque, its now cleared to about 90%, but I think it stressed the fish, I lost my 4 red nosed rummies (in two nights) and all these symptoms have risen in the last two days, since the bloom...

Volume and Frequency of water changes: at the first signs of the bloom I did a 30% water change when it got worse and the pH and DO dropped I did 50% changes for two days. 2 days ago I left it be and it has slowly cleared.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: I added epsom salts tonight

Tank inhabitants: 2 cardinal tetras, 2 neon tetras, 3 glow light tetras, 2 angelfish, 1 Otto

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): the angels came after the tetras and the otto but only by 10 days so they have all been there for three weeks

Exposure to chemicals: Nil

Digital photo (include if possible):

So house keeping aside my question is...
If I treat for bacterial infections and put the fish in hospital and with antibiotics (Tetracycline) how do I know it wont happen again when I put them back in the tank is a water change and a good vac enough to get the bacteria down?

Thanks for reading this, I know its long

Katy

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Spooky76]

You tank isnt cycled by the sounds of it, and classic symptons of that too espesially with Neons. You should have a nitrate reading, so either your tank isnt cycled or the test didnt work.

I would think you are going to be getting ammonia / nitrite readings very soon. Bacteria bloom is also symptomatic of cycling starting.

Start with a 10-15% water change asap and re-check again an hour later.

What do you use to test the water ?

 

[katyj]

The tests I'm using are liquid tests by aquarium pharmaceuticals inc. the tank has been here for a month and shown no change in any readings except the pH which fluctuated 2 pts...I fear that may have been the start of the problems

Water change is done and tests read 0
If it is re-cycling should I hospitalize and treat the infections or just wait?

 

[Spooky76]

PH fluctuations can be bad for fish. You mean 0.2 or 2 ?

Good, if your stats are at 0 then thats a good start, although you should have Nitrate readings, which is why I thought it was cycling. As once your Nitrite reading drops your Nitrate should go up.

Start with medications, but keep an eye on your water stats each day just to be sure.

Also if you have any carbon in your filter(s) take it out, turn off UV also.

If you have a hospital tank which is cycled then you can treat in there, but if theres not many fish in your tank and several ill fish, treat the main tank.

 

[Davo86]

can i ask what you are feeding? that way we can rule out the possibility that the bloat has been caused by lots of protein based foods such as bloodworm.

from your post you seem to have an established filter, a well planted tank and have undertaken good sized water changes, all which should sort out your problem in time,
if your stats remain at there current level, i would wait a day or so and then treat the tank itself if a diagnosis is made.

 

[madcaow]

i guys, this is actually my old tank katy is talking about.

this is the 2nd time it has been moved, the first time went incident free which was 12 motnhs ago.

this time we kept 50% of the water and left a good 10liters in the tank while in transport. then immediately re-added it back once it was in its new home.

the tank had been running (for the last 12 months) beautifully. i am interested to know if the tank would have required re-cycling after the tranportation as the amount of original tank media that was retained was extremely high and not kept from the tank for more than 2 hours.

before this incident there was roughly 7 rummys, 6 cardinals 5 or 6 neons, 4 or so glowlights and an otto. (all random guesses but close enough huhu) we did lose a neon to white spot but he was sick before the move. had treated with melafix for 3 days post move.

i really cant see what would have caused it as katy has been following my instructions using the exact same gear and food as i have been using in this tank for the last 2 years. they might seem a little fat (i havent seen the newly fattened ones!) they are fed normal tropical flakes and sometimes little small pellets that they can hardly fit in their mouths. i used to feed them frozen bloodworms regularly, but they have not had any since the move.

as stated it is heavily planted and always has been. amazon swords, java ferns, several varieties of anubias, camboba, etc. the tank is located next to a window which does let a lot of natural light in but the lighting of the tank has been adjusted to accommodate for this. there hasnt been _too_ much trouble with algae (just bloody duck weed!)

it is surprising this has happened this time as move went alot smoother than the last one. i had never had any previous issues with bacterial infections so i am not as knowledgeable on the topic as i would like to be. the pH was a smidgen low for my liking but within the range of all Tetra species.


i think probably she has it under control now. i would just like to know how this may have happened for future reference.

sorry for long post and katy, i hope this is all ok with you?!! lol.

h

 

[WILDER]

Darting around and flicking usually point towards a parasite if water quality is good, plus parasites can cause bacterial infections.
Do any of your fish have excess slime on them, any colour change.
Check the gills over to see if there pale with excess mucas on them or red and inflamed.

A fish being bloated means constipation, bacterial infection, to parasite.
What does it look like when your fish go to the toilet.

Epson salts baths are good they help draw the fluids out.
Also shelled peas and daphnia.

Tetracycline can wipe all your bacteria colony out in the filter so I would only advise using the med in issolation.

 

[katyj]

I feed them mostly flakes and pellets as madcaow said, but I've started with peas, I think I'll fast them for a day or two and then feed just peas for a couple of days. The less bloated tetras are moving better after the epsom salt addition last night but the angels and the most bloated tetras are sitting still at the bottom.
(All stats still 0)
Thanks for the help I'll wait and check in again in a day or two.

 

[katyj]

All colour looks good on all but one cardinal with slightly pale red stripe like he rubbed it, no gill redness/mucus. The very swollen glow light has bulging eyes and his stripe looks quite red (compared to the others) the very swollen neon is swimming on an angle. This is getting complicated. No extra slime I can see...

 

[WILDER]

Get going with a bacterial med for the popeye,
The fish with the bleached out red stripe just want to make sure its a cardinal and not a neon tetra.
Have you ever had any neon tetras that have had a bleached out red stripe.