Blck Skirt Tetra Issues

[Ryandsimmons]

Hi,

I just got two Black Skirted Tetras and am a bit concerned about both of them.

The one has pretty much a gill missing, I think it got hurt either in the shop when netting or somehow when being put in the tank. (Actually, I don't see how it could be injured from bag to tank but still.) Anyway, yesterday it looked bad, gulping a lot and not active, but today it has perked up and looks fine apart from a bright red line on the side of it's head. Will it recover okay? I know it may be more prone to infection, but it is looking well recovered already.

The other one has a lump at the base of it's tail. At the point where the fin turns into flesh there is swelling, with a bump sticking aout a millimetre or two on each side. It almost looks like a ball bearing is in there. The other one is perfectly flat there so I am a bit concerned. apart from that it looks extremely healthy, it is lively with good colour and no spots or anything.

Both fish came from a shop with a very very good reputation, so I am quite surprised. Any ideas on these sorry?

Many thanks

Ryan

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons or litre is the tank.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite,nitrate, and ph.

Fish can survive with a gill plate missing but need to be kept in excellent water quality.
Does the gill look infected.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing, excess mucas, darting or erratic swimming.
Check the other gill to see if it looks fine. Is there a hole in the other gill, or excess mucas, pale gill with excess mucas, or red inflamed gill, any white edging to the gill or fungus growing on the gill. Do the gills look mottled.

The lump the ball bearing is it beneath the skin or on top.
Does the lump resemble a cauliflower or cluster of eggs.
Does the lump look like its filled with fluid.
Any redness to the lump.


Is it possibe to load a pic up of the sick fish.

 

[Ryandsimmons]

Sorry.

Tank is 125 litres
Currently at the start of a fish in cycle.
Fish in there are 4 Serpae Tetras and 2 Black Skirts.
pH - 8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5ppm
Fish were only put in the tank yesterday though.

The gill looks a healthy red, (as far as I know, I am new to this.) It does look like a wound, I can post a pic later, the rest of teh fish is fine. It was sluggish yesterday, but today looks fine. no mucus, blotches or any other signs that lead me to worry. (It was the fact everything else looks good that makes me thing a wound, also I would have thought I would have noticed it in the tank in the fish shop.)

The lump on the other fish is beneath the skin. No redness, colour looks good. there is a slight irregularity to the bump maybe from scales pushing out. It may be filled with fluid or may be solid, I cannot really tell. The tail moves fine and the fish keeps up with the other new fish so it doesn't appear to impede movement.

 

[WILDER]

If the tanks cycling I would take the fish back to the lfs with the missing gill plate.
He can't be in bad water quality.
Also the red line on the fish realy needs some melafix at half dose to stop infection.
It could be a wound.

The fish with the lump needs treating with a bacterial med.
If its a tumour the med won't do a thing.
Also keep a look out for when the fish goes to the toilet.
Does the fish look bloated or thin.
Is the anus enlarged or red and inflamed.

 

[Ryandsimmons]

Thanks

Would this be the stuff I need?
http/www.aquaticstoyourdoor.co.uk/Interpet-Anti-Internal-Bacteria-No-9.html

Or do you recomend another supplier / brand?

 

[WILDER]

Yes the interpet med fine.


Let me know how the fish get on.
Good Luck.

 

[Ryandsimmons]

Thanks very much for the help.

Unfortunately I won't be able to take the fish back until the weekend, however there is another lfs near where I work. I'll grab some of the meds at lunch tomorrow and do my best to keep them healthy. He'll have to stick it out till then. I'll do a large water change tonight to try to help.

I really hope the injured one pulls through, I've developed a real soft spot for him already.

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
Just worried about the fish with his gill plate missing as he lost some protection.

 

[Ryandsimmons]

This morning all fish looked lively and perky. Fed them for the first time and all fish ate well. (In fact the one with the injured gill was noticeably the most active fish in the tank, darting around and wofing down food.)

I'm just running down the lfs to get Melafix (or equivalent) and antibac. I just want to confirm that these won't affect the cycle badly?

Currently pH 8, Ammononia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5ppm. Mature media will be forthcoming.
Edit: Just thought,tank is new (been running 5 days) won't the carbon in the filter kill the meds? I can't take the carbon out as the Fluval U3 has integrated carbon / foam pads.

 

[Ryandsimmons]

Okay, picked up King British Bacterial Control and will dose the tank tonight. The instructions say how much to use but don't mention how many doses you need, so I assume I will redose after every water change?

 

[WILDER]

You need an internal bacteria med for lumps.
Melafix is only good on cuts and wounds, it's an external bacteria med.

You need to remove the black carbon from the filter as it will just remove the med from the tank.
Ask in tropical discussion on how to remove black carbon from your filter.

Just do and look the king british med up.

Also soak the fish food in garlic juice to boost there immune system with the tank cycling.

Sounds like an external med to me.

King British Bacterial

King British Bacteria Control treats fish with bacterial infections, gill rot and external ulcers

There are bacteria in your aquarium all the time, but they tend only to attack vulnerable tissues that have been damaged. Wounds & abrasions caused by bullying or handling leave fish exposed to infection

Bacteria Control kills the bacteria that cause fin & gill rot & other external bacterial infections in abrasions & wounded tissues (including aeromonas & pseudomonas species

 

[Ryandsimmons]

Both fish still in same conditions. Wound is not healing (but not getting worse) but I have no idea how long fish take to heal things like this.

I have medicated the tank, but had a quick question on the garlic. Shall I just crush some fresh garlic and try to get some of the juice to soak into the flakes?

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
Do a water change and run some black carbon to remove the med.It dosn't sound like it's doing much.

I would go out and buy anti internal bacteria med by interpet or esha 2000.


Just soak there food in the garlic juice. Fresh garlic the best.

 

[Ryandsimmons]

Ok.
Do a water change and run some black carbon to remove the med.It dosn't sound like it's doing much.

I would go out and buy anti internal bacteria med by interpet or esha 2000.


Just soak there food in the garlic juice. Fresh garlic the best.

The med has only been in 36 hours though. Should it work that fast?

And how long does a wounded gill normally take to close over?

Many thanks

Ryan

 

[WILDER]

Give the med longer. Didn't realise it was only 36 hours.

The gill plate will never grow back. Just got to keep an eye on infection, and need good water quality.