Can Ich and Fin Rot kill?

[kev_kb]

I don't have time right now to explain the whole situation (some of it has been posted here & in the livebearers section...) right now, but basically I added 2 Platies to a community tank about a week ago and they didn't setlle in well and developed what I thought was fin rot.

I started treatment and after a few days I noticed my male Betta taking small lumps out of my Tetras fins so I removed him from the tank. So I guess the Betta was part of the reason for the poorly Platies even though I never saw any aggression towards them.

To cut a long story short its a few days later and I've lost all 6 Head & Tail light Tetras, and one Peppered Cory. So now I am left with the two sick Platies and two Cories who seem kinda sluggish. In addition to the fin rot, the Platies also have a small amount of white sport now also and they poo is white and stringy at times, though they seem happier today than they have been.

From information I have read Ich and Fin Rot doesn't kill on its own, so I'm starting to wonder if there could be something else going on here? The Cory had a damaged barble and a small red mark on his side, but the Tetras looked normal apart from the odd nipped fin.

I am treating for bacterial infections and increased the temp of the tank to 30c, but should I be doing anymore???

 

[Tempestuousfury]

The red mark might have been an ulcer.

As for the ich not killing, that is partially true. Ich and fin rot damage the immune systems of the fish, which leads to complications taht ultimately mean death. Granted, these things aren't likely to kill your fish outright, but that is a definite possibility if the fungus or parasites persist.

More water changes would also help, if you're only doing one every other week or so.

 

[clutterydrawer]

I'm pretty sure finrot can kill once it reaches the body of the fish. not sure about ich - i would imagine that if left untreated, the stress of being so ill would kill the fish.

damaged barbels can also be caused by bacterial problems. so uhh...looks like that's what you've got. good luck treeating your fish, bacterial infections are horrid.