Dead Rainbow, others on way!

[Jodie]

Help!

We purchased 5 dwarf rainbow fish on Saturday and introduced them to our relatively empty tank (5 zebra danios), along with 2 gouramis.

I tested the water before hand and results were as follows:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 10

So I thought that was fine.

Then 2 of the rainbows started to just sit at the surface, almost gasping for air last night. 1 of them later on started to really struggle to swim and generally sink, so I got worried and retested the water, with results as follows:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 20

Not too bad I don't think?

I wonder if the oxygen levels are too low?

We have a Juwel Rio 125 (125l or 27 uk gallons) with all the standard filters and pumps etc....

We also have about 6 live plants in the tank.

I hope somebody can help.

 

[WILDER]

Any sign of flicking and rubbing against objects, are gills red and inflamed, any sign of white salt like grains of salt on the fish, any golding to yellow dusting on the fish.

 

[Snailguy101]

What do you feed them If you described the fish a bit more I think we could figure it out

 

[Jodie]

No inflamed gills, although some of them look red inside (from a glimpse as they swim past), but that also applies to the danios.

No white specs on golddust or anything like that

One of the rainbowsis sitting at the surface constantly, and one of the danios seems to be siting on the bottom.

The pump waspointing toward the surfaceso I moved to face downward, not sure if that will have any effect?

 

[Jodie]

We just feed them flakes at the moment. once a day. Not sure if thats enough?

 

[WILDER]

Red inside can you explain what you mean abit more.

 

[Jodie]

just looks like its a bit red?? inside the gills. not inflamed.

Could it be the amount of food or oxygen?

 

[WILDER]

You have parasites you need a protazon med for gills flukes do you have one for these.

 

[Snailguy101]

The food poobably has nothing to do with it but im guessing they are old or its disease or do you have any males in your tank male rainbows

 

[WILDER]

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hdgilld.htm

 

[Snailguy101]

^^^^that solves it

 

[Jodie]

How would parasites occur?? We don't have any of what you mentioned, not sure what it is??

If it is definately parasites are the fish likely to survive until tomorrw, can't get hold of anything at this time of night?

How can you be sure its parasites?

All your help is much appreciated!

 

[WILDER]

Fetched new fish into the tank without quarantine them, done it myself gill flukes are quite common, but they are very hard to get rid off, they destroy the gill tissue once they are heavy breathing at the top of the tank, the parasites have took the toll on the fish, you might be able to save the others that are not heavy breathing yet, does the tank have a slimey feel to the glass as thats a good sign you have parasites.

 

[WILDER]

http/petplace.netscape.com/articles/artShow.asp?artID=360

 

[Jodie]

Just quite concerned that we may lose more fish as our LFS doesn't upen until 10.30 in the morning.

Especially worried about the gouramis

Will it be ok to leave them until tomorrow?