Emergancy Need Help Asap!

[davaxtc1]

Hi guys & gals of course.

rite here we go..... i have a 3 foot tank it houses 4 C.Julii, 1 C.trilenatus, 2 otos, 6 neon tetra, 1 bristlenose plec, and 2 blue rams (new and are the prob)!

I have had these two rams for about a fortnight now, noticed that they were pooping white poo, thort it may be the food they had been feed on at lfs, well kinda hoping! anyways, its aint subsided, one of the rams has gotten extremley bloated, now judging by these symptoms alls i can think is that they have some kinda internal bacterial infection yes? not dropsy as no raised scales are present,. i need to take action to treat asap as i have left it long enough now. My question is.... i have a 6.5 gallon spare tank, i am planning on using this as a hospital tank, to begin with im just guna try bumpin the temp up to about 31 degrees and hope for the best, i know the rams will take this. BUT my prob is the hospital tank wont be cycled and i dont have a filter for it! NEED advice asap on what to do regarding no beneficial bacteria in hospital tank etc WHAT SHOULD I DO will be getting it set up tomorrow after work.

ADVICE greatly appreciated Dave.

 

[lilacamy931]

I would treat with medication ASAP but personally I would think if they have been in there for two weeks would be best to treat the entire tank if possible and if all occupants can take it as they may now be susceptible to wahtever the rams have brought in..

 

[MewMew42]

id there any way of you getting a small filter for that tank? you could always add a snippet of your regular filter sponge into the new one

it does sound like internal parasites, but ill wait on confirmation on that, i wouldnt raise the temp as i dont think that will do any good, probably stress it out more

in the end you may have to treat the whole tank as it may have spread, but isolating him/her is the best way so he doesnt get picked on

how is the behaviour otherwise?

could you tell me your water stats please?

 

[davaxtc1]

Water stats are ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates between 12.5 and 20ppm. PH 6.8-7, Rams are still eating, but did notice the bloated one rubbing its belly on a piece of slate i have last night. I think raising temp would be good as parasites cant live above 31 degrees. just like how iv treated ich in the past. i could possibly put a bit of slate out of main tank into hospital that will have beneficial bacteria attached, and just peform daily water changes with my main tank water? All other fish seem to be normal they arnt pooping white stuff any how!

 

[mattlee]

i dont think the slate will carry enough bacteria to take care of the ammonia in the hospital tank, i would use some sponge or ceramics from the filter on the main tank otherwise the fish may become poisoned by bad water adding more stress on a sick fish........