External Parasite Development?

[fatheadminnow]

One of my fish just got ick and fin rot; what I want to know is how does this just appear?

I have had these same fish for a couple months now and everything seemed just fine, then this morning this developed?

How, I thought my tank was okay?

I feed flake food.

I also feed frozen brine shrimp; could this be the cause?

Thanks in advance!

I just don't know how this can just appear?

-FHM

 

[WILDER]

Added anything new to the tank like plants.
Whitespot can lay dorimant but not usually in freshwater tanks.
It only takes a stressed fish to break out in whitepot.

 

[WILDER]

[URL="http/www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_ich2.php"]http/www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_ich2.php[/URL]

Info taken from this link.

Prevention

It is commonly thought that Ich lies dormant in all fish tanks, just waiting for an opportunity to attack. This is not accurate. However, it is possible that a resistant fish or group of fish can harbor a low level of Ich infection without obvious symptoms until stress of some kind reduces the fish's ability to fight it off. Then the infection becomes full-blown, seemingly out of nowhere. While this is a possibility, the most common and most likely cause of ich in any tank is through the introduction of new fish.

Ich is present in many fish bred in fish farms and distributed to pet stores. Carefully inspect each new specimen you are considering for purchase. Even fish that appear perfectly healthy can still harbor ich in the gills, or have a new infection that doesn't yet show the typical symptoms. If possible, quarantine all new fish in a separate tank to prevent an infestation of Ich, as well as other potential parasites and diseases. The quarantine period should be two weeks or longer, during which time you should carefully observe the new fish. Anti-parasitic medications or foods can be used during this time to prevent the spread of certain other types of parasites, such as worms and flukes.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Thanks a lot wilder!

I am going to start to quarantine all new fish for now on!

Thanks for all of your help!

-FHM

 

[WILDER]

Good Luck.

 

[fatheadminnow]

By the time I got home and added the medication, the fungus type stuff spread even further and with in an hour he died.

It is really crazy, the morning of, he looked just fine, and then like a couple hours later he had this white fungus looking stiff.

I got the medication and he died a little while after?

What kind of disease could spread so fast?

-FHM

 

[WILDER]

Does the fluffy fungus look like cotton wool.
Columnaris can spread fast.

Bless Him.
R.I.P.

http/www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm

 

[fatheadminnow]

No, it did not look at all like that.

It kinda looked like a flower pattern in the side of him, but white in color with a little brown in the center.

These were all over his body?

And he had fin rot.

-FHM

 

[WILDER]

Columnris can come in a brown colour but so can fungus.
Fungus can grow on dead tissue has he had an injury lately.

How are the other fish.

Fungal Infections
Info taken from here.
http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm


Symptoms:

Fungal infections can be differentiated from other infestations because white, gray or brown cotton-like growths can be seen on the fish.



Cause:

Healthy fish are not affected by fungi, but succumb following an injury to the skin. Fungal infections are caused by various species of Fungi, such as Saprolegnia and Achlya.



Treatment:

The most important thing to do is return water quality to optimal levels. Since fungal infections are not contagious to otherwise healthy fish, treating only the infected fish is recommended. Treatment should include dabbing the affected area with a cotton swab dipped in Methylene Blue. Use caution in the fish’s eye area because Methylene Blue can cause permanent damage if applied directly. If the eye is infected, or the fish is small, a dip is preferable. Prepare a bucket using fresh, dechlorinated water of the same temperature and pH as the water in the aquarium. Add one drop of Methylene Blue for each gallon of water and place the fish in it for ten to twenty minutes. Dips may be repeated up to two times a day until symptoms have subsided. If several fish are affected, treat the entire tank with Methylene Blue, Fungus Eliminator, Fungus Guard, or Fungus Cure.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Good to hear it is not contagious to other fish in the tank.

He must of got injured somehow when I was gone and I did not see it until it was too late.

Would it really kill a fish in like 12 hours from the first sign of development?

That is what really puzzles me?

Other than that, thanks again wilder for your help!

-FHM

 

[WILDER]

Don't know much about fungus as you don't really see it much.
Columanris can spread like wild fire.

I would do some water changes and add the correct amount of med back to water removed if you are still treating for whitespot.

Good luck with the rest of the fish.