Fish Are Dying With White Heads

[dave r]

Tank size: 40 gallon
pH: 7.0
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 0.25
kH: ??
gH: ??
tank temp: 26 celcius

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): no difference what so ever

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 20% weekly

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: None

Tank inhabitants: 2 pearl gouramis, 2 bleeding heart tetras, 1 paradise fish (was 2), 2 high fin platies (was 4), 10 penguins, 1 angel, 2 rock shrimp, 1 common plec, 1 clown loach.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Bogwood (from lfs, and soaked for two weeks before adding to the tank, been in about 2 weeks now).

Exposure to chemicals: No

Digital photo (include if possible): N/A



Over the couple of weeks i have slowly been loosing fish, but recently as in a couple of days i have lost a few that have had white on top of their heads but not fluffy. The paradise fish i lost was a good example, its body didnt have any colour and its top of its head was white and i would have said the head was a bit disfigured. I know im probably sounding vague but i cant explain it all easily, so if anyone can help just ask me specific question that will help you understand. Thanks for any ideas you have.

 

[mduros]

Your tank is overstocked. You have some fish that are going to grow pretty big, i.e. angel, common pleco, clown loach, and even the paradise fish I would like to see in a bigger tank. The washing out of color is comon in fish when they are experiencing stress. Please rehome your angel, pleco and clown loach as soon as possible, even if they are still small. I would also increase the water changes to 40% a week with that bioload. What kind of filtration do you have?
Take care,
Mary.

 

[WILDER]

I agree you are overstocked and clown loaches should never be kept on there own, he will be stressed on his own as they like to live in groups.
The white on his head is it a greyish spot with a a red circling around it or a spot also in the centre of it, any flicking and rubbing or laboured breathing, mostly when white presents itself on the head it can be columnaris.

http/www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/profiles/d...columnaris.html

 

[dave r]

cant see personaly how that is overstocked for a 40 gallon, and how can that be a big bio load with some of the setups on here being double mine and with big fish. PS my filter is a fluval 205 external. No rubbing or strange behaviour they are all happy (even the clown loach) whos best friend is a shrimp.

 

[dave r]

Sorry, dont wanna keep on about it but it has anoyed me a bit you lot saying im overstocked and my fish will get too big for my tank. I have just read through some posts and naming no names, One person has 2 angels in a 29 gallon tank with other fish. Another person is keeping a common pleco in a ten gallon community. And on those posts there is no dicouragement from anyone whatsoever, so when i come here asking for medical advice for my fish i would appriciate just that and if your advice is i am overstocked and some of my fish will get to big for a 40 gallon tank, then i would like to see some consistancy and put in to practice with other people keeping fish in worse conditions then myself. PS paradise fish grow 4 inches max and 40 gallon community is more then enough room so do your homework before you preach. Rant over

 

[Inchworm]

Hi dave r

While your tank may eventually be overcrowded, by looking at your stats I can see that it's OK for now. That's not the cause of the problem you're having.

It sounds like your fish have a bacterial infection going and it will need to be treated as soon as possible. First let me explain how this happened.

Bacterial infections are usually caused by bacteria that are normally in a tank. It's only when something happens to the fish, and their immune systems fail, that they actually get sick. A number of factors might have caused this, for example, temperature fluctuations (especially quick warm ups) overcrowding, high nitrates or nitrites, uneaten food on the bottom, aggressive tankmates, infrequent or inadequate water changes and bottom vacuuming, or low oxygen content in the water.

If you are in the US, use one of the available antibiotics such as tetracycline. If you are in the UK, where antibiotics are not available, try either Waterlife's Myxazin or Interpet's Anti-Finrot and Fungus Medicine. To avoid them having a relapse, be certain to continue treatment for at least the full course recommended by the manufacturer. You might even find that you have to repeat it.

During treatment keep the temperature at no higher than 75 degrees F. and be certain the surface of the water is moving enough that the water is well oxygenated. This will make the environment less friendly for the harmful bacteria and help your fish get well sooner.

IMHO, gouramis, angel fish and paradise fish each have somewhat aggressive natures. If their is any sign of this in your tank, it might be the underlying cause of the problem.

 

[riverman444]

I was hoping someone would answer this poor chap.

 

[dave r]

Thankyou for the helpful reply, i thought my location was on my profile (obviously not) but im in the uk. Last night i dosed the tank with interpet number 9 as it was as close to the discription as i have found so i will see how that goes. I have no squabbles in the tank (so far) but a couple of fish have only been in a month so will keep my eye on it. Thanks again for the advice.