Frayed Tails And Ich -- Help!

[victorybear]

Hey guys, I'm new to fish-keeping and new to the forums.

I have two small Skirt/Black Tetra in a 5 gallon tank which I'm currently cycling for a Betta. I've had the tetra for about a week now, but recently my tank light broke so I've only just noticed this problem tonight. Both of the fish's tails are frayed like they've been nipping at each other. Immediately I became worried they were nipping due to stress, but after staring at them very closely, I began to notice the telltale white dots all over their bodies. I'm not sure if the two issues are unrelated, but a site I visited while researching Ich (http/www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/ich/) seemed to imply tail fraying was a symptom of the disease.

I really want to do right by my fish, and if it weren't 11pm at night, I'd drive to the store for the medication right now. Such as it is, I won't be able to buy the medicine until tomorrow evening because I have work tomorrow. The fish seem to have been acting pretty normally. Will they be able to hold out 'till then?

In addition, what brand of medication is best to treat them with? Is salt the better way to go, or the drop formula?

Thanks in advance for your input!


*EDIT*
The one who has it the worst seems jittery and is mostly keeping to itself behind a large, fake stick in my tank. Bad sign?

 

[WILDER]

Check your water stats in the 5 gal tank.
How many gallons is the main tank?

Finrot is common with whitespot.

You need to get the med fast as whitespot can be a fast killer once it affects the gills.
Don't turn temp up to 30 till you get the med.

Treating whitespot.

Turn temp up to 30.
Increase aeration. As the high temp and med reduce 02 in the water.
Remove black carbon from filter if you use it.
Do a water change and gravel vac before adding the med.
Make sure you can use the full dose with the fish you keep. As some brands of whitespot meds you have to half dose with sensitive fish.

Need location to suggest a med.

 

[victorybear]

Thanks for your advice, WILDER. The 5 gallon tank is currently all I have right now. I was told this size would be ok for my two small Black Skirt Tetra for a month or so.

Sorry, I'm really new to this. Is there something specific I should be testing for in the water? I've read that when you're cycling a tank, it's natural for the ammonia and nitrate levels to spike for a short time, but it will go away. Should I be doing something I'm not right now? If so, please let me know.

After I posted this I was thinking my fish might have fin rot in addition. The cures I've read through online mostly seem to require salt to cure, but I understand Tetras don't do well with salt. Is there something better you would suggest that I can use in addition to any ich medication I use?

You mentioned that you needed my location to know what medication to suggest. I'm in Palo Alto, CA. Hope this helps!

When I left for work this morning, both fish seemed to be pretty lively, but I will definitely pick up the ich/fin rot medicine you recommend on my way home today and begin treatment immediately.

 

[WILDER]

It's important to test the water when a tank is cycling.
As you need to keep doing water changes to keep the ammonia, nitrite levels down.
So the readings are important.

Black widows really shouldn't be in a 5 gal tank even for cycling.
Why not just do a fishless cycle.

The whitespot med should help the fins as it has antiseptic stuff in it.
Bad water quality can also be the main cause of finrot.

 

[victorybear]

It's important to test the water when a tank is cycling.
As you need to keep doing water changes to keep the ammonia, nitrite levels down.
So the readings are important.

Black widows really shouldn't be in a 5 gal tank even for cycling.
Why not just do a fishless cycle.

The whitespot med should help the fins as it has antiseptic stuff in it.
Bad water quality can also be the main cause of finrot.

Thanks, WILDER. I've been medicating them for the past three days now while trying to keep the ammonia levels down. I've already lost one of them and it looks like I'm about to lose another. After asking around, it seems they may have had ich when I bought them, since the outbreak happened about a week after I bought them. It's really a shame and I feel absolutely terrible about it. I will definitely be doing a fishless cycle next time.

 

[WILDER]

Bless him.
R.I.P.
Let us all know how the other one gets on.

 

[victorybear]

Poor little tetra. He died just yesterday as well. It was so upsetting, because he seemed to be doing so well, and then he took a sudden turn for the worse. While I still feel terrible about it, I have learned a lot from this, and am now taking super precautions with my new Betta. I've only had my Betta for about four days now, but so far he's doing great.

 

[WILDER]

R.I.P.

Thanks for the update.
Good luck with the betta.