Help Fish Disintergrating

[biddybug]

hi i recently noticed one of my guppies with a grey patch on it back,and immediately got rid of it as i have had a bout of columnaris before so i wasnt taking any risks,ive been treating my tank now for five days with pimafix and myxazin,since treating my tank i have got rid of a few more suspect fish,these started to show white cotton wool like growths(im assuming columnaris) however,ive come home today and i have another guppy with growths starting to appear and one if my male guppies tails has all but disappeared,it has not been bullied it just seems the tail is melting away towards the body leaving strands behind, does ne one have ne suggestions as to what this is?? and how to treat it?

my tank stats are

ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 5

my tank size is 85 litre

please help!!!!

 

[WILDER]

Don't know if I agree with your methods of getting rid of a fish when its ill, I like to give the fish a chance.
Columnaris can be greyish white patches.
Fins can melt away with columnaris.
You need myxazin and pimafix in the uk for columnaris, or anti internal bacteria med by interpet and pimafix.
If its a bad strain hard to cure with uk meds.
http/www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm

 

[biddybug]

Hi wilder thanx for the fast reply, i really dont like getting the rid of fish either,i just had the thought of trying to elimnate the threat to the rest of the aquarium,ive been treating the tank for 5 days now with pimafix and myxazin and im just not seeing ne improvement instead more fishing are becoming infected,would you recommend a water change if so how much,or to continue using the treatment if so how long for and ne water changes? is there ne thing else i can do to cure this? i have put an airstone in for more oxygen,i have lowered the temp to 77,i also did a 50% water change before i started treatment any advice or tips would greatly be appreciated,i just feel helpless

 

[biddybug]

anyone???

 

[Colin_T]

What is your PH?
Do you have any carbon in your filter? If so remove it because carbon absorbs medication from the water.

The white cotton wool like growth is more likely to be fungus.
The grey patch on the back could be costia or trichodina or something along those lines.
The tails that are getting eaten away are most probably a bacterial infection.

Myxazin is a very mild antibiotic. You should try Protozin or something a bit stronger.
Depending on what else is in the tank you could try salt treatment. If you have corydoras catfish, loaches or discus in the tank don't use salt.

All the problems listed above are caused by overcrowding and poor water quality. Regular partial water changes and gravel cleans, and proper filter maintenance, go a long way to prevent these things from occurring. Reducing the number of fishes in the tank can help as well.
Right now I would suggest you do a couple of 50% water changes (using dechlorinated water with a similar temp & PH) and a gravel clean. Then treat the tank with Protozin or another broad spectrum antibacterial treatment.

To work out the volume of water in the tank
measure Length x Width x Height in cm
divide by 1000
equals volume in litres

When measuring the height, measure from the top of the gravel to the top of the water level. If you have big rocks or driftwood in the tank, remove them before measuring the height.

 

[WILDER]

Any signs of fish flicking and rubbing against objects.
If you think its columnaris I would stop using the myxazin as it sounds like its doing nothing, and try anti internal bacteria med by interpet and pimafix.

 

[biddybug]

Any signs of fish flicking and rubbing against objects.
If you think its columnaris I would stop using the myxazin as it sounds like its doing nothing, and try anti internal bacteria med by interpet and pimafix.

hi ni there is no signs of the fish of flicking or rubbing against things,would you suggest a large water change before these new trreatments

 

[WILDER]

Yes a water change before you change meds, have to run some black carbon but I would just run that for aday.

 

[biddybug]

What is your PH?
Do you have any carbon in your filter? If so remove it because carbon absorbs medication from the water.

The white cotton wool like growth is more likely to be fungus.
The grey patch on the back could be costia or trichodina or something along those lines.
The tails that are getting eaten away are most probably a bacterial infection.

Myxazin is a very mild antibiotic. You should try Protozin or something a bit stronger.
Depending on what else is in the tank you could try salt treatment. If you have corydoras catfish, loaches or discus in the tank don't use salt.

All the problems listed above are caused by overcrowding and poor water quality. Regular partial water changes and gravel cleans, and proper filter maintenance, go a long way to prevent these things from occurring. Reducing the number of fishes in the tank can help as well.
Right now I would suggest you do a couple of 50% water changes (using dechlorinated water with a similar temp & PH) and a gravel clean. Then treat the tank with Protozin or another broad spectrum antibacterial treatment.

To work out the volume of water in the tank
measure Length x Width x Height in cm
divide by 1000
equals volume in litres

When measuring the height, measure from the top of the gravel to the top of the water level. If you have big rocks or driftwood in the tank, remove them before measuring the height.

hi there,thanx for the help,i do water changes on a weekly basis roughly 25%(i also have an external filter) and i recently had my water tested by my local lfs and all was fine,as for overcrowding i only have approx 15 fish in the tank,you suggest using protozin which is for fungus,i always thought fungus grew on open wounds?? it seems like the fish have the grey patchs first and they then turn into cotton wool like growths,then the fins also start to erode however this seems to have affected the male guppie alot worse,i also had one fish which looked like it had septicemia,i cant use salt either as i have cories,im completely stumped,i also cant use protozin for 4days after using myxazim

 

[WILDER]

If the fish are not flicking and rubbing dosn't sound like a parasite just yet.
Heard members using parasite meds for columnaris but don't know if it works.
If its a bad strain of columnaris uk meds are not strong enough to cure it.
Columnaris also can cause septicemia.
Did you read that link I left you.

 

[biddybug]

Yes a water change before you change meds, have to run some black carbon but I would just run that for aday.

many thanx wilder,is the interpet treatment stronger(more successful)just outta interest how long should this take to clear up,and am i expecting many casulties?? as the fish seem to start to lose bouyancy due to fins eroding,and pass away soon after.

 

[biddybug]

If the fish are not flicking and rubbing dosn't sound like a parasite just yet.
Heard members using parasite meds for columnaris but don't know if it works.
If its a bad strain of columnaris uk meds are not strong enough to cure it.
Columnaris also can cause septicemia.
Did you read that link I left you.

hi yes i did read the thread you gave me and it all fits the description,especially the mouth rot part and fin rot,plus the pics look spit image not quite as bad because them seem to pass away soon after losing most finnage

 

[biddybug]

hi i just took a look at the post with the molly with white on her,this is exactly what my guppys look like,along with v bad fin rot

 

[WILDER]

When fish lose quite abit of there fins and they struggle to swim they get weak and exhausted and they tend not to make it.
Can't say how long it will take you just never know.
Good luck.

 

[Colin_T]

I do water changes on a weekly basis roughly 25% (I also have an external filter) and I recently had my water tested by my local lfs and all was fine. As for overcrowding I only have approx 15 fish in the tank. You suggest using protozin which is for fungus. I always thought fungus grew on open wounds?? It seems like the fish have the grey patches first and they then turn into cotton wool like growths, then the fins also start to erode however this seems to have affected the male guppie a lot worse. I also had one fish which looked like it had septicemia. I cant use salt either as I have cories. I’m completely stumped, I also cant use protozin for 4 days after using myxazin.

water can appear fine in test kits but if there is lots of rubbish in the gravel or filter then there will be lots of disease organisms in the water attacking the fish.
15 fish in an 85ltr tank should be fine but it depends on the fish. 15 neons not a problem. 15 adult sailfin mollies would be pushing it a bit.
"Waterlife Protozin" is for protozoan parasites including costia & whitespot, but it also treats fungus and bacteria.
Fungus gets into damaged areas on the skin. If the parasite bites the fish it leaves an opening for fungus and bacteria to get in and infect the site. This is why the fish developed grey patches and then the white cotton wool stuff (fungus) infected the area. Fungus and bacteria can infect the same site at the same time.
If you do 50% water changes (and gravel clean) twice a day and add some carbon to the filter you will be able to use Protozin after 2-3 water changes.