Help. Nms'

[jonnyf84]

ok, this is a shock to say the least, my pride and joy, 5 fish i look after like no other are sick, they are northern mountain swordtails - quite rare and expensive. I got them after a month reserved 3 weeks ago, they seemed fine.

Last night i saw a couple of them flicking, tonight i noticed some white spots - they look bigger than ich (only slightly) and are only on the caudal fin, two on one male, one on another male and one on a female. I didn't see the other two females, the problem is these are seriously shy fish and i only ever see them at feeding time and even then i cant get close up so pics are out the question.
There is no way it is due to poor water quality, these fish are pampered.

I need some serious help here as these fish are hard to find and expensive.

I just dont know if to treat for white spot, bacterial or fungus.

I really hope to hear from someone soon.


Jonny

 

[WILDER]

If the fish are flicking it sounds like it could be whitespot.
Any redness to the spots.

 

[jonnyf84]

none

is it common for white spot to start on the dorsal fin?

 

[WILDER]

Yes whitespot can show the fins first.
Get you the best link there is on whitespot.
http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/ich.shtml

 

[jonnyf84]

thankyou. I am going to do a water change now and wait 24 to see if there are developments. the problem is i cant up the temp more than 77 with these fish so i cant speed up the life cycle of ich.

 

[WILDER]

Fish can cope with high temps as long as there plenty of aeration in the tank.

 

[jonnyf84]

Fish can cope with high temps as long as there plenty of aeration in the tank.

really? these are sub tropical fish - to really stress the ich it needs to be at about 86F, that would deffinately stress thesefish, maybe i can push it to 79F but i wouldn't feel comfortale going higher.

do you think i should wait 24 hours or begin treating now?

 

[WILDER]

Fish can cope with high temps as long as there plenty of aeration, just hook an airstone up.
Temp has to be 30 with whitespot.
Have you read the link I left.

 

[jonnyf84]

Fish can cope with high temps as long as there plenty of aeration, just hook an airstone up.
Temp has to be 30 with whitespot.
Have you read the link I left.

twice. so it is only killable when in the free swimming stage, at lower temps it will take longer to dislodge from the fish and start the free swimming stage but it will happen - or at least thats what i understand from the link.

It would be like putting goldfish in 86F, it would just stress them too much, wouldn't it cause more harm than good?

 

[WILDER]

They will be fine as long as there plenty of aeration.
How do you think fish go on in the wild in warm weather.
Trust me they will be ok as long as there plenty of aeration in the tank.
The whitespot will kill them before the temp did, as once if affects the gills they usually end up dying.
Whitespot can be a fast killer in fish.

 

[jonnyf84]

ok. thanks wilder. i will begin raising temp tonight and start treating tomorrow night.

I really appreciate your help.


Jonny.

 

[WILDER]

Only had whitespot once and mine coped with the temp as I had plenty of aeration in the tank.
My guppys were fine.
Tanks can get to that temp in the summer months that why so important to have airstone for extra aeration in warm weather.
Good luck.

 

[jonnyf84]

guppies can live comfortably in 30C though, i appreciate your point but these are newish fish, there natual habitat never gets above 25C, its not in there evolution to take temps of 30C.

I am interested now though so i'l get back to you, thanks aain wilder.

 

[WILDER]

Ask in the livebearers section of the forum as to be honest don't know anything about this type of livebearer.

 

[WILDER]

Done abit of research on them they are hard to get hold of.
The will soon break out in whitespot in this article if there not happy.
http/www.fishinthe.net/html/fishguide/fi...;nl=12&nt=3