Help - Possible Parasites?

[tkdc80]

Hi All
My tank has been fully cycled for about a month, and I've just noticed something may be up.
Stats:
25g tank, levels are good; 1 female marigold swordtail (I know that she probably needs a couple of friends to be happy, right?), and 6 pandy corys.
About a week ago, I noticed that the swordtail had a big belly and was a little skittish (zooming around the tank occasionally - no rubbing yet). I figured she was pregnant, as I had a male in the tank at the time. About 5 days ago, the belly seemed smaller all of a sudden. 2 days ago, I noticed her rubbing on objects in the tank, and 'flashing'. Visually, she looks no different. Haven't noticed any issues with the corys, other that one seems to be breathing quickly, and possible has pinker gills that usual.

Any suggestions on what's going on?

 

[WILDER]

Signs of parasites are.
Laboured breathing or gasping at the top of the tank.
Excess slime on the body of the fish or gills.
Greyish white slime on fish.
Flicking and rubbing against objects in the ttank.
Turn tanks light out and shine a torch on her to see if she has golden spots that glow up.

 

[tkdc80]

Signs of parasites are.
Laboured breathing or gasping at the top of the tank.
Excess slime on the body of the fish or gills.
Greyish white slime on fish.
Flicking and rubbing against objects in the ttank.
Turn tanks light out and shine a torch on her to see if she has golden spots that glow up.

Thanks, Wilder. Definitely no slime issues at this time. I will try the flashlight trick tonight. Is flicking/rubbing a likely sign that something is up, or am I possibly over-reacting?

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Fish will also flash now and then to display.

Pregnant swords will show a dark (gravid) spot behind their abdomen. As they get closer to giving birth the spot gets bigger.

 

[tkdc80]

Just an update....I have been watching the fish closely - I've been hesitant to treat because I definitely don't want to medicate unnecesarily. However...I think I am seeing gold patches on my panda cories today. A few of them are also strangely active (zooming up and down the walls of the tank), and one is breathing quickly.
The swordie is also still quite jerky, and rubbing occasionaly - I can't definitely say if she has the gold sheen or not, she is a marigold sword to kind of goldish to begin with.
I've included a few (not so great) shots....Can anyone tell me if they agree that the gold-ish patches behind my cories' gills looks like the "gold dust" sign?
Also, if it is velvet, I have two medications i've purchased, which should I use ( both claim to treat velvet)?

CopperSafe (active ingredient chelated copper sulfate) by Mardel
or
Maracide (active ingredients Malachite Green, Chitosan) by Mardel

Thank you so much!

 

[WILDER]

Can't tell to be honest in the pics.
Swimming in a jerky movement can be a sign of parasites like flukes.
I think I would treat.
Increase aeration.

 

[scooterchick]

Hmmm, doesn't look like velvet to me, gills look a bit pink though. Sterazin is the usual but it's not very good, see what wilder recommends.

 

[WILDER]

I noticed the pink on the gills but usually they have to be red and inflamed for flukes.
I would get a med that treats more parasites, as it does look like a parasite involved the way there acting.
http/www.waterlife.co.uk/waterlife/protozin.htm

 

[scooterchick]

I noticed the pink on the gills but usually they have to be red and inflamed for flukes.
I would get a med that treats more parasites, as it does look like a parasite involved the way there acting.

Agreed, def parasitic.

 

[tkdc80]

OK thanks - I will do a water change and go ahead with treatment then. Both the Maracide and the CopperSafe I mentioned claim to treat a range of external parasites, any preference between the two?

 

[WILDER]

I would only half dose with the corys as they are very sensitive to parasite meds.
You must increase aeration.
Not sure to be honest never used either meds.
Heard both meds are good.

 

[tkdc80]

Will do, I will keep my airstone on overnight ( i usually turn it off) and will look into getting another tomorrow. Should I increase my filter flow to max?
And thanks for the tip on the half dosing, I had no idea.

 

[WILDER]

Yes turn your filter up.
Maracide just for whitespot isn't it.
The copper med does it cover flukes and other parasites.
I would go with this.
Coppersafe
Manufacturer: Mardel
Chelated copper treatment recommended for the treatment of ick, flukes, anchor worms, velvet, protozoan diseases and other external parasites.

 

[tkdc80]

OK Coppersafe it is then.
It says on the bottle: "treats water for one month, treat replacement water during water changes"
So I treat for one whole month then, with every water change? Seems like such a long time!

 

[WILDER]

Some parasites are eye layers like flukes its probably to kill them once they hatch.
So the cycle dosn't carry on.