I'm convinced my fish have TB

[Elisabeth83]

Ok after reading through this forum and reading a lot of information on other websites I am convinced my 26 gallon tank is suffering from TB.

It only seems to be my mollies that die from it though.

They live months like this and either die or I euthanize them

When I buy them they are healthy looking but every single one of them that have died have died the same way.

I remember months ago I posted about one of my lyretails going vertical and then shaking as if he was having a seizure. Well today I woke up to find my silver molly bent and would go vertical and shake

All become thin, 2 have lost color on their heads (kinda became transparent), swim unbalanced.

They don't have all the symptoms of TB but they seem to have far to many to pin it on something else.

It can't be malnutrition as I feed them flakes, pellets, wafers and veggies. They dont come to me like this they slowly become worse and worse.

Not all of my fish in the tank become infected. I don't know what I should do. Should I move the remaining healthy fish to another one of my tanks and steralize everything??? Are the healthy fish still carriers and if I move them will they infect my other tank?

I don't believe it is internal parasites as I've treated for this in the past and it didn't help. I don't see white stringy poop either.

I thought the sick molly was eating but I watched it today and it took the food in but spít back out. So maybe it isn't eating like I thought it was.

Help Please!! I'm freaking out over here

edit: I just euthanized the silver molly I also noticed that her fins were frayed a bit..which is another sign of fish TB

 

[Elisabeth83]

I was reading through more info on fish TB and read ulcers/wounds and pop-eye are also signs of it.

I remember when I introduced 3 SAE's to the tank 1 developed an open red wound near the base of his tail as well as pop eye. He ended up dieing....

If my tank does have TB how should I go about breaking it down? Where would I put the fish that are in there as they are probably carriers?

Anyone have some websites with this info? I'm been searching around all day on google trying to find a step by step guide as to how I should go about breaking the tank down .....

 

[JamesTasker]

If your tank does have TB, which is quite unusal you will have to euthanise everything in there, disinfect the entire system, before starting from scratch - not a very pleasant prospect so that's why I would be positive it actually was TB before doing this.

Meanwhile wear gloves while you are working on your tank because people can catch fish TB.

 

[Elisabeth83]

How rare is fish TB?

I would be so relieved if I didn't have it...I'm just really wondering what is going on in that tank?

Should I treat for internal parasites again??

I posted in livebearers about my mollies dieing..what are the chances that the 2 places I bought them from were bad batches???

Say they weren't bad batches but because there was internal parasites in the tank would they then get them once I put them in the tank?

I have the medication for internal parasites...should I go ahead and use it?

 

[WILDER]

If you had internal parasites in the tank yes they would of caught them, they only have to suck another fish poo up to catch them, make sure they do have them before you treat the tank, if there is no long stringy white poo don't medicate.

 

[Elisabeth83]

Hmm....will they always be pooping white stringy poo or can it be a little stringy but then normal poo as well?

Gosh these fish are stressing me out

 

[WILDER]

Think it would be long white stringy all the time.

 

[Elisabeth83]

Hmm...well that can't be it then....

What other diseases fit the symptoms my fish are having??? I'm really at a loss here as to what I should do...

The only things I can think of that fit the symptoms are fish TB and internal parasites I don't think it's old age or malnutrition

 

[sylvia]

It could also be an internal bacterial infection. Even if it's TB, antibiotics (strong ones) can sometimes help. I suggest you try this before doing anything else. If you can get medicated food, this is the best way to treat. The spitting out of food doesn't necessarily mean the fish isn't eating so it's worth a try. All fish do this sometimes to rbeak down large pieces and then they eat the smaller bits. However, do euthanise any fish with bent spines or that you can clearly see have wasted away to a point where they are clearly unable to swim comfortably, eat or generaly survive for much longer. As for how rare TB is. It's becoming increasingly common but livebearers don't get it as much.

Also, don't add any more fish. Be it TB, parasites or an infection, you don't want the sick or even healthy looking fish (which could still be carriers) to pass it on to new tankmates. If all fish end up dying or showing symptoms, you may well have to break down and sterilize the tank but don't worry about this for now. Oh and don't use the same equipment you use in this tank in other (healthy) tanks (that includes buckets, syphons, nets, filters, airstones, gravel, plants etc.) just in case it realy is TB.

 

[WILDER]

Can you get an antibiotic called tetracycline in sweden.

 

[Elisabeth83]

Sylvia - Thanks for responding I was hoping you would. Ok an internal bacterial infection. I have a product here by Waterlife called Myxazin for the treatment of fin-rot, body-rot, ulcers and other bacterial infections. Would this be the medication I'd use for treating a internal bacterial infection??

Not sure if I can get medicated food What if I soak their pellets in some of the Myxazin?? Would it work the same? Or a totally bad idea?

Yes I did euthanize the silver molly who was suffering terribly I hate when I have to euthanize one of my fish. It makes me sick inside It had to be done though.

Well lets just hope it isn't TB. I'm willing to try everything I possibly can before I have to tear down the tank and euthanize the other fish.

Nope definately wont be adding anymore fish to the tank.

I never use the same equipment for any of my 4 tanks. They all have their own nets and I have a dirty bucket and a clean bucket. I also have gravel vacs for each of the tanks. Every couple of weeks I put the nets, gravel vacs, algae cleaners in my dishwasher just to be on the safe side (course not with soap lol).

So I am at a delema here. I have a lot of medications on hand. What I have to decide now is am I going to treat for internal parasites (Waterlife Sterazin) or am I going to treat for internal bacterial infection (Waterlife Myxazin).

What should I use?

 

[Elisabeth83]

Can you get an antibiotic called tetracycline in sweden.

Hmmm... does it say on the bottle "Tetracycline"? If so I've never seen a product called that here. What company makes it??

 

[WILDER]

It's an antibiotic it's in tablet form, have you any antibiotics from the doctor if so look at the name of the tablet.

 

[Elisabeth83]

It's an antibiotic it's in tablet form, have you any antibiotics from the doctor if so look at the name of the tablet.

I have an antibiotic here called Kåvepenin but thats the Swedish name. It's a variation of penicillin.

 

[WILDER]

Sending you a pm.