I'm Gutted, And Need Help To Fix!

[tetratank]

I really need some help. I have looked on the forum and read some areas that look to be what is happening but I need some help to find out what has happened.

I was sitting here at the pute and I heard this flipping swishing sound from the tank. I looked over and the white molly is acting all crazy at the surface. I just looked at her and she has these white spots on her tail fin. The cardinals have it on all their fins.

What have I done

I'm so upset as I think it is white spot from what I have read on here. I have never experienced this and my fish have been free of any problems the whole time. Is this from the new fish? I introduced those penguin tetras and then removed them. The Angel came this day and 2 days later I got the bristlenose. Which one is most likely to have caused this??

Was it the penguin tetras and is this why they were behaving badly? I never looked at them close enough to see if there was anything a miss with them besides thier behaviour.

What do I do??

My poor fish, I'm really upset. Will they die? Can it be fixed?

All help is appreciated. How quickly do I have to act to help them?

Thanks guys

 

[Jazzzz]

Pictures and water stats would be helpfull

I think you can get meds from fish shops and it is ussually curable if its not to far gone.

 

[minxfishy]

If it is whitespot/Ich there are a lot of medications to treat them, normally it is curable, so try not to worry too much. Whereabouts are you, UK, US? That way someone can advise which is the best treatment for Ich.

Also can you give your water stats, ie, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

 

[tetratank]

Hi Jazz, Thanks for your reply. I can't give you stats, can only give you ph. I usually get the pet store to check the water for me. I can give you pics but not sure how good they will be. Do you want some anyway?

 

[Athena]

It sounds like white spot - you will need to buy something like Protozin to treat the whole tank with. Follow instructions carefully and don't miss a dose - hopefully you'll have caught it in time and will be able to save most, if not all, of your fish.

Some fish are more sensitive than others and, unfortunately, a bout of whitespot can kill them off - but more often than not, the majority of fish will recover and be fine.

If you can go get some medication today, all the better - the sooner you start treating your tank the better chance the fish will have.

Good luck! Athena

 

[tetratank]

Minx, I'm in Australia. Can you guys recommend anything for me that is tried and tested to be successful?

 

[ALW]

You need to treat the tank for White Spot. Remove the Black Carbon Filter Media as this will remove any chemicals you add to the tank to rid the white spot, Raise the tank temp up to 30c and increase aeration and treat with, i would recommend King British White Spot Control [URL="http/www.thepet-shoponline.co.uk/king-br...ontrol-36-p.asp"]http/www.thepet-shoponline.co.uk/king-br...ontrol-36-p.asp[/URL] follow the instructions and hopefully within 10 days you should be ich (white spot) free! Only half dose the tank because you have a Bristlenose Pleco, they are sensitive to treatments.

Have a look at this http/www.theaquariumshop.com.au/shopdisp...3&cat=White Spot

 

[Athena]

I just Googled and found this product, which is probably the same as Protozin:


Aquarium Science White Spot Remedy (3 Day) 150mL
Fish Medication for rapid treatment for White Spot (new packaging)
White Spot Remedy(three day) is a rapid treatment for White Spot in freshwater aquarium fish.

Cost was AU$7.85 (but that's an online price so your LFS might be slightly different).

Hope that helps - Athena

 

[tetratank]

Thank you Athena, I will go to the store tomorrow as it is 12.10pm here now. I can't do diddly squat right now. I feel stupid and annoyed with myself for not seeing it when I fed them today. Hubby just gave me the telling off and said, I told you not to add anymore fish.

Is it most likely to the introduction of the new fish? I can't see it being my water since I haven't changed a thing for the whole time I have had the tank.

 

[minxfishy]

Yep Protozin is apparently a good one, which I believe is available in aus. Ask your LFS, also, when you begin treatment, slowly raise the temp in the tank to about 80c, increase aeration also as the med/higher temp will reduce oxygen levels in the tank. Follow the instructions to the letter, it may be necessary to do a second treatment also just to be sure its all gone.

 

[ALW]

Thank you Athena, I will go to the store tomorrow as it is 12.10pm here now. I can't do diddly squat right now. I feel stupid and annoyed with myself for not seeing it when I fed them today. Hubby just gave me the telling off and said, I told you not to add anymore fish.

Is it most likely to the introduction of the new fish? I can't see it being my water since I haven't changed a thing for the whole time I have had the tank.

If i were you i would do a 30% water straight away!

 

[Athena]

LOL - I guess you won't find any LFS's open that time of night!

Yes, it often happens when introducing new fish to the tank. They get a bit stressed or can't handle the different water quality and end up with Ich and then pass it on to the others in the tank.

I've actually got the same scenario myself at the moment. Put two beautiful German Rams in an established tank - and after a few days I thought they were doing really well, kept admiring their "sparkles" - only to realise, on much closer inspection the other night, that the "sparkles" were actually WHITE SPOT! Doh!!! So, don't worry, it's easily missed at first. Strangely enough, though, my Rams are not showing the customary "flicking" against tank objects. The white spot seems not to have bothered them much at all. But I'm treating with Protozin so all should be well in a few days.

Good luck with yours!

 

[tetratank]

Thanks guys, I'll let you know tomorrow how it goes. I'm really concerned about my cardinals as they are my favourites (not that I should have any, but they are) and they all have it. Can I loose any of them over this?

 

[ALW]

Yes you may lose a few fish

 

[fishyfreak]

Cupramine worked for me, it's a copper treatment. If you can find it, it's very inexpensive and works for many different problems. I had Ich in my 180 gallon w about 40 Cichlids and never lost one. Salt is also recommended with most treatments.

Good luck.

Edit: When I say salt, I mean aquarium salt. I sometime forget that people new to the hobby might add table salt, as I once did