Internal Bleeding / Red Spot Under Scales

[threadfin]

I have a long skirt fin tetra and it has red spot right were the tail joins his body. It looks like internal bleeding
Does anyone know of a tread pertaining to something like this.
I did a search with no results.
 

 

[EthanF]

Are you referring to a Black skirt tetra?
Are you sure it is that kind of Tetra? As there is some kinds such as the bleeding heart tetra which naturally have red spots on their body.
Is there other males of the same species in the aquarium?
Is there other semi-aggressive or aggressive fish inside the aquarium?
Is it possible to post a photograph?
 
Black skirt tetra: http/www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&biw=1366&bih=648&q=blding+heart+tetra&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.46340616,d.d2k&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=UrWOUYfzOcmtO-P9gMgB#um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=black+skirt+tetra&oq=black+skirt+tetra&gs_l=img.3..0l5j0i5l4j0i24.11583.14931.1.15339.17.15.0.2.2.0.203.1881.3j11j1.15.0...0.0...1c.1.12.img.YjVLACmimlY&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.46340616,d.ZWU&fp=f9296ec07dee4de0&biw=1366&bih=648
 
Bleeding Heart Tetra: http/www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=648&q=bleedng+heart+tetra&oq=bleedng+heart+tetra&gs_l=img.3...2023.4901.0.5152.19.13.0.6.1.0.178.1353.6j7.13.0...0.0...1ac.1.12.img.5WA9Ut7KT-s

 

[threadfin]

I will try and sus out how to load a picture. Going to the help menu
 
Yes black skirt tetra.
only one in tank.
All tropical species.
 
Something is definatley wrong. Setting up a hospital tank but I fear it is to late. It came on really fast.
 Swimming with great effort occasionally swimming sideways some

 

[DrRob]

A fair few infections can cause these effects. The base of fin rot can look like this, but overall, a picture will speak a thousand words.
 
Good move on the hospital tank, plenty of fresh water is often the best thing you can do. A lot of people use things like melafix as a general improver of chances.

 

[threadfin]

Thanks for your time and advice EthanF and DrRob. We will see how things go from here. I will post here in a few days to let you guys know the outcome.
After close inspection DrRob just as you thought there is indication of finrot. If I just paid closer attention to my tank. As of late I let my job consume me which is why I am in this situation.
Other than gaining some knowledge the other bright spot is joining this forum. Your replys and reading other posts I see there are some smart people here.
Looking forward to possibly being able to help someone else .
Again thanks

 

[EthanF]

No problem man I am also quite a new member but aim to help as much as I can

I think the main factors for a fishes recovery is fresh water, plenty of aeration (bubble stones ect.) , a stress free environment (hidy places ect.) and a high quality diet. These will ensure the infection wears away and the fish starts to re-build tissue and gets back its normal self

 
also I heard that a small amount of aquarium salt can help, but I don't know about this and you should ask around the forum for advice as I have never used it myself.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I would only advise aquarium salt for specific fish (tetras are fine with it) and only in a QT, you don't want to add salt to a main tank!  The fish will need the salt to be SLOWLY added to the water, so that it has time to adjust to the new salinity.  Also, be sure that the salt is COMPLETELY dissolved before adding it to the tank.  I always have it on hand, but barely ever use it.  It's a great general tonic, because it never goes bad!  Just keep it dry and it will store forever.
 
 
If you have a QT set-up then a little salt isn't a bad idea.  The dose is about 2 tablespoons per 5 gallons I think (failing memory and haven't used it recently!), but I'd dose that up VERY SLOWLY.  I'd add the requisite salt to a container for your entire QT, and then using an medicine syringe add a few mL of the solution to the tank every 2 hours or so. It will take a while, but you don't want to overburden the fish with too much too quickly.

 

[EthanF]

thanks for setting me right Eaglesaquarium

  

 

[eaglesaquarium]

No worries, that's why the forum is here.  
 
Aquarium salt has its place.  It just needs to be used for very specific things and in a very specific way.  It can do more harm than good at times.  Scaleless fish are extremely sensitive to it (cories, plecos, etc.), while other fish tolerate it very well - and it can be quite helpful for them.

 

[Starletta]

I would only advise aquarium salt for specific fish (tetras are fine with it) and only in a QT, you don't want to add salt to a main tank!  The fish will need the salt to be SLOWLY added to the water, so that it has time to adjust to the new salinity.  Also, be sure that the salt is COMPLETELY dissolved before adding it to the tank.  I always have it on hand, but barely ever use it.  It's a great general tonic, because it never goes bad!  Just keep it dry and it will store forever.
 
 
If you have a QT set-up then a little salt isn't a bad idea.  The dose is about 2 tablespoons per 5 gallons I think (failing memory and haven't used it recently!), but I'd dose that up VERY SLOWLY.  I'd add the requisite salt to a container for your entire QT, and then using an medicine syringe add a few mL of the solution to the tank every 2 hours or so. It will take a while, but you don't want to overburden the fish with too much too quickly.

 
Interesting information and worrisome on my part.   I bought API Aquarium Salt for my freshwater guys.  Here is the link.
http/www.petco.com/product/1697/API-Aquarium-Salt.aspx#description-tab      It says to add 1 rounded tablespoon for every 5 gallons. It goes on to say (I have the container right in front of me)  Electrolytes are essential for the uptake of oxygen, improves Gill function and so on.  Also, it doesn't mention dissolving it first.      It does say only to use when setting up a new tank, water changes and sick fish.      I always add when I do a 25 percent water change.   Now I'm worried... Should I continue to use or not?    Thank you.  

No worries, that's why the forum is here.  
 
Aquarium salt has its place.  It just needs to be used for very specific things and in a very specific way.  It can do more harm than good at times.  Scaleless fish are extremely sensitive to it (cories, plecos, etc.), while other fish tolerate it very well - and it can be quite helpful for them.

Thanks - I won't be using it anymore. I have 1 peppered Cory and 2 Plecos. Due to the fact that they do not have scales, does it burn their skin?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I believe so, yes.   (Thanks for the correction on the dosage, I couldn't remember it.)
 
 
The important thing is not to shock them by removing it too quickly.  You are going to want to just stop replacing it during each water change.  A 10% water change would be the highest I'd go with the water change and not replace the salt, as more than that will change the salinity more than you want.  Also, refill the tank slowly - to give them even a bit more time to acclimate to the lower salinity.
 
You'll be at 100% (meaning max) concentration currently.
 
10% change will mean that you'll be at 90%.
Another 10% will mean that you'll be at 81%.
Another 10% will mean that you'll be at 72%.
Another 10% will mean that you'll be at 63%.
After that, I'd do a 20% change to lower it to 50%.
Another 20% change will lower it to 40%.
Then, 25% change will lower it to 30%.  From here, you'll be fine to continue your 25% weekly changes without worrying about dropping the salinity too fast.
 
So, it will take about 2 months before the salinity is down low enough to not worry about it.

 

[threadfin]

I am sorry to say my situation has gotten worse. He is now laying sidways on bottom of my 10 gallon hospital tank.
He is a black skirt tetra. So i tried the salt dosing. I have had success with it before with a rasbora tetra early last year but his diagnosis was white specs on his body. I was not following eaglesaquirium suggestive dosing but it worked. Eagles dosing definatly makes sense for the fish. They are more delicate than most people think.
I will keep everyone posted with the outcome.
 
As I stated earlier a lapse of attention due to work was the starting point. I reccommend anyone with a tank not to folow my foot steps. We learn from our mistakes.
 
Eagles I grew up in Delaware County. Born in 1960 left in 1989. Graduated Msgr. Bonner 1978.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Nice to have a local on the boards (even if you've moved away)!  I'm in Delco currently, born and raised - moved back after a brief stint in NJ.  Ridley class of 1995.  Dated a girl from Prendie for about a year.

 

[Starletta]

Nice to have a local on the boards (even if you've moved away)!

 I'm in Delco currently, born and raised - moved back after a brief stint in NJ.  Ridley class of 1995.  Dated a girl from Prendie for about a year.        

  
My husband is from Allentown...  But has lived in Connecticut since the early 1980's.    He sometimes asks if I'd consider moving to PA., but I love CT too much....    Plus, no beaches in PA.       lol

 

[Starletta]

I believe so, yes.   (Thanks for the correction on the dosage, I couldn't remember it.)
 
 
The important thing is not to shock them by removing it too quickly.  You are going to want to just stop replacing it during each water change.  A 10% water change would be the highest I'd go with the water change and not replace the salt, as more than that will change the salinity more than you want.  Also, refill the tank slowly - to give them even a bit more time to acclimate to the lower salinity.
 
You'll be at 100% (meaning max) concentration currently.
 
10% change will mean that you'll be at 90%.
Another 10% will mean that you'll be at 81%.
Another 10% will mean that you'll be at 72%.
Another 10% will mean that you'll be at 63%.
After that, I'd do a 20% change to lower it to 50%.
Another 20% change will lower it to 40%.
Then, 25% change will lower it to 30%.  From here, you'll be fine to continue your 25% weekly changes without worrying about dropping the salinity too fast.
 
So, it will take about 2 months before the salinity is down low enough to not worry about it.

  Thank you!  I'm glad you mentioned gradually stopping the Salt, through smaller water changes.  I'll be sure to print this. 
 
Threadfin, I hope your Tetra makes it.  I have two Black Skirt Tetras. I love when the lights are dim or off, they turn very dark in color, and then change back when the lights are on.  
 
How do these differ from High Finned Tetras which I've seen on-line?  They look almost identical.  
 
Don't beat yourself up not noticing it sooner.  Life is busier than ever for many people and being human, we sometimes can't keep up 100 percent on everything in our lives.  I give you kudos trying to save the little guy.  Hope he pulls through....