Medication That Won't Kill Shrimp

[stoneagedinosaur]

Morning all

Apologies - this has prob been asked a million times...

Came home last night to 2 of my tetras with mouldy tails and one with a mouldy mouth. (Bits of tail missing, cotton wool like growth on the side of the mouth) orry no chance of piccys at the moment.

I am assuming fin rot / mouth rot and was wondering which meds to buy. I have a nicely growing shrimp collection and I don't want to knock them out or kill off my bacteria in the filters. I also don't have a 'hospital / isolation' tank.

If it is caused by bacteria. I take it I need to treat the whole tank?

Stats are - Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = 50mg/L, PH = 8.2

Nitrates enjoying a bit of a spike at the mo - not sure why at the mo. Could be all the rain we are having washing nitrates from the surrounding fields into our water supply (again)

Thanks for you time

 

[WILDER]

You will have to buy a issolation tank for the shrimp i'm afraid.
It sounds like columnaris. Myxazin by waterlife and pimafix.

How often do you maintain the tank as plecs are massive waste producers.

 

[stoneagedinosaur]

The gravel gets cleaned once a week with the water change, every Saturday - usually a 25 - 30% water change. Gravel cleaned by syphon. Yep - them plecs make plenty poop!

 

[stoneagedinosaur]

Not able to get to LFS until Friday at the earliest due to work!

Can't seem to mind rotten mouth this morning... if pleco's have eaten him... will the bacteria pass into them?

 

[WILDER]

Yes it can pass onto the others if there stressed or weak, and there immune system unable to fight infection off.

Water changes for the next few days.

Once the mouth starts to rot best to end the fish misery.

R.I.P.

 

[stoneagedinosaur]

What's the kindest way to despatch the poor lil sufferer?

 

[WILDER]

If you think the fish dosn't stand a chance of making it.
A jug of cold water and add ice cubes till the water freezing cold.
Or place a jug of water in the freezer till a thin sheet of ice appears on the surface.
Add the fish, it shouldn't take long.
make sure gills are no longer moving. Leave the fish a while just to make sure it's passed away.