Mysterious Ilness

[fishRfriends]

Sorry if this is the wrongs spot, I didnt know if it was an emergency or not.

Well, about three weeks ago I lost a few of my guppies to fin rot. We treated with Maracyn and all the remaining fish were great for about a week. Then one morning, after having thouroughly checking my fish that night (Ive been paranoid after soo many bouts of fin rot), my poor pleco was dead in the corner and all the remaining fish were laying on the bottom, barely alive, with bright red gills. With the pleco gone, I figured salt would be gone since it helps with gill function so I did an immediate water chnge, added some salt, and eveyone looked wonderful. The red gills went down, they were swimming frantically, and eating great. Another week goes by and I wake up to find one of my guppies laying in the rocks, a blood fin tetra dead, and the rest very active but with the bright red gills again. Went to the lfs and they said it sounded like gill disease and told me to treat with Furan-2. I just did the last dose yesterday and went to add the new carbon like it says to do on the fifth day and found the guppy who was in the rocks a few days ago dead, after appearing to have been getting better too . Now, the medication is over, and the fish really dont look any better. Gills still read, still very lethargic in the morning although they seem to pick themselves up by the time night comes. Also, some baby guppies I had in a net in that tank, who were taken out about 2 weeks ago, are showing similar syptoms, except one of them will swim up to the top, and then float upside down to the gravel, where he stays looking dead until you poke him or something.

Im sorry this post is so long, I just wanted to give any info I could. What is relevant, I have no idea, only that I really want my fish to be ok and I dunno what to do anymore lol. This tank has just been full of death lately.

Oh, some stats. 29 gallon, been set up about 4 months now, ammonia:0, pH 7.4, nitrates 2 (is that bad?), nitrites 0.

Thanks for those who take time to read my rambling. Im not very good with words lol

 

[unspoken930]

whats the temp of the tank?

 

[fishRfriends]

82 degrees, is that bad?

 

[Bloo]

Temperature should really be the cause of the problem. Your nitrate readying is 2 ? That's almost unusually low. But not a problem - I'd just check that and also the tap nitrate.

It sounds like septicaemia / bacterial causes - which usually stem from unsuitable water conditions.
How often do you perform water changes and how much ?

How many and what fish do you have in the tank currently ?
Ps: just saw your sig - is that information correct and those still the only fish you have in your 29 gallon ?

 

[fishRfriends]

Temperature? Oh my goodness I had no idea it could cause so many problems!! And yup, the reading I got for nitrates is two, I thought that was really weird too. I do weekly water changes of about 30%. And those are still the same fish. Thanks for your help.

 

[Bloo]

I'm so sorry for my typo - it should have read :

Temperature shouldn't really be the cause of the problem

.

Though it "could". It should generally be much lower at around 24-25C (75-77F), but during these summer months it's hard to keep it down. As per the thread about the weather, my tanks are actually much higher than that already and will continue throughout the summer.

However higher temperatures can certainly make bacterial problems etc. worse. So keep up with your normal routine (which sounds just fine) and hope the medication works.

 

[fishRfriends]

Ok, I went and got Maracn 2. It treats gill disease (which this really sounds like) and the septicemia like you suggested. You think this is the right route to go?

 

[fishRfriends]

Ok, Im gonna bring up a farely old post lol. The problem still hasnt gotten any better. All thhe fishes gills are red and they can't close them all the way. I treated with two different medicines that said they treated gill disease and added salt with no luck with anyting. Anyone have anymore ideas? Should this be under emergencies you think? Thanks.