New Fishies

[Annastasia]

Soooo...I went to the fish store today, to get all my supplies and everything. Of course I wandered over to the fish section...and they had these ADORABLE little high-fin Platies. So, I got a few females, making sure as much as I could that they weren't pregnant. Or...too pregnant, seeing as females are...always pregnant.

I got them home, and started to acclimate them to the quarantine tank. I noticed one little yellow girl has a bit of fungus on the edge of her tail. It looks like one of the fish in the tank at the store bit her. So, I'm going to treat all the girls, to make sure they don't carry the fungus to another tank. I am using my fungus medication, and added a little salt, and I was just wondering if there is anything else I can do to help them more? Besides lots of fresh, nice, clean water...

Thanks!

 

[Polardbear]

I've seen that a lot when I purchase new swordies. It's usually the beginning of columnaris (brought on by being stressed, overcrowded, bad water conditions etc.). If you catch it early enough it can usually be cleared up. I usually start them on antibiotics, add salt to the water, keep the water as clean as possible and try to keep the qt tank as stress free as possible. Give them good cover so they can hide and feel safe, use subdued lighting for a week or so as they adjust to living in a tank. If they were farm bred/raised they may have never been in an aquarium before and they need time to adjust. Sounds like your already doing most of these. 30 years ago it was a pretty common practice with shipments of livebearers to keep them in a back room with really low light and no traffic for a week or two before putting them out in display tanks so they had time to adjust to being in a tank. I never saw columnaris back then, now I see it almost every time I buy a new swordie.

 

[Annastasia]

Thanks Polardbear.

Actually, I am pretty sure it's fungus. It looked very fluffy, and like fungus, but thanks for the info on columnaris. I'll be looking for that next time I buy Livebearers. Or any fish, for that fact.

Anyway, the white stuff has pretty much cleared up. She's perked up a lot, and is now chasing all her buddies, and playing with them.

Thanks again!