One Fish Dead, How Many More?

[WILDER]

No don't use all three meds they are what treat velvet, ask the store for a very good velvet med, plus no you can't keep the snail in the tank, sorry.

Treat the whole tank as the fish will all be affected by the parasite as it multiplies fast, and turn temp up to 30, also increase aeration as meds take the 02 out of the water, also high temps takes the 02 out of the water, so aeration is important.

 

[black_bull]

How sure are you that what I described is velvet? Could it be something else? Also, how long do infected fish last before they die?

 

[WILDER]

Well if it got to the gills and they are heavy breathing not very long,as it's a nasty parasite, also they can get bacterial infections on top of parasites as they break the skin leading bacteria to invade the inside, just keep finger crossed.

 

[fishing4exotics]

As long as it is non-iodized salt. Iodine is toxic to fish.

1st find out if your fish has Velvet disease. A common mistake is to medicate your fish and the cure ends up killing your fish. I would use meds as a last resort. Also, a lot of the meds will kill your bacteria in your filter. I would try to do what I already listed. Then go with Melafix or other natural herbal meds.

If you have to resort to meds, find out for sure the illness that is ailing your fish. Velvet Symptoms are very small white speckles on fish. Resembles a fine powder. Velvet, or Oodinium, is a very common disease which resembles Ich. The white pustules are much finer and are located mainly on the body. It is a little easier to cure than Ich, since the life cycle is not so rapid. It commonly follows chilling or stress caused by transportation or poor water quality. Are you sure this is what your fish is suffering from?

There are many commercially available products to cure Velvet. Among them are Maracide by Mardel Laboratories and Super Velvet by Aquatronics. I don't know if Petsmart has them. I don't shop there.

 

[black_bull]

I have to go to bed now, but thanks for the help. I'll get malachite green tomorrow and hopefully cure my fish. I'll keep you posted.

 

[WILDER]

Pretty certain it's a parasite, but parasites also can cause bacterial infections on top.

 

[black_bull]

Anyone else have an opinion? Does the malady I described sound like velvet, or something else?

Besides adding salt (will it harm the snails?), raising the temp, and using Melafix, what can I do to kill the parasite without using a med that could potentially kill my fish if it turns out that they DON'T have it?

 

[fishing4exotics]

Salt shouldn't harm the snails at 1 Tblsp/5 gallons.

Increase the circulation in your tank if you are going to raise the temp.

 

[WILDER]

http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/heal...thprotist.shtml

 

[black_bull]

Unfortunately I lost the sick danio this morning. However, in about three hours I will be able to got to my LFS to buy a quarantine tank and bacteria meds (I've figured out that what my tank is infected with is internal bacteria). At the slightest sign that any of my remaining fish show symptoms, I will isolate them in the hospital tank and treat them with meds. Hopefully I can stop this problem here, with no further casualties.

 

[WILDER]

Good luck.