One Fish Died Last Night, Another Found Sick This Morning, Two Left...

[princesslucha]

Hi there,

Last night we found our black molly Morpheus lying on the bottom of the tank. Just a few hours prior, he had been acting very agressively towards the rest of the fish in the tank; head butting, nipping, chasing away.
This morning we found that our rainbow platy Elizabeth Taylor had a small "wound" by her butt. Its red and slightly inflamed with a white center. Occasionally "poop" comes out of it and Elizabeth Taylor will swim around rapidly trying to shake it loose. Also, her fins are flutter at an unusally rapid pace.



Tank size: 10 gals
pH: 6.8
ammonia:
nitrite: 0 (safe)
nitrate: 20 (safe)
total hardness: 120 (moderate)
total alkalinity/buffering cap: 80
tank temp: 83-84*F

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
Black Molly (Morpheus): Demonstrated aggressive behavior involving head butting, nipping, chasing. Found dead two hours later.
Rainbow Platy (Elizabeth Taylor): Found this morning with ragged fins, red "wound" by her butt with a white center. Poop coming out of it occasionally with fish darting to shake it loose. Rapid breathing, fluttering fins, chasing other fish.
Sunset Platy (RoseDianne): seems to be fine as of now. Fins not torn or ragged, not exhibiting unnatural behavior.
Diamond Tetra (Lucy): Seems to be fine as of now with the exception on slightly dull coloration.
Oticinclus (Oscar): Seems to be fine with the exception of dull coloration.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 25%-35% water changes once a month.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Tetra Aqua Aquasafe (10ml per 10 gallons), tank heater, carbon filter, plastic plants, rocks and gravel
Tank inhabitants: See above

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Black Molly (dead) and Rainbow Platy added two weeks ago. Sunset Platy and Diamond Tetra have been in tank for 4+ months.

Exposure to chemicals: Today added Mardel Maracyn Two and Jungle Lifeguard All-In-One Treatment (as recommended by PetSmart)


I'm afraid that something may be wrong with our Rainbow Platy and that it will be spread to our other fish.

Please help!!

Margs

 

[xoedusk]

The inflamed part with "poop" coming out sounds like a parasite. Anyone else think so?

How long has your temperature been at 83 F?

30% water changes once a month is a bit low, though your Nitrates don't show it. I would do a 30% water change now. Is your tank well planted? Your testing kit may be giving false results. More water changes. Be sure to treat the water you are putting in with dechlorinator.

Are you able to isolate the sickest fish into a quarentine tank?

I suggest messaging Wilder when he is on.

 

[black angel]

If its white then it could be dead cells coming out. Need a pic to see if its a parasite.

I agree the temperature is too high and you need to do more water changes. Use a gravel vac if you dont already and do 60% today.

 

[princesslucha]

We did a water change yesterday before adding the medication to the water.
We use a vacuum every time we change the water as well as brush/wipe down the sides of the tank and any decorations in the tank.
Currently the carbon filter has been removed from the tank while the medication runs its cycle.
We haven't yet isolated the sickest fish, however after day two of the medication he seems to be a bit better.

I'll keep posting if the situation worsens

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[xoedusk]

Do you use a gravel vac or just a siphon? Gravel vacs are really the way to go. If you aren't using one, you'd be surprised how much crap (literally) comes up.

 

[princesslucha]

We added the medication as per the instructions, but by the 3rd day the water was completely cloudy.
We removed the sick fish and put it into an isolation tank.
We then did about a 50% water change, using a siphon to clean the tank (I'll have to look for a gravel vac), then treated the new water with Aquasafe water treatment, and put the carbon back in the filter.
Its now been running for 24 hours but the water is still cloudy. Should we do another water change?

The Daimond Tetra and Sunset platy still seem fine. The rainbow platy is still sick... the "wound" now has white surrounding it. Its hiding in the isolation tank inside of a rock.

I'm at a loss. No clue what to do at this point.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[black angel]

Maracyn does cloud the water so doing a water change wasnt needed.