One Fish Dying, The Rest Starting Similar Symptoms

[Rhaea]

Hey there. We have one fish on her last breaths right now, so I don't hold much hope, however some of the other fish are now exhibiting similar symptoms to what she was about 3 days ago, so I really want to try to save the rest of the fish. Let me tell you a bit about my tank first.

We have a ten gallon tank. We've had it for a little over a year and no fish deaths thus far. Our inhabitants are our original three fish: a black male balloon molly, a female red wag platy, and a male sunburst wag platy; also, we have a male red wag platy which is now about a year old (we raised it from the beginning); we also have a female mickey mouse platy which was bought about 11 months ago and two female balloon mollies which were bought around 8 months ago; we have two african dwarf frogs which we've had for a couple months, however they are our second set. We had another set that died this summer after about 6-8 months. We also have a snail and are currently raising a one month old platy fry. Our tank has a good filter and a good bubble wand and also has a good amount of fake plants and a couple decorations for hiding.

Our last water change was about a week ago. We just finished medication for a bacterial infection. The one who has always gotten infected first has been our black male balloon molly, which is great because we can see anything on him right away. It's always been cotton mouth or a cloudy eye, but this is about the 7th time we've treated him. In addition, we had a new filter pad put in last week at the end of, so that's still good. Water was tested for ammonia last night and came back normal.

The fish that is currently on her last breaths is one of the female balloon mollies we've had for about 8 months. When we got her she seemed older than the other female who seemed fairly young, but other than that I wouldn't know how old she is.

On the first day, she was swimming very slowly and going to hide in a cave. We knew something was up, but there were no other signs. On the second day, she was not swimming upright very well. I looked online and saw the "pea" advise for swim bladder disease. Yesterday, I took the skin off a pea and chopped it up and then put it in the tank. She seemed to be recovering slightly until about 2am this morning when I found her upside down in the gravel, breathing heavily.

My other fish are cleaning out their systems with this pea treatment it seems, but they seem lethargic, especially when they go over to her. I don't know if they know what's happening to her? I didn't think fish felt that much for one another, but I don't know. Other than my two remaining balloon mollies, my frogs, and the fry I'm raising (wo all the other platys), they all look very lethargic. They probably got about 5 hours sleep since I was up with the dying fish trying to move her to a more comfortable spot in the tank. Are they just tired? They seem to be a bit more skiddish than normal. They're pooping like normal, but they don't all rush to the top when I come over which they usually do to anticipate food. I haven't fed them yet today. Should I do more peas? Is this an internal parasite infection? We have all medicine for any of these things, so please let us know. We were thinking of doing a 50% change today and siphoning the gravel to make sure none of the pea stuff is still there, but if you think it will stress them too much, we don't want to do it. Thanks so much, and let me know if you need more information.

 

[Rhaea]

Just one more piece of information. She's been having these random spurts of energy where she tries really hard to swim. She mostly stays upside down but can sometimes flip herself over for a few seconds. The eventually she runs out of gas and goes back to face down and is twitching a lot -- almost like a seizure for a bit before calming down again. I don't think she wants to pass on yet. I feel really bad.

 

[WILDER]

It sounds like a bacterial infection but need to ask some other questions.

Any signs of flicking and rubbing.
Do any fish look pale or darker in colour.
No signs of stringy white poo or clear mucas poo.
Any worms prutruding from the anus.
Do any fish look bloated or thin.

What do you feed the fish?


The third type of infection produced by Aeromonas is by no means the least. This form is often the most virulent (potent) and can be rapidly fatal. This insidious form does not produce any noticeable external ulcers. The most notable feature is a behavioral change in which the infected fish generally become listless and lethargic. Some fish may lose color or appear darker. The fish do not feed, frequently seem off balance and may sink to the bottom laying on their sides. The course of the disease is rapid, and by the time the behavioral changes are noticed, the entire population of a tank may succumb, sometimes in a day or so. This is an internal infection, with the bacteria being found in the kidneys and blood of these fish. The bacteria produce potent toxins that account for the severity of the disease.

 

[Rhaea]

We feed them flakes for the most part, although the baby gets a powdery food which probably leeks to the other fish to some degree, though we've begun putting her on flakes. We've tried crisps in the past, but the fish didn't seem to like them as much a they'd end up on the bottom for a while.

The poop is long and thick right now, but I was assuming that was because of the pea and it only started like that this morning. It's mostly colored. some have partially white or clear poop, but most of it is green or red. Our black male balloon molly has a little white thing protruding from the anus just a tiny bit, but he's always had that. I don't see them rubbing, but all the platys are staying near the bottom for the most part.

None of them look bloated or thin, or darker or paler in color.

the medicines we have in stock right now are triple sulfea, parasite clear, ick clear, and pimafix.

 

[WILDER]

Need to improve there diet with some frozen foods like bloodworms, brime shrimp, daphnia.
Green veg.

Do you feed bloodworms as red poo can be a sign of camallanous worms if you don't feed any red foods.
Worms prutruding from the anus is internal parasites.
The white thing does it look like a worm.



Camallanus



Symptoms:

When the fish is stationary, deep red worms can be seen protruding from the anal pore. They are only visible when the fish is still because the worms retreat into the intestine at the fish’s slightest movement. Other signs may include an inflamed and enlarged anus. In severe infestations, the fish may become emaciated and spinal curvature may also occur.



Cause:

The parasitic worms Camallanus Cotti and Camallanus lacustris. These small, livebearing parasitic worms attach to the intestinal walls and rectum with pinchers. The worm’s grip is so tight that any attempts to remove it forcibly will rip away tissue from the intestinal wall. The worm’s pinching causes ischemia (reduced blood flow) to that part of the intestine. In time, the tissue to that part of the intestine will die, at which time the worm will migrate to another part of the intestine. This causes perforations throughout the intestine, which allows other pathogens to gain entry. If the fish is not treated, either the parasite or bacterial will kill the fish. Camallanus infestations occur most often in livebearing fish such as Guppies and Mollies, though infection is possible in all fish. Camallanus infestations are contagious. All fish, including those not yet showing visible symptoms, as well as the aquarium, should be treated.



Treatment:

Treat with Internal Parasite Guard, Pipzine, Disco-Worm, Trichlorfon or Fluke-Tabs as well as a medicated food to prevent a bacterial infection.

 

[Rhaea]

We only recently got access to a freezer, so dry food was our only option until then.

After comparing with images I found, I can say it's definitely not a worm. However, our female mickey mouse platy does seem to have a rather enlarged hole, however she -is- pregnant, so I don't really know.

The one that's dying had thin, normal poop.

I sort of see the color of the poop as the same as the color of the flakes. It's not a bright red. It's the same color as the red flakes.

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
Needed to rule internal parasites out as livebearers are prone to them.

I would add an internal bacteria med to the tank.
Whats your location?

 

[Rhaea]

Albuquerque, NM

Also, what should we do about the dying molly? We don't have an additional tank setup yet. I'm assuming everyone's infected already.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry not sure where that is. Is it the united states.

Also, what should we do about the dying molly? We don't have an additional tank setup yet. I'm assuming everyone's infected already.

It sounds like it. I would just treat the whole tank.
As for the the molly that not good. If she not being picked on leave her be for now.

 

[Rhaea]

She's not really being picked on. the frogs have poked her a couple times, but that's it.

And yes, Albuquerque, NM is in the USA.

 

[WILDER]

Maracyn plus, or maracyn one and two.

The med might knock water stats.

 

[Rhaea]

All right. Thanks a ton.

 

[WILDER]

If you don't mind let me know how you get on.
Good Luck.

 

[Rhaea]

The rest of the fish have started having trouble swimming and are twitching, though upright. Is that a symptom of this still? We're about to go out and buy this, but I never listed that as a symptom, so I thought I'd add it.

 

[Rhaea]

The lady just died. Is there anything I should check on her body before we dispose?