Ongoing Issue

[Psi]

I have a male killifish whose pectoral fins have become "clumped" - as in, instead of being splayed out in their normal circular shape, they have grown dull and tapered, and are largely useless as they are unusable. My question is, does this sound like fin rot? The condition, whatever it is, began on one fin and has since affected the other - but all other fins remain unaffected. He doesn't swim as much as he used to and instead lies predominantly motionless upon the gravel at the bottom of the aquarium.

Also affected are a pair of dwarf loaches whose fins have taken on a white "edge" to them and who, in general, also show lethargy. I know loaches are susceptible to some adverse effects of many treatments, so I don't want to rush in with all and sundry medications; however, the pair usually have their dorsal fins raised completely, but are now holding them closer to their bodies. They also tend to lean to one side when inactive, to the point of being flat on one side as if pushed over in their sleep.

What does this condition sound like? It isn't progressing quickly, but I'd rather get it sorted now than lose fish to it and I'm not sure what I can do. Any help?

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons or litres is the tank.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.

Finrot can be caused by bad water quality and overstocking.
Resting on the bottom can be a sign of a bacterial infection.
White edging to fins is bacterial finrot.

 

[Psi]

The pH is 7.0-7.2; I'm unsure the ammonia, etc., values, though - the water is fairly new, as I cleaned out the tank earlier this week, and the quality itself isn't something I would question as I use the same water source for four tanks, and while there appears to be some kind of illness in the tank with the juvenile killifish, another tank with killifish is presenting absolutely none of these or any other signs/symptoms of disease. I'll get the water retested, of course, but from the sounds of what you're saying it looks like the condition is bacterial. There are only six fish in the tank: two female killifish, one male, two dwarf loaches and a borneo sucker - all are approximately four centimetres/1.65 inches long - and the tank volume is 25 litres - so it definitely isn't overstocking. The plants in the tank are thriving, and there's a decent population of nitrate-fixing bacteria due to use of a product called "Cycle".

For a bacterial infection, which is the best treatment (common name, not necessarily a brand name as we may have different brands here)?

 

[WILDER]

So you cleaned the tank completely, and added water from other tanks.
The thing is if you have a desease in a tank it can pass onto other tanks doing this method.
Uk anti internal bacteria by interpet.
United states marcyn one but you can use maracyn two also to cover all bases.

 

[Psi]

No, I cleaned the tank and used water from the same source as I get water for the other tanks. I'm aware of isolation techniques and not cross-contaminating tanks with fish/items from others, and would never consider putting a diseased animal into an undiseased tank.

Thanks for the advice on treatments, I'll see if I can find any of those particular brands or some form of analogous item.

 

[WILDER]

Good luck.