Panda Cories

[KateW]

Body count keeps rising - 10 harlequins, two neons (another on the way out) and three cories.

Another cory has ragged fins and small white spots.

The plec has not been seen today.

I am going to do a massive water change and then have a bit of a cry.

Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[notg2009]

May I suggest that you take all live and dead fish back and get your money.. Then treat your tank based on some pro diagnostics and advice and wait a bit. Then get fish from a better store. I know it would be a hassle, but at least the lfs's bad stock wouldn't destroy all your hard work.
Good luck and keep posting.

 

[KateW]

I have tried to discuss a previous batch of fish with this LFS and they basically said it was something I had done. I tried to discuss fishless cycling and was basically told not to be so stupid.

There is one neon on his way out right now. His tail is completely gone, and the back half of his body looks almost like it has been dipped in bleach. Does this help shed any light on it at all for anyone?

Can anyone tell me the quickest way to put him out of his misery please?

 

[This Old Spouse]

I've found the fastest way to euthanize is to catch it in the net, then give the net a sharp whack in my kitchen sink. PLEASE don't hate me for doing this, but I've found it's the fastest and most humane way I can think of to dispatch them. I hate causing pain or discomfort to these poor guys, and I think this is the quickest way.

Other people suggest putting it in a small container with water, then add a few drops of clove oil to knock it out, then a bit of vodka (or whatever) to kill it, but I think that drags it out too much.

I think this is a terrible case of fin rot. More water changes

 

[KateW]

By way of update, I have continued treating with myxazin on the advice of the friend with the unopened shop, and he came to much the same conclusion as you guys - bad stock. I returned to the same LFS yesterday to buy more myxazin (didn't really want to give them any more money, but had little choice, time wise) and I had a quick look in the fish room. There were still panda cories in the same tank and almost all of them had ragged fins and tails, some of them quite badly, and they were not as active as I would expect. There were no harlequins there at all. I guess the extra stress just sped up the process for the ones that moved to my tank.

So you were all right, it came in from the LFS. This is reassuring in that it wasn't my mistake, but still upsetting. No, I didn't challenge them on the situation - had a hellish busy day ahead and did fancy starting it with crying at an obnoxious sales assistant. I just won't be going there again.

And if anyone is looking for a positive to this, I have well and truly learnt the value of quarantine procedures!

 

[kevinjames]

kate im glad you have realised it is not your fault and are not discouraged by this. the main thing is that you have been pro-active and seeked advice here. just give that lfs a miss from now on. i hate the ignorance in some shops aswell and sometimes having it out with them doesnt make a difference. i actually got told to leave a shop once for saying to another customer not to buy from the shop as the fish all showed signs of disease and they could be found cheaper elsewhere.

i hope you continue to enjoy the hobby and you will find when everything goes well it is very satisfying. good luck in the future.

 

[KateW]

So I think tomorrow is the last day of the course of myzaxin. All fish (five neons and one lonely cory) seem to be well and happy, and all are feeding well. No further ragged fins, tails or strange patches.

So if they all still look well on Saturday I was going to put some carbon in the filter to take out the medicine, and do a decent large water change.

Question of procedure: I need to measure out carbon according to directions on box, put it in to clean filter bag. Then does it matter which part of the filter it goes in? I am running an aquaone external cannister with two baskets - ceramics and then a sponge in the lower basket, more sponge and floss pad in the top basket.

How long should the carbon be left in for? I know it gets saturated, but how can you be sure all the medication is removed? Does the carbon just get thrown away and the bag washed for future use?

I was thinking that if the treated tank remains healthy for a week after the carbon is removed, I will move over the three (healthy) guppies from my small tank, which will then be converted to a hospital/QT tank. Does this sound like a sensible option?

Sorry about all the questions, any answers appreciated!