Parasites

[scouse_andy]

Last week, I was lucky enough to be given some fish from a fellow forum member. I acquired 3 honey gourami, 2 threadfin rainbowfish, 3 black phantom tetra, 3 galaxy rasbora and 5 cherry barbs. I have two tanks up and running and cycled and split the fish between the two tanks.

Unfortunately I lost a galaxy rasbora on the second day and another about three days later. Neither had shown any external signs of illness.

The rest of the fish are doing well and the water stats are all clear.

I found out today that the lady who was kind enough to give me the fish is now suffering from a parasite problem, the link to the thread is here:
http/www.fishforums.net/What-Has-Happene...ce-t195462.html

I have obviously been observing my fish very carefully and can see no outward signs of a problem. Behaviour seems normal, fins are fine, no spots etc.

Bearing in mind that I picked up these fish last Thursday and the problem manifested itself in the lady's tank this Thursday is it likely that my fish are also contaminated?

I am off to the LFS in a bit so will pick up some Flubenol if I can find it. If not I will try to pick some up online if you think it is worth having, I have had a quick read on here and can see no downsides to dosing this to a community aquarium. Am I best to wait for a problem to manifest in my tank or do it anyway? I'm thinking probably the latter as damage may well be taking place inside the fish before it is evident on the outside....

What do you all think?

Thanks in anticipation, Andy.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

it could well be the case that your fish have it too

i would get some flubenol then you can treat at the first sign of a problem but keep the tank water sparkling and get a good balanced diet into the fish for now.

the problem with treating if the problems is not there is that

1 - medications, while they can be excellent for killing off the disease in question may have horrible side effects and it could be traumatic to put the fish through a course of treatment if there is no problem

2 - overmedicating can lead to any domant parasites etc in the fish becoming immune to the treatment thus leaving you up sh*t creek without a paddle if they ever do become active

bearing in mind that if your fish had contracted the disease when they were in her tank it would be at around the same time, you should then expect the fish to start developing symptoms at a similar time, so if yours don't develop symptms in the next couple of days i would expect that your clear

personalyl i would prepare myself with everything to act and treat this but don't actually treat until you see symptoms

 

[DevUK]

I would of thought the stress of moving the fish would of sped up any minifestation of dissease, so the fact that they are seemingly ok (except the 2 that didn't make it) is positive

Be prepared, its a good moto

 

[scouse_andy]

Thanks for the replies. I was unable to get any at the two places I tried. I will get some online I think and have it ready just in case. I'll be keeping a very close eye on the tanks over the next few days.