PLEASE HELP!!!

[ldytmropr]

My fish are dying. I got some new fish in my tank last Friday. Some glass fish and some painted tetras. 2 of the glass fish had some white on their fins (not ich). I called the LFS and they told me that the disease is specific to glass fish that they get it and get over it not to worry about it. I told them that my other fish were getting ragged fins, so they said they'd treat my tank for me. They sent me Melafix. I started treating it and one of the glass fish died. 2 more got the same thing and the 3 that had it have since died along with 1 Serpae Tetra. I've continued to treat with Melafix. Yesterday was day 7. Supposed to do water change today. One of my Kissers died last night. The other one doesn't look so well. I've tested water and pH is 7.2 and ammonia is 0. Why are these other ones dying now. I'm finished with that pet store. Last time I got fish from them, I got ich. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!

 

[wuvmybetta]

What a bummer. It sounds like they brought something nasty in with them.

I'd double up on the water changes this week. If you think you have a bacterial infection or a parasite you'll need to treat. Melafix is really just for skin abrasions and as a preventative.

How did the fish die...I mean,were there open sores,covered in white spot...rapid breathing or flashing around...bloat? A few brief descriptions of symptoms can help everybody figure out what's going on and how/what you need to treat.

 

[Boggle]

Sounds like they sold you a sick fish, unfortunately. Fish shops r supposed to quarantine their stock, but it is a good idea that you do so as well. Just get a small
plastic container (eg small tank) and float it inside your aquarium. Try only getting a couple of fish at a time & leave them in the small container for a few days (with daily water changes for the container) before releasing them into the big tank.

Melafix is not really a product specifically designed to treat anything, and should be put into the water for 3 days when introducing new fish, so your LFS sounds like they have no idea.

What is your nitrit level / other fish in the tank?

 

[clutterydrawer]

I know this isn't really the moment...but are you aware that your fish have been dyed?

 

[ldytmropr]

Ok.. Fish have been dyed What do you mean? I did the water change and the rest of the fish are doing pretty good. My other Kisser died on Monday, but he was looking kind of putrid anyway. Everyone else seems to be doing fine. I'm no longer treating for anything. I don't know why my fish died. No abrasions. Just ragged fins. Acting fine until I started treating with Melafix. Fins on remaining fish look better now and doing good. More info on teh quarantine tank please.. Container that you float inside tank? Tank levels are good. The Melafix lowered my pH. Before the water change, it was 6.2. Ammonia/nitrite 0 Nitrate is 20. (safe range) I changed teh water and now pH hovering between 6.8 and 7.0 ammonia/nitrite 0. Could the drop in pH have killed the fish?

 

[wuvmybetta]

That's a hella drop in PH,and could very well be the culprit. But I didn't think melafix did that

Since you recently up'ed the PH after a water change,keep an eye on the fish since they're going through another drastic change. The quarentine tank is usually a seperate small tank where you keep new fish for a couple of weeks to make sure they're healthy before introducing them to your community. I've never heard of one that hangs in the tank....seems nearly impossible to me to have one like that. I think Boggle was referring to a breeder trap.

Dyed fish are chemically altered to show colors that aren't naturally theirs. It's a painul process for the fish ad usually leaves them very prone to disease.

 

[ldytmropr]

Thanks for the info luv.... Great.. Bought fish that are injected.. Figures... I'm not getting rid of them though... Just won't buy any more.. The painted tetras.. are they dyed too? They're solid pink/blue. Looks very natural. Only have 2 glass fish left. Don't want to take them back... Someone else will just buy them or they'll get infected with the stuff that the other ones had... Thanks for the info.... I'm watching the other fish because I'd like to put some more in there again.. my tank is looking kind of bare...