I am wondering if I have parasite problem in my tank.
600L planted lowtech tank running over 1 year, small community fish (tetras, algae eaters, livebearers), water parameters good/stable, pH 7.5+, 25% water change every 1-2 weeks (I know, should be weekly). Additives: Flourish weekly, peat moss in filter.
About 3-4 months ago introduced large group of new fish, no QT (LAST TIME TO MAKE THAT MISTSKE!!!), a few hours later saw ich on 2 of the new guys, began spreading to other fish. Next day I began treatment by increasing temp to 29C (did this slowly over 2 days) and dosing metronidazole every 2 days with water changes for 10 days. This was treatment recommended to not harm plants/inverts. Ich was resolved by day 5-6 and water parameters stayed fine but after 2cnd day fish began to die - at this point only new guys. Symptoms were- hiding, lethargic, not eating, lost about 7-8 fish. After treatment was over and temp went back down I thought everything was fine - but NO.
Since then, I have lost on average 1 fish a week. I may not see any symptoms, they just disappear, sometimes I will see them be lethargic or hiding first (maybe 10%). I don't always find them, sometimes I do find them on top or bottom. Only rarely I have seen signs of real illness- maybe 2 with dropsy, 2 with cloudy eyes, 2 with bloated belly or external lesions.
Treatments I have tried - I don't like treating what I don't know is there, I also don't have easy access to prepared fish meds, also the symptoms & timing of deaths have been too sporadic for me to figure out. I tried another 10 day metronidazole treatment using medicated feed, 1 month later, I tried Melafix, Next month I tried Melafix with Pimafix. Still dying, sporadically, but wiping out my whole tank.
I am thinking maybe parasites? Poop seems normal. Remaining fish all seem fine but so did the ones who died. I want to try a general dewormer, best options (safe to plants & snails) seem levamisole which I can't get or fenbendazole which I have ordered in 500 mg packets should arrive tommorrow. But I then read not to add it to the water, only safe to mix with food. But at what dose? Any other ideas?
600L planted lowtech tank running over 1 year, small community fish (tetras, algae eaters, livebearers), water parameters good/stable, pH 7.5+, 25% water change every 1-2 weeks (I know, should be weekly). Additives: Flourish weekly, peat moss in filter.
About 3-4 months ago introduced large group of new fish, no QT (LAST TIME TO MAKE THAT MISTSKE!!!), a few hours later saw ich on 2 of the new guys, began spreading to other fish. Next day I began treatment by increasing temp to 29C (did this slowly over 2 days) and dosing metronidazole every 2 days with water changes for 10 days. This was treatment recommended to not harm plants/inverts. Ich was resolved by day 5-6 and water parameters stayed fine but after 2cnd day fish began to die - at this point only new guys. Symptoms were- hiding, lethargic, not eating, lost about 7-8 fish. After treatment was over and temp went back down I thought everything was fine - but NO.
Since then, I have lost on average 1 fish a week. I may not see any symptoms, they just disappear, sometimes I will see them be lethargic or hiding first (maybe 10%). I don't always find them, sometimes I do find them on top or bottom. Only rarely I have seen signs of real illness- maybe 2 with dropsy, 2 with cloudy eyes, 2 with bloated belly or external lesions.
Treatments I have tried - I don't like treating what I don't know is there, I also don't have easy access to prepared fish meds, also the symptoms & timing of deaths have been too sporadic for me to figure out. I tried another 10 day metronidazole treatment using medicated feed, 1 month later, I tried Melafix, Next month I tried Melafix with Pimafix. Still dying, sporadically, but wiping out my whole tank.
I am thinking maybe parasites? Poop seems normal. Remaining fish all seem fine but so did the ones who died. I want to try a general dewormer, best options (safe to plants & snails) seem levamisole which I can't get or fenbendazole which I have ordered in 500 mg packets should arrive tommorrow. But I then read not to add it to the water, only safe to mix with food. But at what dose? Any other ideas?
