Really Need Some Help

[cheerycherry]

Ok since my gourami died this morning I noticed another fish flicking against a plant

I was going to get some medicine anyway so when I mentioned in my fish shop they gave me some interpet number 9 (anti internal bacteria). Should I use this or not? thank you to colin who helped me in my other post too.So now with one flicking and one death this morning (she had long stringy white poo and wouldnt eat for days) Should I use this or not?

If I use it do I need to do anything with the filter which is a fluval 2? and if I do have to use it do I keep off water changes for a while?


Another thing thats bothering me is my plants.They now have a white growth on most of them a bit like cotton wool really but now its on the filter and some on the glass too and it looks horrible should I take the plants out and get some new ones?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

what are your water stats? if the plants are seriously decaying then they could be mucking up the water quality leading to disease. So yes I'd be tempted to get shot, but remember fish need some sort of cover, particularly when they are un well so I'd make sure there is still some cover in the tank even if it's plastic plants or whatever as a stop gap.

flicking and white stringy poo can both be symptoms of a parasite infection, i believe interpet no 9 is good for parasites but check the label.

there is a small chance that the meds could nuke your filter bacteria colony, it's unlikely but just something to keep an eye out for so you should monitor ammonia and nitrite daily while medicating, do water changes if you get any reading other than 0 for them.

 

[waterdrop]

Hi MW, I checked the other cheery threads and its a 3ft. mature tank. Basic stats or test types have never been mentioned.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[cheerycherry]

Well where I got my plants from didnt seem the greatest which is exactly why i only got 2 and went somewhere else for more.

Ammonia 0

Nitrites 0

Nitrate 8

ph 7.5

This isnt the 3ft tank though this is my 125 litre tank.I took the bad plants out hoping it might help also gave the glass a good clean im hoping it was just a bad batch of plants maybe?

As for the meds I havent given any yet only because im worried of doing more harm than good,I was told to wait and see if any more fish get ill and right now only one fish seems to be flicking a little.

If I do have to give the meds do I remove the filter for a little while?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

well water stats are great so that's one thign ruled out.

i'd definately suggest a good tank clean out before you start medicating, always good to have a clean base to start from when treating anything. Like getting your fish into a nice shiny clean hospital ward, they're much less likely to pick up secondary infections etc if you've cleaned everything out.

the problem with medicating is with just two symptoms of flicking and white stringy poo it could be one of any number of things, and treating with the wrong med can do more harm than good.

at the moment i'm leaning towards some sort of parasite however that's by no means a firm diagnosis.

closely monitor the tank and see if you can spot any other symptoms which would help us to diagnose, if nothing else comes up and symptom's persist then you'll have to go with the best diagnosis that you can form and stat treating.

 

[cheerycherry]

Thank you for your help Ive been closely watching but see nothing else untoward.Ill keep and eye on it and see what happens but I agree with a good clean ill have to do that.