Red Streaks Near Tail Of Stonesucker

[nickmit]

Tank size: 50 litres
pH: 7
ammonia: 0.6
nitrite: 0.1
nitrate: Between 5 & 10
kH: ???
gH: ???
tank temp: 26 degress c

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
red streaks on under belly near tail of a stone sucker

Volume and Frequency of water changes:
weekly about 25%
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:

Tank inhabitants:
7 Neon Tetras and two stone suckers
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
None
Exposure to chemicals:

Digital photo (include if possible):

See attachments.

I work away all week and a couple of weeks ago, one of our Danios died. My wife removed it from the tank but I do not know if it had any obvious signs of any problems. About a week later one tetra died - again no obvious symptoms.
This week I have been working from home and noticed that the other Danio appeared to be losing it's tail and it had red streaks near the base. I though it was fin rot so added Interpet Anti Fungus & Finrot. Unfortunately it died this morning.

I have just been checking the other fish and one of the stonesuckers is on the front of the tank and has red marks near the base of its tail (see pictures). The Tetras all seem to be fine. I cannot check the other Stonesucker as it is stayin at the back of the tank

Any advice would be greatfully received.

 

[WILDER]

Septicemia blood poisoning caused by bad water quality.
How long has the tank been set up.
How often do you maintain the tank.
Immediate water change, increase aeration.
Anti internal bacteria med by interpet.

The finrot med is no good, need to do a water change anyway to remove it.
Run some black carbon and add the anti internal bacteria med.

Finrot is mainly caused by bad water quality.

R.I.P.

 

[Colin_T]

It looks like a minor bacterial infection, however it was probably caused by the ammonia & nitrite in the water. Borneo Scooters, sucking loaches, catfish, etc are scaleless fish are very sensitive to chemicals in the water, especially ammonia. Any reading of this can cause serious problems to these fish. Also medications can cause problems to them as well. If you have to treat the tank then check the directions and use at half strength.

A couple of 50% water changes will help to dilute the ammonia and then the problem should heal up by itself. Make sure you use dechlorinated water that has a similar temperature & PH to the tank. Also do a complete gravel clean and make sure the filter is working properly.
*NB* Don't wash the filter materials out under tap water and don't change more than half the filter media at any time.

Cut back on feeding as the more food going into the tank, the higher the ammonia readings will get. Only feed the fish once every couple of days until the filters settle down and there is no longer any ammonia or nitrite.

 

[nickmit]

Septicemia blood poisoning caused by bad water quality.
How long has the tank been set up.
How often do you maintain the tank.
Immediate water change, increase aeration.
Anti internal bacteria med by interpet.

The finrot med is no good, need to do a water change anyway to remove it.
Run some black carbon and add the anti internal bacteria med.

Finrot is mainly caused by bad water quality.

R.I.P.

Thanks - tank has been running about 3 months and maintained every week.
I will do as you suggest but what do you mean by 'run some black carbon'?

 

[WILDER]

Your tank should of cycled by now.
You are not rinsing your filter sponges in tap water are you.
Need to look why your tank hasn't cycled.

Black carbon is black sponge which goes in the filter and its jobs is to remove chemicals and meds from the water.

 

[nickmit]

Your tank should of cycled by now.
You are not rinsing your filter sponges in tap water are you.
Need to look why your tank hasn't cycled.

Black carbon is black sponge which goes in the filter and its jobs is to remove chemicals and meds from the water.

Definitely not - I only use tank water to rinse it. I am adding Nutrafin aqua plus to new water added and then I am adding Nutracin cylcle.
Yes the filter has black sponge in it.

 

[shellz2008]

looks bacterial to me, had an angel a long time ago with same added meds to her water and she was ok after

 

[WILDER]

How long has the black carbon been in the filter as it only works for up to 2 to 9 days.
You should remove black carbon from a filter when you add meds or its a waste of time adding the med.

How often are you touching the sponges as you don't touch them for months in a new tank.
You only rinse the filter floss or matting once a week in water.

You only touch one sponge at a time when there really mucked up you slightly rinse them in old tank water.
Sounds like you are getting rid of most of the beneifical bacteria in your filters.

That nutrafin cycle stuff might aswell throw it in the bin its rubbish.

 

[nickmit]

How long has the black sponge been in the filter as it only works for up to 2 to 9 days.
You should remove black carbon from a filter when you add meds or its a waste of time adding the med.

How often are you touching the sponges as you don't touch them for months in a new tank.
You only rinse the filter floss or matting once a week in water.

You only touch one sponge at a time when there really mucked up you slightly rinse them in old tank water.
Sounds like you are getting rid of most of the beneifical bacteria in your filters.

That nutrafin cycle stuff might aswell throw it in the bin its rubbish.

The filter has the following - 2 carbon/zeolite cartridges and two pieces of black foam. I have not replaced any of them and I did not know that they shold not be touched for months- I am surprised they didn't tell me in the shop! I have only rinsed the black foam. I removed the 2 cartridges before adding the med.

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
Stop rinsing the sponges you are destroying most of the benefical bacteria.
I would do a water change even though its late and increase aeration.
Do you have anymore black carbon left to get the finrot med out of the tank.

Septicemia hard to cure once it progressed and really you need antibiotics to cure it.




Look under septicemia.
http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

Don't add salt your fish don't tolerate it to well.

 

[nickmit]

Ok.
Stop rinsing the sponges you are destroying most of the benefical bacteria.
I would do a water change even though its late and increase aeration.
Do you have anymore black carbon left to get the finrot med out of the tank.

Septicemia hard to cure once it progressed and really you need antibiotics to cure it.




Look under septicemia.
[URL="http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm"]http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm[/URL]

OK - I'll do a 25% water change, but i do not have any black sponge - the shop is open in the morning I think. increasing aeration is a bit difficult, only have the filter in the tank however, if I have it a bit high it forces bubles into the water - is that OK?

 

[WILDER]

Think you lower the water level not sure alway had airstones in tank.
You need more aeration in the tank as bad water quality not only burns the skin and gills also causes desease, it also hard for the fish to breath.

If you can pull the filter for more aeration that fine, on some filter you can alter the flow on them.

I would also invest in air pump and airstone as there good for when using meds, warm weather, and some fish like to play in the bubbles.

Also running black carbon all the time is a complete waste of money only need it for when removing meds from a tank.
Also you need more aeration when using meds as they reduce 02 in the water.

Good luck.

 

[nickmit]

Thanks for all your help - and time

 

[WILDER]

Let us all know how the fish get on.
Good luck.

 

[nickmit]

Let us all know how the fish get on.
Good luck.

All going well. I did the water change Saturday night, went to the shop on Sunday and got Melafix and some filter start. On Thursday when I got home there was hardly any red on the stonesucker. Today it has gone totally.

The only thing I am not sure of now is what the Melafix will have done to the filter start bacteria. Should they be OK or would it be better to add more?

Thanks for all your helplast week.