Red, Swollen Gills.

[fishRfriends]

Well, I posted this in chit-chat, but I thought I would try here too. Over the oast 3 or so weeks ago I had some major deaths in the tank, 2 plecos, About 3 guppys I think, and a blood finned tetra. They all had extremely red and swollen gills, it seemed like they couldn't close their gills all the way. There are no other symptoms really, they eat great, are still energetic, dont appear to be gasping for air. I treated with Furan-2 that my lfs reccomended for a bacterial gill thing, and then that didnt have any effect whatsoever so I tried Maracyn-2 which appeared to clear it up a tiny bit but it came right back again. Im not sure what else to do. Ive got some salt in there, lots of airation. Umm, some stats...

Tanks been set up about 3-ish months.
Temp-76 degrees
29 US gallons
Ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates about 5, ph 7.8
It has 6 guppies and two blood-finned tetras (well, there are 5 one day old baby guppies in a net, born today yay lol, but I dont think they count lol)

So, any ideas? Thanks in advance. (Oh, and sorry Ive been posting alot here lately, my fishies are going through a really tough time for some reason)

 

[Loko17]

Usually thats a sign of VERY high ammonia levels but that normally only happens in a tank that hasnt been cycled, i dont know what it could be other than that.

 

[fishRfriends]

Yep, I was thinking that too, but ammonia levels are zero. When I started I didnt know about cycling, I thought just adding some of my moms fish water I would be fine and plopped fish in right away. But my readings are showing that by now my tank is cycled, so I dont think its that. Im so lost lol!

 

[WILDER]

Sounds lie gill flukes to me, will get you a link.

http/article.dphnet.com/cat-02/flukes.shtml

 

[WILDER]

http/article.dphnet.com/cat-02/flukes1.shtml

 

[fishRfriends]

Ohh, it does sound like that. Do you reccomend any particular treatment? Im not sure if I can get the things that article reccomends as I dont have an actual fishstore, just a small local pet store. Thanks so much for your help!

Oh, on a side note. Before the fishies started really showing signs I put the guppy fry into my fry tank with my baby swordtails. Do you think there is the possibilty they could have it too and I should treat them? Or should I just wait and see if symtoms show first? Again, thanks.

 

[WILDER]

Yes reat the whole tank, are you from the states.

 

[fishRfriends]

Yup, Im in the states. And I just read that second article about the fry being attacked alot easier than the adults, no wonder only one guppy fry made it

 

[WILDER]

Coppersafe and this med. clout.


Clout
Manufacturer: Aquarium Products
A very strong and effective medication for parasitic and protozoan infestations. Treats: Ich, Hydra, leeches, Planaria, Epistylis, Trichodina, Hexamita,Tetrahy-mena, body fungus, digenetic flukes, parasitic copepods, monogenetic flukes and anchor worms.

Coppersafe
Manufacturer: Mardel
Chelated copper treatment recommended for the treatment of ick, flukes, anchor worms, velvet, protozoan diseases and other external parasites.

 

[fishRfriends]

Yay, my lps sells that stuff, I rememer seeing it while I was looking for other gill medicines. So, do I use moth of those together, or choose one? Thank you!!

 

[WILDER]

Increae aeration, remove black carbon, read the instructions carefully, do you have any scaless fish as they are very sensitive to parasite meds and these meds are strong.

Just one of them, clout or the coppersafe, also watch out for bacterial infection, very common on top of flukes, as the parasites suckers have nasty bacteria in them that when it pierce the fish skin the bacteria goes into the blood stream, casuing a bacteria infection, good luck.

If you have scaless fish in the tank i would go in with half dose to see how they handle it, if they are ok gradually increase it to the full dose.

 

[fishRfriends]

Nope, no scaleless, just 6 guppies and 2 tetras. Umm, for aeration, I have two regualr filters and a sponge filter with a strong airator thingy powering it. Should I still somehow add more? And when you say remove black carbon, I dont have like a bag with just carbon but that carbon is in the insert for the filter. Does that make sense lol? I mean, it seems like if I take the carbon out I will be taking out all the beneficial bacteria, except there is this white, spongey insert too. I guess the bacteria will live in there? Sorry if that was confusing, Im not sure how to explain it. Thanks again!

 

[WILDER]

I would buy a pump and airstone as meds reduce the 02 in the water.
Yes somehow you will have to remove the black carbon, ziolite you call it, as it will just remove the meds from the tank so it would be pointless them adding the med.

 

[fishRfriends]

Ok! I think Ive got it down! Off to the pet store lol. Thanks so much for all your help

 

[WILDER]

Read about coppersafe it further down the article.
http/cichlid-forum.com/articles/ich.php