Sick Angel

[Missie]

My sister in law just called in a panic. She doesn't have internet so she wanted me to do some research for her. Since I'd just signed on here today, I told her I knew the perfect place to go for help.

She has an angel fish and a molly in her 10 gal hospital tank. They were treating for ick a few days ago. Then they noticed that there were little wormy things swimming around in the tank. The freaked, put the two fish in there 1 1/2 gallon and scrubbed the 10 gal and then set it out for 24 hours. They have since refilled, and put the 2 sick fish back in.

The angel was VERY listless. She would seem nearly dead and the molly would nudge her and get her moving again. Now the angel seems to be doing MUCH better...only she is losing her fins. In one day they are nearly gone! Yet beyond that she seems happier and healthier before.

They are very unsure of what to do. Please help.

New water 4 days ago

Water conditions- pH neutral, alkalinity mod to ideal (80-120), hardness-soft, nitrite safe, nitrate safe temp 86 degrees....they realize that is high...but they are having a/c difficulties, so the house is hot

chemicals- stress zyme, ick clear 1st day, fungus clear 1/2 dose 2nd and third day, 2nd and 3rd days melafix

water changes- 25% change today

Also, the mollie was pregnant but isn't now. No fry, but they did have several round yellowish balls, but now they are gone as well. I guessed that mom miscarried due to all the stress, but I am so new to all of this that I could be WAY off.

Thanks so much for taking time to read through this long rambling post!

 

[ger87410]

Ammonia level?

 

[Missie]

I'll have her check. My LFS said probably the molly chewing up the angels fins. I'm not sure which is easiest to tell my sis in law....."Sunny" is a murderer, or you have a terrible case of fin rot.

Would the amonia levels do that to the fins???

Thanks, ger.

 

[ger87410]

I've witnessed ammonia/nitrite poisoning do much worse. If she doen't have any scaleless fish she should add salt to help.

 

[tstenback]

If its fin rot then regular water changes should control the situation. A bit of melafix to help the fins heal would be an idea and it wont hurt any of the other fish. HTH

 

[Missie]

I just got back from my brother's house. His angel fish, Prissy looks terrible. They are pretty sure it isn't the molly, they had seperated the 2 and Prissy's fins still got worse.

She didn't have an ammonia tester in the house...but everything else was perfect. Could the ammonia level still be out of wack even if there is no nitrite??

They put some more fungus cure in. My local LFS said that the little wormy things were just that...worms. From the molly. She had places on her body that just lost color...not like ick where it is on the outside. Yuck!

Beyond the lack of fins, Prissy looks well. I mean she is swimming, even showing out a bit. Will her fins grow back from this stuff?

I want to thank you both for helping out with this.

 

[GP]

How new is the tank, how big is it.. need to know this

Also, when she scrubbed the tank, did she do a 100% water change, clean the gravel, filter, and decor? If so, you'd have to recycle your tank....

Go get ammonia test strips, you really should have them.

 

[Missie]

It is a 10gal hospital tank...no gravel...few if any decor. Not sure if she did 100% water change or not....I would guess that she would have because the worms totally freaked her out. I'm sure she did NOT rinse the filter though.

She has had her 55 gal set up for about 6 months. Her 10gal is her hospital tank. I'm not sure if she cleans it out when it isn't being used or not....I'm not sure how that works.