The Story Of My Tanks....

[rEvolution27]

Well seeing as i'm a newb fish keeper with lot's of fish problems, i wanted to start a little journal on here (if you guys don't mind) Where i can tell you all how my tanks are progressing and you can tell me what i'm doing wrong or right.

So today, my three swordtails are in the 20 gallon. the two females are ok, but the male who i had before them is sick. He has a slowly progressing infection at the base of his tail which is moving very slow. I have been treating the tank with antibiotics since tuesday and i haven't seen much change inn the infection either way. He lays in a corner until feeding time, get's chased around by the females and then returns to the corner (he eat's though)

The females seem a little less active and are hanging around in the lower level today. The male is rubbing again st objects.

Yesterday one of the females had fry. I was only able to save 4 and they are in a little container. I've been feeding them finely crushed flake food and this afternoon was the first time i actually saw them nibbling the food.

Water stats i don't have because my test kit hasn't arrived yet.

Oh and the snails are in another container while my tank is being medicated and they are very active.

 

[WILDER]

What antibiotic are you using for the finrot, without water stats it hard to tell if they have a parasite with the flicking and rubbing as bad water quality can cause this as well, check the gills to see if they are red and inflamed, any laboured breathing, any grains of salt on the body of the fish, or a yellowish to brown dusting on them.

 

[rEvolution27]

wow wilder, you really follow me around don't you? I'm eternaly greatful.
I'm using aquari-sol. He seems to be breathing a little fast. No inflamation or reddened gills. you told me before what it might be (i forgot the name) but what i'm treating him with covers ick, closed fins, body fungus, velvet and other parasite infestations. I couldn't get anything for internal bacteria infections. I'll try a salt bath when i get sea salt. I really don't know what's going on.

 

[WILDER]

Parasites can cause bacteria infections on top like finrot, so you are already using a parasite med.

 

[WILDER]

Just looked the med up, for itch and things, i would remove it from the tank if there is no sign of parasites, how long have you been using it.

 

[rEvolution27]

I've been using it since tuesday and the only sign of parasite is the small whitish patch near the base of the fin which doesn't seem to be getting better or much worse.

 

[WILDER]

Is the patch fluffy looking as white patches can be bacterial like columnaris or a parasite, plus fish can flick with columnaris.

Not the writer of this information below.
Columnaris (a.k.a. Mouth Fungus)



Symptoms:

An infected fish will have off-white to gray cotton-like patches on the head, fins, gills, body and particularly the mouth. In time, these areas will develop into open sores. Gill swelling may occur, gill filaments may stick together and excessive mucus may develop in the gill area. Rapid breathing can be seen. Fins may deteriorate to the point of leaving the fin rays bare. Muscles may be inflamed and capillaries may rupture. Fish, particularly livebearers, may exhibit "shimmying". Infection may be acute (killing an infected fish within hours), or chronic (lingering for several days before eventually killing the fish). As with most diseases, not all symptoms need be present.



Cause:

The bacterium Flexibacter columnaris.



Treatment:

Ensure that your water conditions (e.g., Ammonia, Nitrite, pH, Nitrate levels, and water temp.) are within their proper ranges. If not, perform a water change and/or treat the water accordingly. Recommended medications include: Furanace, Fungus Eliminator, Fungus Cure, Furacyn, Furan-2, Triple Sulfa, E.M. Tablets, Tetracycline, or Potassium Permanganate. Medicated foods are also recommended. Columnaris can be highly infectious and may quickly kill all aquarium inhabitants; therefore, early treatment is essential. All fish, including those not yet showing visible symptoms, as well as the aquarium they inhabit should be treated.

 

[rEvolution27]

Sounds like it except the white patch looks more flat (it doesn't look elevated and i can only see it at certain angles, not head on) his fins don't seem to be deteriorating any. He just stays in the corner.

 

[WILDER]

Problem with coloumnaris it has many disguises and it can show it self in patches, if nothing changes with the med i would try a bacterial med, good luck.

 

[rEvolution27]

well i asked my lfs for an antibacterial and that's what they gave me. Should i try melafix?

 

[WILDER]

Won't do much i'm afraid, need something like maracyn one and two.

 

[rEvolution27]

i truly do have so much to say!

It seems that one of my females, pineapple is growing a swordtail! and a gonopodium? Wow, these fish are amazing. Or is it just my imagination?

My sick hasn't changed, he comes out and swims around, get's pecked by the two others, swims around then goes back behind the coconut. I stopped the medication. I can't really even see any skin problems really or rapid breathing for that matter. He's just a lazy one.

Well the fry are 3 days old and not interested in swimming much.
They are all still alive but i'm wondering if they're getting enough food, or eating the food at all for that matter.

I may put the apple snails back in later today since i've stopped the medication.

Oh and there seems to be a largeish patch of foamy bubbly stuff on the surface.

 

[rEvolution27]

Silly me just realised that whitish colour around his mouth which i can't remember if it was there before or not may be mouth rot. Definiety columnaris.

 

[rEvolution27]

Well i moved the sick swordtail to my other tank, and now he's swimming around non stop with his fins up.
Which made me think my water quality is poor so i did a large water change in the other tank,

I put the snails back in the main tank they stayed in they shells for a long time, moved a but and stopped. Not bothe of them are hanging out of their shells a bit and they look scrunched up. I think they may be dead.

 

[WILDER]

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hdcolumn.htm