Two Deaths

[ThievingScouser]

Hi

I'm hoping someone can help me.

A couple of days ago one of my Kulhi loaches died suddenly, there'd been no sign of problem, suddenly it was there at the front of the tank, quite dead.
Now 2 days later my albino rainbow shark has died.

I saw the shark out and feeding this morning and the brief view I had of it seemed ok then.

There are lots of hiding places in the tank due to a huge piece of bog wood, and the shark tended to hide a lot.
Also with 5 kuhli loaches in the tank it's difficult to say I saw this one that died in the days prior.

The tank was thoroughly cleaned and a big (80l) water change last Thursday (300l tank) and is currently being treated with Protozin (half dose)
I suspected last Thurs that my red rainbows had a fungal infection (they all had white top lips), so started treatment, but I now think they'd been fighting as one had part of his top lip missing and on closer examination it looked more like a wound. I continued the Protozin treatment just in case (it's on day 6 with 4th and final treatment due tonight)

I've done a water test just now (API drops) Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: 5

Kuhli Loach

Albino Rainbow Shark

It looks to be something digestive related.... but I'm new to all this so am really only guessing.

I do suspect that I over feed the fish however.
It's difficult to get food past the ravenous Danios, so in order to make sure there's food available to the shyer bottom feeders I think I put too much in.

Help!! I hoped the Kulhi loach might have been a once off, but the shark dying today is really worrying me!!


Many thanks in advance for any help
Ed

 

[WILDER]

Remove the parasite med with a water change and run some black carbon.
Its looks bacterial to me with the red patches (Septicemia) and the white mouths (Columnaris)
I would add a bacterial med and increase aeration in the tank.

 

[ThievingScouser]

Thanks for the reply Wilder.... both their stomachs are bloated, is that another symptom of something bacterial?

I've some API Melafix (I got it to treat the Rainbows mouths to help heal if they ~had~ been fighting) will that do the trick?

So .... do a large water change, put the carbon back in the filters and run the UV sterilizer over night to take out the Protozin.
Then in the morning remove the carbon and put in some anti-bacterial meds? Turn off UV too?

 

[WILDER]

Are the scales sticking out on the fish.
Over feeding can bloat fish up so don't over feed.
What do you feed the fish?
Cook some frozen peas in boiling water for a few minutes, let cool down and pop out of shell. Mush into small pieces and add to the tank.

 

[ThievingScouser]

The scales weren't noticeably sticking out on the shark. All the other fish look ok (to my untrained eye), their stomachs are definitely visible having fed however.

It usually alternates between one feed consisting of either bloodworm or brine shrimp, and one feed of flakes and tablets per day (morning and evening).

They've been fed tonight, next feed in the morning should be peas then?



On the subject of aeration.... I couldn't find anything to deliver fine enough air bubbles so I don't tend to run a pump in the tank. I've a spray bar under the water (from one filter) pointed slightly upwards to ripple the surface, and another filter coming out in a jet (again under the water but close enough to the surface to disturb it and make a tinkling sound). I'd hoped that would be aerating the water enough.
I've put a couple of air stones in the tank just now and turned the pump on.

 

[WILDER]

Don't over feed the bloodworms it can make fish bloat up.
Introduce some green veg into there diet.

 

[ThievingScouser]

UPDATE: I treated with Melafix and it cleared up the rainbows mouths a treat. Thanks Wilder
There also haven't been any more deaths in the tank since so hopefully whatever the problem was is sorted.

However, yesterday I did a small tank vacuum, 20% water change and added some Melafix & Pimafix.
Within a couple of hours something definitely wasn't right in the tank. The danios & rainbows were all subdued, at the top of the tank breathing from the surface.
The coreys keep making regular (much more than usual) dashes to the surface, and the fire eel was gulping deeper than usual.
I turned up the air pump and moved the spray bar higher to really splash the surface, hoping they'd be ok through the night and day today.
They seemed a little happier this morning but something really still isn't right.

On the way home tonight I bought an O2 measuring kit, it's showing at 8 mg/l which is optimal.
Although I'd tested before the clean I tested again tonight and have Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: 5

Tonight I've done a 10% water change, cleaned the filters, put the carbon back in and turned the UV back on.
I'm hoping it's something to do with the Melafix or Pimafix and the carbon will absorb these meds.

If anyone has any other ideas though I'd love to hear them. I hate seeing the fish like this.

 

[WILDER]

Some fish don't tolerate full dose of melafix. It could be the melafix.

 

[ThievingScouser]

Some fish don't tolerate full dose of melafix. It could be the melafix.

I'd been giving the same 40ml dose daily for a week. They'd been their usual selves till right after the water change and meds yesterday.
I'd heard about putting Melafix and Pimafix in together as a cure all for fungal and parasitic so tried that last night.
Should you half dose them if putting in together?

Given it seems something nasty is bothering the fish what would be your recommendation?
As a last resort I'm on the verge of doing huge water changes daily (50%) if the situations not changed tomorrow.

 

[WILDER]

Have the fish only started to heavy breath since adding the meds.
So you have been using the melafix then you added the pimafix.

How long before you do a water change and run some black with melafix.

 

[ThievingScouser]

Have the fish only started to heavy breath since adding the meds.
So you have been using the melafix then you added the pimafix.

How long before you do a water change and run some black with melafix.

They've been having Melafix daily for a bit over a week (no carbon or UV) and have been normal.
The Rainbows are usually super active, and very frisky, the Danios, well they're always a bit nuts. Since yesterday, they're the ones showing the worst effects.
It was a half hearted effort at meal time tonight, usually you get splashed in their eagerness.

Yesterday I did a water change, and put a dose of Melafix and Pimafix (having just picked up some from the store).
Within a few hours I noticed the above gasping.

Everything I've heard about Melafix problems has been to do with reduced oxygen, but that's showing as normal.
Wondering....could it be it reduces the oxygen absorption, not the O2 itself.... hmm

It seems to be either the M & P combo, or maybe just the P that's caused it.

 

[WILDER]

Are the fish still breathing heavy since doing the water change and adding some black carbon.

If the fish were all better why did you add another round of melafix and then add pimafix.

 

[ThievingScouser]

Are the fish still breathing heavy since doing the water change and adding some black carbon.

If the fish were all better why did you add another round of melafix and then add pimafix.

There was still some lightness on one the rainbows upper lip.
I wasn't sure if it was anything but I was hoping if it was something the meds might clear that up.

The water change and carbon was about 3 hrs ago, they're still at the surface breathing heavily.

Some pics of the test outputs if anyone can spot anything, amiss.

 

[WILDER]

Do a 15% water change to dilute the med down again.
If no improvement after water change get back to the board.
I might not be around so just start another thread.

 

[ThievingScouser]

I've done a water change, and no immediate effect.
I bought another bottle of Aqua Safe today and have done this water change using that. (the other bottle's only 4 months old, but wanted to cut out variables)

Even the gold nugget has started hanging onto the back at the top of the tank. He never likes to be seen out in the open.