Unknown Problem

[Genie]

Opaline gourami.

Petshop man suggested just water changing. Said not to buy any products, but i cant find what this is anywhere. doesnt fit the basic descriptions of symptoms.

Tank size: rio vision 180 (so 101 x 50 x 41 cm )
pH:7
ammonia:
nitrite:0
nitrate:0
kH:10d
gH:>10d
tank temp:26 C/79 F

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Black patch on side of face (only on right hand side). Seems to be on body now, rear, near tail. doesnt seem to be on surface but could be wrong.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: began water change yesterday, about 15%.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Another fish had fungus over a week ago, treated with Interpret- anti fungus and finrot. unfortunately must have been too little too late. (had been away for the weekend prior)

Tank inhabitants: 1 angelfish. 1 Pleco. 4 scissortails. 2 tiger barbs i think (were a present, unsure)

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Whole tank is new. Didnt cycle for long enough, was advised it wasnt necessary (know better now ) Theres a large arch that i put as a hiding place for pleco that wasnt in old tank. But no new fish, all lived in old tank.

Exposure to chemicals:

Digital photo (include if possible): did take one, but dont have a lead

 

[Miss Wiggle]

what test kit are you using, the ammonia nitrite and nitrate readings are odd.

if the tanks new and not cycled you can have no nitrate but would likely have some ammonia or nitrite

if the tanks cycled and ammonia and nitrite are 0 then there should be some nitrate.

can you take a sample of water to the lfs for testing?

also a pic would be really helpful if you can find anyway to get one

 

[Genie]

decided to send the picture to my sisters phone, get her to upload it. Shes still asleep though.
Im using a test strip kit and im going to go and get a more specific one today. it doesnt read ammonia so need one that does.


not sure if it helps, but there werent any plants in the old tank, but there are in the new.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah test strips are useless, get a liquid test kit, i recommend API Fresh Water Master Test Kit. Nutrafin also do a good one.

just make sure it's liquid tests and covers pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate as a minimum

 

[Genie]

poorly gourami

picture is upside down i think. was turning the phone to get a good picture.
it is on his left side at the rear too.



he never had a dark face, and the dark patches were lighter than that. these patches are definately black

 

[Miss Wiggle]

hmmm hard to tell from that pic

look up sceptacemia.... bleeding under the skin, could be a possibility

 

[Genie]

yeah the picture looked really clear on my phone, not so much when it became enlarged

 

[Miss Wiggle]

reduced the size of the pic so it's a bit clearer

 

[Genie]

found some info!!! over a year ago on here.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=128270

Dont know where i would get melafix or pimafix though. doesnt sound like something my pet shops would have

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Black patches also can be ammonia burns that are healing

black patches and no swelling can be melanophore migration

in a brand new tank i think these are two very important points

even if ammonia is 0 now it may have already done some damage.

need proper test readings before we can go any further really.

 

[Genie]

ammonia reading was between 0.25 and 0.50
(i say between....because ive always been useless saying which is the exact match)

done another 20% water change. Added water conditioner (used to let the water stand before putting it in, but dont think ive done it for every bucket worth).

Not sure what else to do

 

[Miss Wiggle]

20% water changes every day until ammonia and nitrite are consistently at 0. it's all you can do.

good luck

 

[Genie]

thank you

 

[Genie]

fully believe it was an ammonia problem. Working overtime to sort this problem!
Too late for my poor little gourami though