What Now - Septicemia!?!?!?!?

[oneponygirl]

Alright, this right on the heals of Ich, soon I will have NO fish left! The fish I do had left after battling Ich are (were) 3 pygmy corys and 1 dwarf gourami in my 29 gallon tank. The tank is only a month old however it was established using all substrate, water, plants and filter media from the 10 gallon tank I was replacing. Since I stopped treating for Ich about a week ago I have done nothing except about a 20% water change and watching for any new signs of Ich. Yesterday morning I watched them for a while because my corys were being so active and it's fun to watch them. All 3 looked fine, all behaving the same. Last night just before bed I checked the tank again and was going to feed when I saw only 1 cory flitting oddly around the tank and I noticed his belly was all red and it almost looked like there was a wound. I pulled out water and did a test. Ammonia and Nitrites 0, Nitrates 10. No problems there. Went back to the tank to check on the little guy wondering what I should do with him and wanting to try to find the other two and I discovered him doing these "ballerina" twirls in one place at the top of the tank. Death throws, poor kid. I pulled him out and euth'd him in ice water (although it appears that he died the second I netted him). Couldn't stand to watch him suffer anymore. It was too late last night to think of what to do and too late to post and stay up hoping for a response. The gourami looked fine and I couldn't find anything of the other two corys.

This morning I inspected the one who passed and sure enough it looks like there was a wound. Now assuming the redness (looks like blood under the skin) is septecemia, which likely came first - the "wound" (it looks like his belly split) or the infection?

What are the causes of Septecemia? We've had a heat wave lately and I haven't been able to get that tank under 85 for days now and before the heat wave I had it up that high because of Ich, could it have been the heat?

I scared up the remaining two corys and neither show any signs of redness or wounds. Should I treat the tank with anything to prevent this possibly occuring with the rest? Also, I'm taking off for the weekend again (this happened last time I took off, day of my leaving Ich showed up ) so I won't be able to watch them. Is it safest to just wait to do anything until I get back?

Oh yeah, and I got some "bonus" snails with the plants I bought a while back and now I'm kind of attached so if I treat I would like to treat with something that won't hurt them. If that's not possible is it safe to move them to my coldwater tank temporarily while I treat?

Oh please somebody help.

 

[WILDER]

Yes it septicemia and corys seem to be prone to it, can you issolate as you will need an antibiotic, though once it has progressed hard to cure.
http/www.fishtanksandponds.net/care-main...septicaemia.htm

Plus some water changes on the tank as fish with septicemia release bacteria into the tank.

 

[oneponygirl]

Well, I can pull out the two remaining corys and set up my old ten gallon for them but I guess that assumes that my gourami doesn't need treatment as well, is that safe to assume? Or should I just treat the big tank with everybody (which really is just the two corys, 1 gourami and a few stowaway snails - all of which appear still to be healthy at this point)? Just wondering if it's worth more to set up the other tank or just treat them where they are since I don't have a lot of stock to isolate them from.

If I treat, what should I treat with? The link didn't specify. And if I do a water change, how much and how important is it? It's not that I don't want to do it but I'm also trying to pack and get the house and other animals ready for me to be gone a couple of days so if the water change can wait until Sunday (it hasn't even been a week since my last one) schedule wise that would be better. I did get the only fish with symptoms out before it died but not by much. It couldn't have really been sick for more than a few hours since I had watched them for a while yesterday AM and they were all fine.

Lastly, as I had used my glass scrubber to scare up the corys this morning I stopped to pierce and stir up the sand a bit with it. While I was doing it some bubbles came up, it is possible it was just trapped O2 or is it more likely it was noxious gas? When I set up this bigger tank my plan was to get some snails to work the sand for me but Ich struck right away so I had to delay.

 

[WILDER]

Well i wouldn't use an antibiotic in the main tank as it will wipe the bacteria colony out in the filter.
I would suggest maracyn one and two, do a water change, remove black carbon, increase aeration.
Don't know if the snails will cope with the med though, good luck.

Maracyn
Manufacturer: Mardel
A broad-spectrum antibiotic for gram-positive bacterial infections. For infections of columnaris (body fungus), fin and tail rot, popeye, gill disease, and secondary infections.
Active ingredient: Erythromycin.


Maracyn–Two
Manufacturer: Mardel
A broad-spectrum antibiotic for internal or external gram negative bacterial infections which can even be absorbed through the skin. Effective treatment of fin and tail rot, popeye, gill disease, dropsy (swollen body, protruding scales), septicemia (bleeding or red streaks on the body), secondary and internal infections. Effective even when fish won't eat.
Active ingredient: Mincycline hydrochlor.

 

[oneponygirl]

I see, thanks! I'll see what I can accomplish in the time I have before I leave. I didn't get out early enough this morning to avoid my son's naptime so he's sleeping which means that I can't run out for meds (because I STILL haven't found mine from the move) but I may have time to set up the ten gallon for them and at least get them separated. Ugh! Lunch first. This pregnant lady does run well on empty and I still have to shower, pack, set the cats up, do water changes on three of my bettas that are overdue, load the car... Thanks again!

 

[WILDER]

Good god alot of work there, glad my child bearing days are over, congrats.