White Skirt Tetra Problem

[Sheridanp]

I have had my white skirt tetra in a 10 gallon hospital tank for about 5 days. Five minutes ago I went in the room to find him at the top of the tank, possibly gasping for air, but it did not look like he was breathing hard. He has a shredded fin and I've been treating him with Melafix. He's barely gotten any better. I took him out of the hospital tank, and put him back in the main tank. Already he seems happier. I just didn't want him to die, so I'll keep him in the main tank tempourarily.

What should I do? Should I just risk it and put him back in the hospital tank? I tested the water a bit ago, and everything seemed fine to me. I added nothing but Aquaplus, and I haven't done a water change since Thursday.

 

[WILDER]

White skirt tetras need a least a 20gal tank, can we take a look at your water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.
Any other fish in the tank besides the white skirt tetra's, if hes at the top of the tank not good and with the stredded fins and there has been no fin nipping its sounds like bacterial finrot.
But he's breathing is a worry as once they do that not good and chances are slim on the fish making a full recovery.

 

[Sheridanp]

I think it might be a bacterial infection. I just found that my cory cat has Ich. His fin is brown too. I think 1/2 of the fish are infected with a bacterial problem. I seen some of my black ruby barbs with brown fins. I do not have the water resultes on me now. What can I do?

 

[WILDER]

Corys are not prone to ich they don't get it, if the fin is brown fluffy looking it columnaris.

http/www.nippyfish.net/flexibacter.html

 

[Sheridanp]

Oh, well my cory has white spots on him. That is so strange, probably the bacterial infection?

Well, I think I'll do a 50% water change, and look for some Maracyn. I think the White Skirt may die, he seems really poor in health, almost as if depressed.

Also, could you tell me if one of these would be good to use? I will ship it the best way so I can get treating the fish ASAP.

http/www.thatpetplace.com/MainPro/shopay00.aspx

 

[WILDER]

How big are the white spots and are they fluffy looking, you will need maracyn one and two.

 

[Sheridanp]

The cory died. Before I went to bed he was upside down under a plant breathing. All I could do was pray for him.

Ok, I shall get the Maracyn. I think I will also get an airstone because my white skirt is always at the top when I come in. I think he should live till I get it though.

 

[WILDER]

I would preform a water change if the fish is at the top of the tank, you didn't say what the whitespots looked like on the cory.

 

[Sheridanp]

They were like little grains of salt. They started to go away before he died.

I did a 50% water change yesterday, and I'll do another one today. The stats:

Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0.3
Nitrate- 5
PH- Steady

 

[WILDER]

Yes carry on with the water changes, never none a cory to get whitespot, you will need to treat the tank, so check to see if other fish have the little grains of salt on them.

 

[Sheridanp]

It appears they do not. I will keep an eye on all the fish closely. My other two corys seem alright. Thanks for your help.

 

[WILDER]

Ok, good luck.

 

[Sheridanp]

I have a picture of a black ruby barb's fin. Just to make sure this is a bacterial infection:

http/thesimpsonseh.com/Fish%20022.png

Also, I got the Maracyn 1 from my LFS. Not sure if they have 2 too, I didn't actually go there.

 

[WILDER]

Can't see anything, but if the fin is bad i would add the maracyn, good luck.

 

[Sheridanp]

I have some problems. My white skirt's fin got better just a bit, but his back fin is almost all gone now. He is really struggling, and i only have Maracyn 1.