Strange Symptom And Death Of A Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish

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Tank size: See sig - Tank 1 (400 litres)
pH: 7.8
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 30
kH:between 6 and 10 degrees
gH: a little over 16 degrees
tank temp:78F
Volume and Frequency of water changes: Weekly - 15%


I'll try to describe this as best I can (and then see if I can work out how to upload a photo). I recently bought 4 Peacock Gobies (T. occelicauda) which went into my second tank. All had been in the fish shop for over a month and all fish in the shop tank were healthy. First female goby died after 48 hours, no visible symptoms. The smaller male looked like it was getting bullied my the larger male (who was displaying like mad and trying to entice the remianing female into a small cave), the smaller male had what looked like a frayed and bitten fin (immobile) and scale damage around the fin. I assumed he had been attacked by the larger male goby and removed the smaller male to my larger tank to recover.

However, the very next day, two of my cardinal tetras died (no obvious symptoms - these had been in the main tank for 2 years and 4 months). Also when feeding the tank later in the day I noticed one of the Dwarf Rainbows (M. praecox) had what looked like exactly the same symptoms as the smaller male goby I had placed into the main tank to recover from his 'alleged mauling' by the larger male goby. I'll try to describe what the symptoms looked like as best I can.

No appetite, one pectoral fin immobile (appeared slightly frayed), in an almost rectangle around that pectoral fin streching up the side of the fished body it seemed like the colour of the fish had been bleached. No signs of spotting or fungal growths present.

Also on the same day (today) the larger main gobies eyes started to cloud over and it hung round the surface of the water (this is tank 2). I have treated tank 1 and 2 with Paragon at the recommended dose. The dwarf Rainbow received a Paragon bath which he unfortunately didn't survive. I'll try to get a photo of him uploaded.

I've not come across something like this is my years of fishkeeping, as mentioned, I assumed the smaller goby had been mauled by the larger goby. However, the male rainbowfish having what seems like exactly the same visible symptoms the day after adding the goby to the main tank would seem to stretch co-incidence a little far.

Anyone have any ideas ?

Triskele

Sounds bacterial to me, also cloudy eye is a symtom of a desease rather than a desease in itself, it can be due to bacterial infections and parasites, even fish tb.
I would increase your water changes as thats not enough.
Can you describe the fins, any red streaks in them, or a red edging to the tail,.

Thanks for replying Wilder, I had a sinking feeling it might be bacterial (considering the speed which it occured). I'll up my regular water change regime to 25% weekly on the main tank. There doesn't appear to be any red streaking on the fins. I've taken a photo, fingers crossed this works.

Triskele

For now i would go the bacterial way, as for it too kill two fish you have had a long time, sounds like a nasty bacterial infection in your tank.

Thanks Wilder,

Any experience using Paragon with this type of thing, or any suggestions of another treatment that I could use (if the paragon doesn't work), considering the shrimps and the loaches ?.

All the best,

Triskele.

Can you tell me what that meds treats, as i thinking a bacterial med.

No it's a general tonic, need a bacterial med, whats your location.
PARAGON (General Tonic)
For use in seawater, freshwater and coldwater aquaria. The product slowly releases oxygen in safe amounts destroying any pathogens and parasites present and beneficially raises the REDOX level in the systems, improves inhabitants health and the filtration efficiency
When added to aquarium/pond water, PARAGON slowly releases nascent, moatomic oxygen in safe amounts. After this rare form of oxygen has destroyed any pathogens and parasites present it beneficially raises the REDOX potential (oxygen levels) in the aquarium. This in turn benefits all forms of aquatic life. Do not use PARAGON on Discus species


http/www.waterlife.co.uk/waterlife/myxazin.htm

Wilder,

According to the tub it is as a general tonic acting as a parasiticide, bactericide and a fungicide. Very broad remit there, though it did work for me in the past when I had a whitespot outbreak soon after the tank was set up (Dec 03).

Triskele

Do you have melafix till you can get the med, as it will help keep the bacteria down.
I've used them in the beginning and they are no good, small doses of each med, though it would do till you could get a bacterial med.

Also increase aeration and turn temp down two degrees, as bacteria multiplies in warm temp.

The other meds in my cabinet are, a small amount (literally) of Interpets Anti Internal Bacteria (No. 9) and a nearly full bottle of protozin. I could add the former and then place a carbon filter in the tank, coupled with a water change later today before going out and buying the myxazin. I'm UK based BTW (Oxford area).

Triskele.

The anti internal bacteria med by interpet will be fine for now, when you get the other med, do a water change, run carbon for a few hours, remove it then add the waterlife med myxazin, good luck.

The other med is no good its for parasites and fungus.
http/www.waterlife.co.uk/waterlife/protozin.htm

I prefer the myxazin to the anti internal bacteria med by interpet.

This one is even better.
http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...bb88ecadf913bd8

Cheers Wilder,

<nods> Protozin won't work on this. I'll add the remaining anti-bacterial treatment now and do the rest in the morning (water change, carbon, remove carbon, add Myxazin.

Cheers for your help and for stopping up late <grins>.

All the best,

Triskele

Ok, good luck.

Hi Wilder,

Just wanted to update you on the situation and to say thankyou <smiles>. The treatment seems to have worked fine, I lost a couple of more cardinals but after the third day of the treatment no more deaths <cheers>.

ttfn,

Triskele

That's good news, i would still be tempted to do another round of treatment on the fish.