2 Fish Died - Is It Columnaris?

[Deac]

Hi,
Yesterday I lost one of 3 red line torpedo barbs - and another one today. The latter had some obvious kind of skin infection. I'm not sure if this is columnaris or something else. Either way, I'm not sure how best to treat it. I added aquarium salt this morning (5 tablespoons) and 1/2 dose of melafix - due to gouramis, though not certain if that will do the trick. Anyone help a newbie out here???


Tank size: 100 ltr
pH:7.0
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 10
kH: 5
gH:
tank temp: 21c (81f)

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Normal behavour, legion on skin (see picture), sudden death of both torpedo barbs. ist was found floating on surface, 2nd, sunk to bottom. Eating OK as far as i could tell. All other fish OK at present.
Volume and Frequency of water changes: 40% weekly

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Seachem ferts (excel, iron, flourish, potassium - only recently, trace). Added 50% dose of Melafix this morning - after 2 hours 2nd torpedo barb expired. Filtration includes filter floss, Matrix and purigen - regenerated as per directions using Prime to remove all traces of chlorine

Tank inhabitants: Several guppies and neon tetras, 2 SAE's, 1 honey gourami, 2 pearl gouramis, a few cories, 2 bosemani rainbow fish, 3 ottos, 2 black skirt tetras, a few zebra danios and some nerite snails. Lots of plants.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Neon tetras - a week ago.

Exposure to chemicals: None that I know of.

Digital photo (include if possible):

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Neon Tetra Disease. I am positive, the addition of neon tetras is a sure give away. No cure for this one Separate any fish showing signs and keep the water clean with frequent water changes. Good luck.

 

[Deac]

Neon Tetra Disease. I am positive, the addition of neon tetras is a sure give away. No cure for this one Separate any fish showing signs and keep the water clean with frequent water changes. Good luck.

Many thanks...........I'll follow your advice and hope there are no more losses. I don't know much about this disease - but I'm obviously now going to learn (the hard way). Surprised that it can affect other fish, though.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

[URL="http/freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/neondisease.htm"]http/freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/neondisease.htm[/URL]

" Neon Tetra disease is more common than many aquarium enthusiasts realize, and affects species beyond neon tetras. Named after the fish that it was first identified in..."

That link may help to clarify some thing about the disease, that article seems alright but alot of hers aren't great.

Just remember to quarantine next time!