Cardinal Tetra - Is This White Spot

[2004typer]

Hello everybody, first time poster here!

I have what I think is an outbreak of white spot on my Cardinal Tetra's - stupidly I purchased three guppies a few weeks ago and put them into the tank without putting them through quarantine (do not have the facility to do so at the moment). The new fish died a couple of days later - I returned the fish to the shop I purchased them from, and they too had had a similar problem - the entire tank of their guppies had pretty much passed away. In a way I was relieved that it was not my doing (I had tested my water, all parameters fine, tank was fully cycled approx. 6 months ago using the fishless method).

Since this occurred, as above, my cardinals have become ill - please see the attached photo. I have treated the tank with Interpet No. 6, currently being into the second week of dosing. The medicine does not appear to be having any noticeable effect, and some of the fish appear to be suffering some rot to the fins as well now. I am sure the disease is white spot, but I am after the opinion of somebody with more experience than I have - do you think I have diagnosed correctly?

I am very grateful for any advice you can offer.

Many Thanks, Andrew

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, it's definitely whitespot.

There are some strains of whitespot that are resistant to some meds, so you might need to try another, or you could try heat treatment, depending on what fish you have in the tank, as they can't all take that temperature (30°C for ten days, I believe it is)

 

[2004typer]

I will try a different med, is there any that come highly recommended?

Does anybody have any thoughts as regards the fin damage, or is this a side effect of the white spot?

Thank-you

 

[Symo420]

Yes, it's definitely whitespot.

Act immediately or you will loose your fish. Quarantine the sick fish and follow any advice you can find!
Here's a useful resource I used when I was struck down with this disease:
Treating Whitespot

 

[the_lock_man]

I will try a different med, is there any that come highly recommended?

Does anybody have any thoughts as regards the fin damage, or is this a side effect of the white spot?

Thank-you

I used Protozin by Waterlife. I think Blubble 37 recommends it too..... (take a look at the other Whitespot (Ich) thread.) I personally wouldn't quarantine the affected fish, because you don't know if any of the protozoa have left the fish and are either hiding in the gravel, or are free swimming, looking for another host. The whole tank needs treating, not jsut affected fish. If you quarantine those fish, any free swimming protozoa will just infect a different fish.

Anyway, the fin damage should repair itself, once the Whitespot has gone, with daily 25% water changes for a week or so.

 

[fluttermoth]

Agree on the quarintine; the tank will be infected with the whitespot parasite so the whole tank definitely needs treating.

I've only ever had to deal with whitespot once, and I used eSCHa EXIT, which worked very well; it is supposed to treat resistant strains too, though I don't know if that's true or not.

 

[HayzH]

i recommend Protozin too. worked well on mine and they havent had it since. (now i've said that look out..they will get it! lol)

 

[winmore]

I treated white spot by putting the temp up to 32c for a week soon cleared the tank.

 

[alan1966]

hello every one new to site just a little tip for white spot i no this sounds daft but for the last 15years all iv used is t.c.p and it clears white spot any questions please ask

 

[Mort75]

may i ask what T.C.P is?

 

[Sickbound]

^+1

 

[KirkyArcher]

 
I wouldn't risk it though in times of emergency I suppose you'd consider anything! 

 

[DoubleDutch]

Agree on the quarintine; the tank will be infected with the whitespot parasite so the whole tank definitely needs treating.

I've only ever had to deal with whitespot once, and I used eSCHa EXIT, which worked very well; it is supposed to treat resistant strains too, though I don't know if that's true or not.

 
Agree, but it's Esha Exit which can be combined with Esha 2000 (secundairy infections). There are some terrible resistant strains of White Spot and very often infecting Cardinals (don't know why). On another forum Paraguard is advised as a good med.
 
 
Cheers Aad