Congo Tetra

[CCFC Monkey]

Tank Info:
3 Congo tetra
1 Common plec
2 Albino Corys
5 amano shrimp

23 degrees C
ph: 7 - 7.2
nitrate: 50
nitrite: 0
ammonia: 0
KH: 7
GH: 14
Tank size: 100L litre
open top tank
Used: esha quick test

Hi,

Bit of a dilemma here, heater packed in last week (mon). And before I realised and went to the lfs for another, temp reached 18c. The missus woke me up 5am following morning said albino plec was dead on top. I went to investigate, I assumed he was dead, so went for net him out and he went beserk. So I turned the new heater up a few degrees has it was only reading 20c. Went back to bed.

Got up a couple of hours later (22c) he was dead floating on top of tank. I assumed it was because of heater packing in, because water quality was at:

ph: 7
nitrate: 10
nitrite: 0
ammonia: 0

The three remaining tetras seemed fine, until yesterday I notice one sitting on the sand at the bottom *struggling. At around 9pm about 2 hours after adding 3 new additions. *(gasping/working harder to swim than others/looking thin).

Woke up this morning, fine she was swimming around no problem.. but wasnt bothered about food. Just looked now, she is hiding in the plants at bottom, and doing the same as yesterday. Gills do look a bit reddened on the others, but seem ok. So ive dosed up with prime during a 10% change of water. Seemed to perk her up yesterday

Temp now between 23-24

could the heater have caused the bacteria in the filter to die? why the spike in nitrate other that due to new additions?

 

[WILDER]

If the temp drops fast it can cause fish death and desease.
Also dropping in temp can cause loss of beneifical bacteria.
Your nitrate reading of 50 was quite high, so that might of helped the tank not going into a mini cycle.

Any signs of flicking and rubbing, darting, excess mucas.

Red gills, laboured breathing, being thin, can be bacterial, to parasites.

What test kit are you using.
Wondering if the dead fish caused an ammonia spike.

The fish that looks thin is it a new fish or orginal tank fish.

 

[CCFC Monkey]

If the temp drops fast it can cause fish death and desease.
Also dropping in temp can cause loss of beneifical bacteria.
Your nitrate reading of 50 was quite high, so that might of helped the tank not going into a mini cycle.

Any signs of flicking and rubbing, darting, excess mucas.

Red gills, laboured breathing, being thin, can be bacterial, to parasites.

What test kit are you using.
Wondering if the dead fish caused an ammonia spike.

The fish that looks thin is it a new fish or orginal tank fish.

Esha quick test strips, and the ill tetra was put in about 3-4 weeks ago. Gills only look red inside when she opens them to breathe, and breathing seems Labored. Shes just at the bottom with belly on sand, turned the pump up to full. already changed water today, not sure what else I can do? No flicking, rubbing darting or mucas. But the other two look to be mating alot lol. another water change tomorrow prehaps?

I have a seacham ammonia alert, thats reading safe too I forgot to mention

 

[CCFC Monkey]

If the temp drops fast it can cause fish death and desease.
Also dropping in temp can cause loss of beneifical bacteria.
Your nitrate reading of 50 was quite high, so that might of helped the tank not going into a mini cycle.

Any signs of flicking and rubbing, darting, excess mucas.

Red gills, laboured breathing, being thin, can be bacterial, to parasites.

What test kit are you using.
Wondering if the dead fish caused an ammonia spike.

The fish that looks thin is it a new fish or orginal tank fish.

Esha quick test strips, and the ill tetra was put in about 3-4 weeks ago. Gills only look red inside when she opens them to breathe, and breathing seems Labored. Shes just at the bottom with belly on sand, turned the pump up to full. already changed water today, not sure what else I can do? No flicking, rubbing darting or mucas. But the other two look to be mating alot lol. another water change tomorrow prehaps?

I have a seacham ammonia alert, thats reading safe too I forgot to mention

She does look as though her head is heavier than the tail, rather than being balanced out. seem as though sometimes at a slight angle pointing downwards if that makes sense? One of the other fish is smimming next to her, nudging her??

 

[WILDER]

I would issolate the sick fish and use a bacterial med.

If the temp droped really fast it can cause whitespot, columnaris, swim bladder.

Do any fish look really thin?

Also feed some shelled peas.

 

[CCFC Monkey]

I would issolate the sick fish and use a bacterial med.

If the temp droped really fast it can cause whitespot, columnaris, swim bladder.

Do any fish look really thin?

Also feed some shelled peas.

No they dont look thin at all, the one that looks ill does look thinner than the others. But shes swimming around a bit better today rather than just lying at the bottom. Dont have any other tanks up and running to isolate either, i have some esha 2000 bacteria med. Would you add some, or just see how she goes?... seems to be improving slightly. Just doing another small water change, seems to perk her up (5%)

how do you normally serve them the peas, boil them first or fresh washed?

Edit: Good news, just did above water change... she as started taking food again, and seems to be looking lively again

 

[WILDER]

Add the esha med.

Cook frozen peas for a few minutes. Let cool down and pop out of shell. Mush into small pieces and add to the tank.

 

[CCFC Monkey]

Add the esha med.

Cook frozen peas for a few minutes. Let cool down and pop out of shell. Mush into small pieces and add to the tank.

Done

 

[WILDER]

Good Luck.

 

[CCFC Monkey]

Good Luck.

Thanks, treated the tank for 3 day as prescribed on bottle. added a piece of bogwood that heavily planted aswell to make her feel more secure and less exposed. Added the peas, seems fine now... not eating as much as the others but she is eating.

Still a little bad news though, my plec jumped bolt out of my tank yesterday, and by the time I fount him he was dryed up

jumped a fair distance though, was about 3m away from it. Not much I can do to prevent this though with it being an open top tank... and its an oddball shape/size. No hoods avalible, unless I get one made.. but we are talking big money for that.

 

[WILDER]

Thanks for the update.

Sorry about the plec. Bless Him. R.I.P.

Can't you attach a big net to the top of the tank till you can afford a hood.

 

[CCFC Monkey]

Thanks for the update.

Sorry about the plec. Bless Him. R.I.P.

Can't you attach a big net to the top of the tank till you can afford a hood.

dont think ill get a hood for this tank

Ill try get a fine net for it

 

[WILDER]

You will need to place a net over the tank to stop fish jumping out.

 

[CCFC Monkey]

Unfortunately she an a couple of other tank mates (also congos) are looking a bit red in the anus area, internally it looks, also fish looks thinner around the red area(circled blue)... see picture for approx area. Havent seen poo yet
Tank Info:
3 Congo tetra
1 Common plecbrittlenose
2 Albino Corys
5 amano shrimp
3 platy fry
ph: 7
nitrite:0
nitrate: just under 20
temp: 80

started up again after I aquired a couple of platys from the lfs, that looked battered when I added them to the tank. But didnt notice till day after when one died(had black spots on it), so i took the other back(fins clamped,flicking,fins protruding,white stringy poo). since have found a couple of fry now the size of a grain of rice that look ok, hiding in bogwood plantation.

Congo that looks the worse, mouth is moving more than the others, and hiding in the plants.

Im thinking internal parasite maybe ? Please advise

 

[CCFC Monkey]

Unfortunately she an a couple of other tank mates (also congos) are looking a bit red in the anus area, internally it looks, also fish looks thinner around the red area(circled blue)... see picture for approx area. Havent seen poo yet
Tank Info:
3 Congo tetra
1 Common plecbrittlenose
2 Albino Corys
5 amano shrimp
3 platy fry
ph: 7
nitrite:0
nitrate: just under 20
temp: 80

started up again after I aquired a couple of platys from the lfs, that looked battered when I added them to the tank. But didnt notice till day after when one died(had black spots on it), so i took the other back(fins clamped,flicking,fins protruding,white stringy poo). since have found a couple of fry now the size of a grain of rice that look ok, hiding in bogwood plantation.

Congo that looks the worse, mouth is moving more than the others, and hiding in the plants.

Im thinking internal parasite maybe red pest? Please advise

http/img704.imageshack.us/i/displayimagen.jpg/
like this but with a sunken belly, where the red is... and no thread protruding. But white clear stringy poop

been advised to use epsom salt for 24hrs, then Waterlife Paragon by lfs due to shrimp, anyone had any sucess with this med? is epsom salt ok with amano shrimp?