Denisons Barbs Dying One By One

[2excitedkids]

We had 6 denisons barbs. They are in a 260l planted tank which has a weekly water changes and tests always normal.
We have had them for 6 months.Over the last 3 months we have lost 3. They start off by getting thinner and breathe more rapidly.This goes on for 3-4 weeks with them getting thinner and then gradually get so weak they die.We lost another today. There are no other outward signs.

I never see them poo so can't tell you what that looks like.They remain active though have always favoured a little corner of the tank when they see movement. They eat sinking discus pellets as they have never come to the syurface for food, also daphnia,peas and flake if it sinks down.They eat ravenously even when they are becoming skinny. They used to have blod worm occasionally until 2 of our dwarf neon rainbow fish ate too much and died. These are the only other fish who have been unwell.
We treated the whole tank with interpet antibacteria which obviously hasn't helped.

We now have only 3 left. 2 are growing well and look very healthy but the third is showing the same signs.

Why is it only the denisons barbs? Were they a poor batch. We were thinking of isolating and treating the poorly one but don't know what to treat with- also he wouldn't be happy on his own...if we could ever catch him.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[WILDER]

Can you post your water stats.
When fish are eating well and there thin usually its internal parasite.

Being really skin can mean old age, not being fed enough, fish tb, internal parasites, external parasites.

Check the gills over to see if they look red and inflamed, or pale with excess mucas on them.
Any excess mucas on the fish body.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing.

Signs of internal parasites are.
Long stringy white poo or clear mucas poo.
Being thin or bloated.
Sunken in belly.
Red inflamed anus or enlarged anus.
Bent spine sometimes.

 

[Declan]

This may be a completely stupid suggestion..

Have you looked through the tank for anything that could not be rotting or anything but is poisonous?

Its probably unlikely but it may be..

Other than that..im out of ideas.. sorry!

D.

 

[2excitedkids]

ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 20 (15 out of tap).ph 7.5

Their gills look ok.No mucus

I did wonder about internal parasites but decided that it couldn't be as no other fish seemed to be affected and it has been occuring over a 3-4 month period.Do some parsites only affect certain breeds of fish?

If it is parasites what do I treat with and should I just treat the affected fish? Or any fish that subsequently shows these symps.

 

[WILDER]

I doubt its old age.
Internal parasties can pass onto other fish even if a fish suck another fish poo up.
Depends on which parasite it is.
There this med.
http/www.thegreenmachineaquatics.com/mal...ol%20001/198936

 

[2excitedkids]

Thanks wilder.Do I treat the whole tank then as they could be floating around waiting to invade another fish!

Will it affect my filter bacteria?

 

[WILDER]

Don't think the med damages the benefical bacteria, but read instructions to make sure as I have never used the med.
Yes treat the whole tank.
I worm all new fish now to be on the safe side.

 

[2excitedkids]

How do you worm your new fish wilder?

 

[WILDER]

I use some flubenol but you can't buy it now it was taken off the market.
You just add the correct dosage to the tank and with certain parasites you treat one week later again.

 

[2excitedkids]

Well we dosed the tank (after removing shrimps and snails) with the sera nematol for internal parasites. We were a bit worried about our plecs/corys as it said they were less tolerant. It seems to have worked. All the fish seem well and the denisons barb who was getting really skinny has now started filling out again already. Another dose is necessary 3 week from first dose.

Have to say the fish did not like the 80% water change required 3 days after the dosing...were all squished together in the plants at the bottom...quickest water change ever with pots of water on the stove etc -but seems to have been worth it.

The corys who haven't 'danced' for ages have started again so it makes you wonder if they had a low grade parastic infection.

 

[Schmill]

Glad to hear your good news!

A few questions if you don't mind?

- Did you get it from that site?
- Did you move the fish into a hospital tank, or is this the sort of thing you have to treat the 'tank' with, not just the fish?

Just asking because it seems REALLY expensive to me... (about £10 per single treatment on a 300L tank?)

 

[WILDER]

You must redose when it tells you to to kill the young off if the parasite is an egg layer.
Glad they seem more happy.
Good Luck.

 

[2excitedkids]

Glad to hear your good news!

A few questions if you don't mind?

- Did you get it from that site?
- Did you move the fish into a hospital tank, or is this the sort of thing you have to treat the 'tank' with, not just the fish?

Just asking because it seems REALLY expensive to me... (about £10 per single treatment on a 300L tank?)

No we bought it from online garden centre for £6.99 per bottle. We treated the whole tank because we decided that must be present in the tank as it had moved from fish to fish.
We are redosing as per instructions in 2 weeks. Was definately worth the money as seems to have worked well.

 

[WILDER]

What med did you use if you don't mind me asking.

 

[2excitedkids]

What med did you use if you don't mind me asking.

The sera nematol which you suggested...but just from a different(cheaper source!). As I said it seems to have been effective. He is fattening up every day.