Fish look a little sick?

[richgonfishn]

Hello, I'm very new to tropical fish. I've had gold fish forever, but I've now graduated to a 30 gallon tropical fish tank. I've noticed a couple of the fish appear to be covered in tiny bubbles. The two that I notice the most is my african knife fish and a couple of the rainbows. I've had the tank for about a month and have not lost any fish. I couldn't name all the fish I have, but I've done enough homework to understand what fish get along with other fish. I have not tested and the water and actually I'm not sure how? Is there a basic kit I should get? Any idea's on if the fish might be sick? Also I need to get a better water heater. The current one is turned all the way on and it barely keeps the water at 76 degrees. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!! Happy Holidays!!

 

[rykitten]

Hi Rich,

This also happened to me during the second week we had our tank. They looked like tiny white bubbles. I treated this as ich, but I am not sure that's what it was. A week and a half later it went away. We lost about 8 fish during this period.
Are your guys acting sick? Notice any usual behavior?

 

[richgonfishn]

There are no climps as you've shown in your photo. If you look directly at the fish, it appears as if their covered in small air bubbles. The fins look a little raggit, but overall the appear to be acting normal. It's only on 3-4 fish out of the 20 or so in that tank.

 

[smb]

Welcome to TFF, richgonfishn.

Per the tests...I would go to the lfs and see about getting a test kit for ammonia, nitrites and at least in the beginning, a pH test kit so you know what you have and can judge any future problems with the normalities of your normal pH. It might be helpful to get a nitrate test kit and also test all of this against your tap water. This could be very beneficial to you in the future if you come across a problem and you might even be able to diagnose it yourself with all of these parameters considered.

Any idea's on if the fish might be sick?

Are they acting differently now? Is your tank cycled?

african knife fish and a couple of the rainbows.

Rainbows? What kind exactly? If you mean rainbow fish, there's at least 5 different ones I can think of.

The current one is turned all the way on and it barely keeps the water at 76 degrees.

The only fish I know you have is the African Knife and 76F is ok for this. It would appreciate it a couple degrees warmer but 76F isn't all that bad.

Hang in there and give as much info as possible and everyone here will help you out. Just don't get discouraged at all the questions you are asked before then. We all want to give you the best advice possible.

 

[rykitten]

Oh yes. As far as tests go, you'll want to get a pH test, an Ammonia test, NitrIte test and a NitrAte test. They sell master tests with all of these in one kit.
Do you know about the "cycling" process?

I don't want to give incorrect guidance on the bubble thing. As I said, when my fish had little white bubbles covering their bodies I treated them for ich.

I would recommend you get a 100 Watt heater ASAP, increase the temp to 82 degrees and add some Aquarium Salt. Salt helps with pretty much everything and helps the fish relax.

 

[richgonfishn]

I have no idea what cycling the tank means? I recently upgraded to a Penguin 330 Bio-wheel filter. It seems like I never noticed any sick fish until after I put in the bio-wheel. I'm not sure, but I think one of the sick fish is in the rainbow catagory. It looks like it has orange streaks going through it. I couldn't find an exact photo of it. The african knife fish has the same thing. The sick rainbow sits in the middle of the tank. It doesn't move much. It's staying close to where the water comes in from the filter. I'm looking closer and it appears there a several fish with these bubble looking things on them. I will have to look into some of the tests you mentioned. The water has never been tested. I put in a little NovAqua Instant Conditioner & fish Protectant.

 

[bogusmove]

Cycling is the process where, by one means or another, you make your tank and filter a viable environment for your fish. Primarily this means you achieve a build up of beneficial bacteria which process ammonia into nitrite and nitrite into nitrate.

Cycling takes weeks, if you don't start with any filter medium from an established tank (such as your old one).

Your previous tanks filter would have had this build up of bacteria, but if you are using a new filter with your new tank, and you didn't successfully transfere any of your filter medium to the new filter... then you may have dangerous levels of ammonia and nitrite.

http/www.aquamaniacs.net/cyclingsafely.html
http/www.aquamaniacs.net/cyclingsafelyfishless.html

 

[Jo]

follow the advice on cycling and you should help save your fish..

re the rainbow fish, here is a link with some pictures on it...it is my guess that it is a banded rainbow, i have two of them myself and the stripe that is shown black on this picture is a yellowy colour a lot of time time, a mature dominant fish will show the patterns shown in this link, have a look, it might not be the one you are talking about, but it migh help set you on the right path...!

Rainbow