Harlequin's In Trouble..

[tetratank]

Just to update those that were so wonderful with help in erradicating the white spot... it worked!!

I treated the tank with antibiotics twice after this had cleared. I did a partial water change but did not clean the tank as such. Tonight I was feeding the fish and noticed 2 of the 5 harlequins are not healthy. Infact, one is in a terrible state. They do not look distressed in anyway, but the condition of them is very poor. I felt it was best to let the tank settle after so much turmoil going on over the last couple of weeks and to do a vaccuum etc this weekend, but now need some advice before I do that.

One harlequin has a large area on his/her side that has the scales missing. On the navy blue triangle area. The other has a whitish area near /on his back fin (rear to body).

Any ideas what has caused this? (poor water quality?? since i have not done a clean?) Do I need to do another antibiotic treatment? Is this a common problem with harlequins? Or possibly the stress they were under with the high temp and treatment for white spot may have done it?

I was pretty pleased thinking I was out fo the woods and back on track but here comes another hurdle for my poor fish.

Any help appreciated and welcomed.

Lisa

 

[WILDER]

Any signs of flicking and rubbing.
The white area can be parasites to columnaris.
the white area does it look bleached out beneath the skin or fluffy looking.
Scale missing can be knocked them off on ornaments, fighting, parasites to bacterial.
Any redness in the tummy region.
http/www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm

 

[tetratank]

I'll describe it as best I can, the area that has the scales missing is flat and smooth. No redness in the belly region. There is a tiny spot of blood on the area. The other fish has the white area right at the point where his body ends and tail fin begins. Like a straight line from top to bottom. It looks swollen and yes possibly fluffy on one side. Seems to affect his swimming a bit. Although he does not look distressed or bothered about it.

There is no flicking or rubbing. I only have driftwood and amazons in there. No ornaments at all. Unless it could be from the heater of filter pipe, but I don't think so as the harlequins tend to like the other end of the tank.

I'll just check the link you provided...

 

[tetratank]

gosh, no, it doesn't look severe like that. The area is about a mm in width and like I said from top of back tail fin to the bottom. This is the only spot as it isn't anywhere else on the fish. If it is bacterial, how do they get it? Is it the water quality? I just treated the tank with antibiotics, I don't get why this could happen??

 

[WILDER]

If its fluffy it sound like columnaris there a good link on columnaris I left in the last reply.
When fish are stressed there immune system is weak so they soon came come down with deseases.

Columnaris is caused by stress, unstable temp, over crowded tanks, bad water quality.



Taken from the link.
Sudden increases in water temperature.
Overstocking.
Infrequent water changes.
Low water oxygen (O2) content.
Elevated nitrite levels.
Uneaten food in the tank, which supports growth of Flexibacter.

 

[tetratank]

okay, in that list I have too many ticks..... 3

What medication is best?

 

[minxfishy]

Hi, myxazin and pimafix in the UK - are you in the UK??

 

[tetratank]

Hi, myxazin and pimafix in the UK - are you in the UK??

no, I'm in Australia. Are those products available here, do you know? I would prefer to know what is best before I go to the pet store as I don't think the stuff he gave me for the white spot was the best possible.

How many members are on this forum?? Only 2 kind people are willing/able to offer any advice for my harlequins. Some people here, I have read have over 30 years experience.. does that mean in all those years they have never encountered this problem?

 

[minxfishy]

Sorry tetra, dont know if they are available in Oz.

Dont know what temp your tank is at but aparently it needs to be under 77 as columnaris thrives in warmer temps. Also if you dont already have one, add an airstone to increase oxygen in the water.

The only other meds I know of are Macaryn one and Macaryn two - again dont know if you get those in Oz.

Oxytetracyline (sp?) is also another med again dont know about Oz though.

Sorry Im trying to help but not being much