Help Apisto's Clamped Fins And Dying....

[freddiesfish]

Please help, we have a 300l tank with 3 mascara barbs, 6 red line torpedo barbs, 3 albino corys, 6 cardinals, 1 rainbow shark and 4 apistos (the one begining cautic.....) which are all male. We have had them for about 4 months with no problems. All tests came back 0 except nitrate which was 40 (which it leaves the tap at). The tank had an outbreak of ich which had been clear for ten days at the start of last week. We added 6 cardinals and three of which died within 2 days with no strange symptoms. This morning one apisto is dead, 1 is missing and the other 2 i have found inside a rock/cave with fins clamped and being very dark but pale in colour. They did not come up for food and are looking terrible

Any advice?

 

[WILDER]

When you say terrible can you explain more.
Any signs of darting or erratic swimming, laboured breathing or flicking and rubbing.
Are the fish acting listless and lethagic.
Can the fish maintain there balance in the water,. Are they having trouble getting off bottom of tank or top.
Do they lay to oneside.

 

[freddiesfish]

Sorry for the short reply but I am replying on my phone from work, another apisto has died. Yes the are laying on the bottom on their sides and hiding out the way. No flicking or rubbing and breathing seems fine. All other fish are healthy (prays it stays that way)

 

[WILDER]

Can you issolate.
I would try a bacterial med.
What's your location.

 

[freddiesfish]

3 dead now, all apistos. The one survivor was laying on the bottom of the tank, very dark but not colourful if you follow. Was going to get it out but it swam off. As long as it can swim and isnt struggling for breath I dont really want to top it. Every other fish is fine. All very active and feeding well. We added the new six cardinals at the start of the week, definatly lost 3 and cant see the other 3 at the minute. The existing cardinals are much bigger and are healthy. My wife rang the lfs where we got the cardinals at the start of the week and they suggested they could have become stressed in transit which brought on a bacterial infection but they find it strange that its only affected the apistos. They have sold my wife myxazin which seems to be a general purpose med for bacterial infections. The apistos, although all male have been fine for the 4 months we have had them but I am wondering if its stress caused by the other barbs being so lively? Literally one after the other the fins clamped, colours become very dark and they started to hide and lay on the bottom. The shark has always had a little pop at them but nothing too serious, the mascara barbs are very boistrous and i am wonderif they have spooked them. Cant think why to be honest as they have all been in the tank for the same time and the y all survived moving tanks about 2-3 months ago, gutted they have died as they were stunning fish.

I am in essex by the way

 

[WILDER]

How long did you climatise the new fish for.

The third type of infection produced by Aeromonas is by no means the least. This form is often the most virulent (potent) and can be rapidly fatal. This insidious form does not produce any noticeable external ulcers. The most notable feature is a behavioral change in which the infected fish generally become listless and lethargic. Some fish may lose color or appear darker. The fish do not feed, frequently seem off balance and may sink to the bottom laying on their sides. The course of the disease is rapid, and by the time the behavioral changes are noticed, the entire population of a tank may succumb, sometimes in a day or so. This is an internal infection, with the bacteria being found in the kidneys and blood of these fish. The bacteria produce potent toxins that account for the severity of the disease.