Help....feeling Shell Shocked!

[Ariana2]

Also....if the worst came to the worst and I lost all the fish.... what should I do next?
would the tank be infected so to speak?
would treating the water be enough or would it have to be stripped to nothing and cleaned.....and how on earth would you be able to clean micro organisms?

 

[WILDER]

Best to strip the tank down and start again.
Even steralising your sponges in boilng water.
I think I would find another lfs to be honest ill fish from them, and havent a clue how to deal with it.

 

[Ariana2]

Best to strip the tank down and start again.
Even steralising your sponges in boilng water.
I think I would find another lfs to be honest ill fish from them, and havent a clue how to deal with it.

many thanks again for all your advice
I feel guilty I have wasted another day in attempting to treat the fish... I have never had major problems before and didnt imagine I could feel so bad watching them sick or dying
I desperatly want to fix things

 

[WILDER]

I know been where you are you feel like pulling your hair out, watching fish die is not nice.
Not having a go at you so mad at the lfs for giving you the melafix.
Melafix has it uses only bought it once to be honest, wasnt impressed by the med, its mainly for cuts and wounds.

 

[Ariana2]

I have dosed today with Interpet 9 anti internal bacteria and will repeat as instructed in 4 days
Alas it was not soon enough to save the angel fish who has died this afternoon
No further deterioration so far in the guppy and all the other fish look fine so far too but will this medication act as a precaution if they are infection free and will it kill the 'baddies' lurking in the water?

'If' this treatment works and the remaining fish stay symptom free and alive.....how long will it take before I know there is no longer a problem and can re stock with new fish?

thanks

 

[WILDER]

R.I.P.
I wouldn't restock for a least six weeks.
You have a bad bacteria infection.

 

[Ariana2]

R.I.P.
I wouldn't restock for a least six weeks.
You have a bad bacteria infection.

I sure do.....to my horror I can see 2 tetras now with fungus on the mouth and another with frail looking fins....they all looked fine this morning
This is a nightmare and for the first time I am realising I could loose the whole lot

How do I get rid of this disease...... will this medication actually kick in and is there any hope?

 

[WILDER]

If the mouth looks fluffy it's bacterial its called flexibactor columnaris, false name mouth fungus.

To be honest you really need antibitics but not available in the uk, only through a vet.
You could phone a vet and tell him the symtoms of the fish, or take pics and he might perscribe an antibiotic.
The antibiotic will wipe the benefical bacteria out in the filter but it wants wiping out.


http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hdcolumn.htm

 

[Ariana2]

If the mouth looks fluffy it's bacterial its called flexibactor columnaris, false name mouth fungus.

To be honest you really need antibitics but not available in the uk, only through a vet.
You could phone a vet and tell him the symtoms of the fish, or take pics and he might perscribe an antibiotic.
The antibiotic will wipe the benefical bacteria out in the filter but it wants wiping out.


[URL="http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hdcolumn.htm"]http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hdcolumn.htm[/URL]

will ring the vets tomorrow
Will I be able to put this in the water on top of the interpet 9 and the melafix?
These poor fish....if the bugs dont get them they are at the very least going to be a bunch of druggies!!!
Is it past the stage of the iterpet being able to help then?

 

[WILDER]

You would have to run some black carbon and water changes to get the internal bacteria med out of the tank if the vet gave you an antibiotic.
Melafix is ok to be used with antibiotics they call in out and out method.
Medicated food is better but not sure you can buy it in the uk.

 

[Ariana2]

You would have to run some black carbon and water changes to get the internal bacteria med out of the tank if the vet gave you an antibiotic.
Melafix is ok to be used with antibiotics they call in out and out method.
Medicated food is better but not sure you can buy it in the uk.

OK....thanks again for all your help
I will ring and see how accomodating the vet is tomorrow

 

[Jo Booth]

Hi Ariana

I see that you are from Manchester as well. Can I suggest that you go to 'Oasis Aquarium' - it is a fantastic LFS, always very very busy but they always make plenty of time for each person. They helped me get sorted when I had similar issues and followed advice from the folks on here.

They are at number 8 Great Clowes Street, Manchester (well Salford really) - if you turn left at the Renault garage on Trinity Way, they are about half a mile down Great Clowes Street on the right (small car park to the rear) http/www.oasisaquarium.co.uk/

Take a water sampple and any dead fish (i took mine in a sandwich bag so they could see any signs of illness).

They were great and each time I go in be it for food or a plant or new fish, they give you the same great service every time and I wont go anywher else now - even for food etc.

They were recommended to me by a marine fish keeper who has gone to them since the 80's! I guess you do't get any better recommendation than that !

 

[Ariana2]

Thanks Jo....I will bear that in mind tho I am away from the City centre....out near the airport

well I rang the vet and as I had dosed the tank interpet 9 internal bacteria, he adviced to see how that went.....I treated for a week with the 2 recommended doses and on the positive side...no more fish deaths yet and no more apparent symptoms on other fish
The 2 tetras still had the cotton wool fungus like growth on their mouths although still lively and feeding so after a 50% water changed I have now dosed the tank with interpet 8 antio fungus and finrot treatment in the hope they can be saved.

will see how things go

Just read in another thread the reference to furniture polish and air fresheners
If the tank is closed with a lid and you use furniture polish in the room.....will this affect the tank and fish??
I always spray polish into the cloth and not willy nilly around the room but I obviously need to clean the furniture
I always only use a clean dry cloth to polish the fish tank tho
Have used polish for years......could I be harming the fish??

 

[WILDER]

When polishing I would just put a blanket over the tank to make sure the polish dosn't get in.
Columnaris is hard to get rid of with british meds, so you meant have to do two rounds of meds,

 

[Ariana2]

update....
I am now into my third week of treatment
Have repeated the treatment for anti fungus but it is still very much apparent on the two tetras (white cotton wool like blobs growing around the mouth) ....they are still lively and feeding and all other tank inhabitants are fine
water perameters all fine but just wondering if I will ever get this cleared up
How long does it take to respond and any other ideas?

thanks