HELP I NEVER USED FORUMS AND MY FISH ARE DYING

[helpmyfishemergency]

using artesian well water

 

[EddieW]

Airstones shouldn't have had any effect on the tank.

Is there any chance that something may have polluted the well?

There seem to be only two main relevant changes:

A recent water change which may have caused problems over a period of time - this seems only likely if the well has been contaminated.

The addition of the two new fish. Having read through the entire post again (my eyes hurt) I think is it fairly likely that something has come into your tank with these new fish.

Can you answer these questions as it might help pin it down:

Can you see any small white spots?
Can you see any wounds or cysts?
Are your fishes colours fading?
Does the affected fish suffer from bulging eyes and/or clamped fins?
Are there any red patches on the skin?
Does your fish have cloudy eyes?
Is the sick fish gasping at the surface?
Does it appear that your fish is suffering from gill problems?
Is your fish rubbing itself on rocks or ornaments?
Is your fish suffering from any of the following:
Cotton Tufts?
Scales sticking out like a pine cone?
Bulging eye(s)?
Yellow/gold dusting?
Frayed fins?
Stringy grey patches?
Loss of equilibrium?

These should all be Yesy/No answers - for some of them a careful examination of the fish should be able to tell you if they are demonstrating the sypmtom.

Let us have the answers and we might be able to help some more.

Eddie

 

[helpmyfishemergency]

spots-no
cysts-no
color fading on placo {algae eater} looks lighter and is on side of tank near top before on air stone both rare for him!
fish sluggish
eyes not cloudy
no gill problems seen
no rubbing
but loss of equalibrium in sharks not so much in tetras sharks just hanging on at bottom of tank

 

[helpmyfishemergency]

my ride is here the wife is home from the dr. im off to the fish store for a kit and have the water tested thanx for the help im leaving this running and ill get back to you all while i work on the tank thanx again bbl

 

[EddieW]

Possible diagnosis (from my limited knowledge):


Swim Bladder Disease
Swim bladder disease is due to a contagious virus, which causes gas filled cysts in the abdomen. As the cysts increase in size, the fish will lose equilibrium, and will show inflamation around the stomach area. Most of the time will be spent at a 45 degree angle with the head down, before the fish loses all control.

The onset of the virus can be slowed with methylene blue or triple sulphur, but will usually prove fatal.

Swim bladder disease can be misdiagnosed if the fish has ingested air, or eaten too much.


Trichodina
Trichodina is generally not visible and it is only once the attack has become overwhelming that symptoms appear. Symptoms include:

Grey film on the skin and gills
Gasping at the surface
Loss of weight and failure to take food
Skin erosion
Rubbing on objects

Trichodinal is often accompanied by white spot and can be treated my the same medications. If appearing as the primary disease, a 10 hour bath in a solution of malachite green at a dosage of 1.5mg to 10L of water is effective.


Tuberculosis (VERY VERY unlikely)
Tuberculosis is a very dangerous, highly contagious disease that can quickly destroy all fish in an aquarium with little advance warning.

Symptoms include:

loss of appetite and severe weight loss
arched backbones
pale colours
tumors and open wounds
inflammed skin
clamped fins
bulging eyes

Teatment is very difficult and often unsuccessful. Once external symptoms start to show, it is usually too late for a cure. All fish should be removed to a bare hospital tanks, with the visibly affected fish placed in a separate bare tank. Both tanks need to be treated with a strong anti-biotic. The original tank needs to be stripped and disinfected. The substrate must be thrown away.


I think you are going to have to stick with until you can get to a good LFS and get some appropriate treatment. Make sure you take a sample of the tank water (and possibly a sample of your tap water) and get a full test done. Also note down all of the symptoms and, if possible, a time line stating what happened when (e.g. x weeks ago did x% water change, yesterday bought two new fish, today fish died, etc.). The more detail the better if the LFS is any good at all. If they are not interested in all of the symptoms and events then it is either they are very good and know what the problem is, or they are poor and will just sell you a general medication - it will be difficult to know which.

Where are you located - there may be members here who can suggest a good shop or two.

Eddie

 

[helpmyfishemergency]

meredith nh be back soon

 

[helpmyfishemergency]

im back water tested good ph a little high but the pet store owner had some good insight get this shee thinks the smoke from the wood stove is getting into the air stone pump as i just moved it from the floor to a position ontop of the tank!!! any replies about this would be appreciated

 

[ade]

Hmmm, not sure that this would cause high pH - unless I'm getting my highs and lows mixed up? But I thought passing smoke through water caused it to become acidic? ie pH down?

But...the impurities in the smoke may be affecting the fish adversely, although I'd be suprised if any of the smoke particles can get through the airstone?

Too early to think!