ichy tetras

[gi4get]

Are tetras, specifically black neon tetras and cardinal tetras, extreemly sensitive to ich? I have a ten gal. with two guppies and seven black neons and a pretty bad case of ich. So far, I've lost two of the neons and am trying to figure out why. It could be that they we're eating right; the larger of the neons usually ate most of the food before the others even knew it was there. It could be water quality but I've been keeping a close eye on everything, including the ich treatments . I don't know what to do and really need help .

 

[gadazobe]

Is this a new tank or an established one? Please give us water parameters - ammonia, nitrite readings.

 

[gi4get]

it's an established ten gal. ammonia- 0, nitrite- 0, nitrate- under 20 ppm. desperately need some help. It appears the neons top fins are falling apart and are bloody. Could this be an infection other than ich? Please help.

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My tank:

10 gallon long.
Flourescent lighting left on 12 hours a day at total of 26 watts.
3 ghost shrimp
7 black neon tetras (2 now dead, one on the way out)
2 immature female guppies
Java Fern
Java moss
natural wood and other fake decor



The guppies look like they're doing great. I recently added a female betta and a log covered in moss from my LFS. The betta quickly got ick, and now so do my Black Neon Tetras (hasn't gotten the guppies yet). My female betta suicided from her hospital tank, and I have lost two black neon tetras. Their top fin just crumbles, and they have spots of no color, and what looks like red blood behind their gills and at the start of their tail and top fins.

I have moved the shrimp a a small jug, I'm not worried so much about them. But now that they are removed, I can treat for ick, and I did yesterday and today as the instructions said (half treatment because of the Black Neon Tetras.

The treatment for ick is Cure-Ick from Aquarium Products and contains malachite green and formalin.

I think when I brought in the log from the lfs that was covered in moss and I thought I was getting such a great deal I also brought in parasites and diseases. A dead fish was lost in the moss and surfaced when I put it in my tank.

This is a very nice LFS in the Richmond, VA area, I think I just had bad timing and luck I'm confused as to what to do next, I've never had ick before, and now it seems like my tank is too complex to fix. I have the live plants now (which are doing GREAT), and the guppies are fine, but now there are also lots of TINY snails that appear randomly (from the plants?).

I feel like I lost control of my tank somewhere. This is frustrating... but now its the weekend, and I can focus on the tank instead of work and class all the time.

pH is fine, ammonia = none, nitrite = none, nitrates below 20ppm.

 

[Kissifish]

Be careful to read all Ich treatments. Some are not to be used on plants or with snails. Unless you can see salt-like grains on the fishes body, you may not have Ich. Sounds more like ammonia poisoning with the red streaks running their fins. I know you said it was 0. Could it possibly have been higher earlier before you noticed the damage. Do a 25% water change and monitor the ammonia daily. And hope for the best.

 

[Kissifish]

Be careful to read all Ich treatments. Some are not to be used on plants or with snails. Unless you can see salt-like grains on the fishes body, you may not have Ich. What you describe sounds more like finrot and then, ammonia poisoning with the red streaks running their fins. I know you said it was 0. Could it possibly have been higher earlier before you noticed the damage. Do a 25% water change and monitor the ammonia daily. And hope for the best.


Sorry, I see I double posted........tried to stop it before I sent it........knew better.