Losing My Tank- New Happy Update And Stocking Question

[trianglekitty]

Update- I am losing my entire tank

Timeline- two days one fish (guppy). No symptoms the previous night, and then he developed a large red path under his skin and died very rapidly.

Today I have a dead fish on the filter intake (can't tell what killed him as the filter left its own marks)and another dead fish covered in white fungus on the bottom of the tank. I've got another live fish with a ragged top fin and a large white patch on his back.

Another update- another fish is affected, with swelling of the mouth. I'm treating with Marcyn Two (probably spelling that wrong) and Jungle Med anti-bacterial food.

Does this still sound like septicemia? I'm medicating, but I don't know if I'm medicating for the right thing.

I can't believe this- I'm in absolute shock because everyone was FINE just three days ago. Water tests are fine. PLEASE HELP

 

[zeke the black ghost knife]

wow.....i dont know what happened. tankmates?

 

[trianglekitty]

wow.....i dont know what happened. tankmates?

Only other guppies. They do pick at each other, but I've never had one cause an actual wound. He did just die- the red area was quite large, covering from under his gills to about halfway down his body. Everyone else looks okay and is acting fine, but this guy looked fine yesterday night too.

 

[scaeriefaerie666]

Have a look at the symptoms of Scepticemia in fish. You will need to treat your entire tank with broad spectrum anti-biotics which you will probably need to look into and source. If it is scepticemia, which is what it definately sounds like, it is in your water and it is only a matter of time before it hits the other fish - and no amount of water changes will change that. Its a nasty, vile disease and have a proper look at the symptoms before you resort to medication.
If any of the other fish start showing any signs similar to the one that unfortunately died, isolate them straight away.
Sorry for your loss.
xxx

 

[trianglekitty]

Have a look at the symptoms of Scepticemia in fish. You will need to treat your entire tank with broad spectrum anti-biotics which you will probably need to look into and source. If it is scepticemia, which is what it definately sounds like, it is in your water and it is only a matter of time before it hits the other fish - and no amount of water changes will change that. Its a nasty, vile disease and have a proper look at the symptoms before you resort to medication.
If any of the other fish start showing any signs similar to the one that unfortunately died, isolate them straight away.
Sorry for your loss.
xxx

Ah, crap...I think you're right. The area looked much like in this picture- http/www.aquariumhobbyist.com/guppies/hemm.jpg

It looks like the usual treatment is Marcyn or medicated food. I'm assuming I shouldn't wait to see if the others have it and just start treating them. Is there any chance of harming them with the meds if they aren't infected?

 

[scaeriefaerie666]

not if you use the right dose, and like i say if it is scepticemia then it's in your water and it's only a matter of time. I'd medicate carefully making sure the dose is right, or use half the dose for 1 week and then up the dose to the full dose after a week so that you don't shock their systems.
I'm glad I could help!
xxx

 

[scaeriefaerie666]

oh no!
It sounds like you have a fungal infection in there now. Its horrible when this happens, it all just snowballs out of control. Are you sure that you haven't over medicated? When a fish is already ill and being attacked it is far more prone to fungal infections which are extremely common. So yes, i'd still say that scepticemia is probably the main culprit. I'd do a huge water change and re-medicate with the Marcyn accordingly, as well as putting some aquarium salt in to help combat the fungus. Don't put any other medication in there, mixing meds is never a good idea.
Anyone in your position would be in a state of panic now, so it's nothing you've done wrong, it's just one of those things.
Keep the water as clean as possible, keep them medicated and if all else fails and noone on here is replying quickly enough, never ever ever underestimate the power of Google - seriously.
Fingers crossed for you!
xxx

 

[twodoctors]

Woh... slow down. Septicaemia by definition means bacteria in the blood. You can't test that in fish (I don't think). You have very sick fishes, yes. But try not to use the term septicaemia loosely.

Sounds like you have fungal infection as well. Personally I think you are fighting a battle you cannot win. If they are dying quickly then it may be better to do it yourself then putting drugs into the tank and prolong suffering.

Adrian

 

[trianglekitty]

oh no!
It sounds like you have a fungal infection in there now. Its horrible when this happens, it all just snowballs out of control. Are you sure that you haven't over medicated? When a fish is already ill and being attacked it is far more prone to fungal infections which are extremely common. So yes, i'd still say that scepticemia is probably the main culprit. I'd do a huge water change and re-medicate with the Marcyn accordingly, as well as putting some aquarium salt in to help combat the fungus. Don't put any other medication in there, mixing meds is never a good idea.
Anyone in your position would be in a state of panic now, so it's nothing you've done wrong, it's just one of those things.
Keep the water as clean as possible, keep them medicated and if all else fails and noone on here is replying quickly enough, never ever ever underestimate the power of Google - seriously.
Fingers crossed for you!
xxx

I'm following the directions on the package, and the only "water" med I'm using is the Marcyn 2. The medicated food I've read can be used along side it.

Will the Marcyn 2 work for the fungus as well? Should I be using Marcyn 1 instead? From what I've read the Marcyn 2 is more recommended for septicemia. I'll add some salt as well.

I've got another fish died, and another one dying- all within 48 hours.

Thanks for all your help- I'm just so sick over this. It's been a terrible week, and this is not what I needed on top of everything else! I'm hoping I can at least save a few of them.

 

[trianglekitty]

Woh... slow down. Septicaemia by definition means bacteria in the blood. You can't test that in fish (I don't think). You have very sick fishes, yes. But try not to use the term septicaemia loosely.

Sounds like you have fungal infection as well. Personally I think you are fighting a battle you cannot win. If they are dying quickly then it may be better to do it yourself then putting drugs into the tank and prolong suffering.

Adrian

Well, the good thing is that Marcyn treats a number of things. I lost another last night, but no more since, and as of this moment no one else is showing signs. I did "hasten" two of them who were clearly suffering and clearly not going to recover. I'm not willing to do that with every fish at this point when I still have some hope I can halt whatever the hell this is. I half expected to wake up and find the entire tank floating, so maybe the Marcyn is working?

It does match the symptoms for septicaemia in fish, which is different than in people- we can't pass it to each other and fish can. There is a fungus as well, but I think the septicamia came first.

Ugh. This is just awful. I hate not knowing exactly what I'm treating because it does feel like I'm just throwing stuff at it, but I have to at least try.

 

[scaeriefaerie666]

You sound like you're getting ontop of it, which is great news. I still say you're right and its scepticaemia. It fits the symptoms and the picture of definate scepticaemia looked exactly like your first casualty, by your own account. A lot of people report lots of other illnesses that set in after scepticaemia so it sounds like the right diagnosis. I'd just keep on doing what you're doing - and know that you're at least trying. A lot of people would just euthanase them, clean everything and start again - but i know i wouldn't have the heart to.
Scepticaemia in fish is so incredibly rare - but so brutal when it does happen and this fits the bill completely so i'd stick by your meds and do what you're doing.
And as for just trying meds and hoping they work, we've all been there. And it sucks. I have a golden ram cichlid with the most vile mystery illness but she looks like she's getting better and so i won't put her down - but she's been like it for so long and medications seem to make so little difference that i don't know what to try next! We've all been there, but i'm so glad that you seem to have a hold on things now.
Fingers crossed for you
xxx

 

[trianglekitty]

You sound like you're getting ontop of it, which is great news. I still say you're right and its scepticaemia. It fits the symptoms and the picture of definate scepticaemia looked exactly like your first casualty, by your own account. A lot of people report lots of other illnesses that set in after scepticaemia so it sounds like the right diagnosis. I'd just keep on doing what you're doing - and know that you're at least trying. A lot of people would just euthanase them, clean everything and start again - but i know i wouldn't have the heart to.
Scepticaemia in fish is so incredibly rare - but so brutal when it does happen and this fits the bill completely so i'd stick by your meds and do what you're doing.
And as for just trying meds and hoping they work, we've all been there. And it sucks. I have a golden ram cichlid with the most vile mystery illness but she looks like she's getting better and so i won't put her down - but she's been like it for so long and medications seem to make so little difference that i don't know what to try next! We've all been there, but i'm so glad that you seem to have a hold on things now.
Fingers crossed for you
xxx

Another update with good news. I've had no new loses since the last post and everyone seems fine. They do seem to have redder gills than normal, but the water parameters are okay. Otherwise the fish are eating and acting normally. I've had the tank covered during the course of medication (I read in a few places that light can deactivate the medication).

Thank you again SO MUCH for helping. Whether it was true septicemia or not, you saved my tank. I still feel awful about the ones who died, but it could have been much worse I think. I've never seen a disease spread so rapidly and kill so quickly.

New question- how long should I wait before adding new fish? Right now my hospital tank is in use by a gourami who refuses to let go of his ICH, so I'll wait until I have a tank to separate the new fish to. But at some point I will need to add more fish because right now the guppies are nipping at each other (they do better in larger groups). But how long until you would consider a tank that had an outbreak like this "safe"?