My whole tank is going down....HELP!

[KellieFishEggs]

Well, it started with one of my rainbowfish, he got all bloated then his left side started to look bad like his insides were starting to push out through his gill. He is breating heavily and not eating, but is still managing to swim around. Last night I noticed a long white string hanging out of him, I thought it might be poo at first but it has been there for 24 hours now! Could it be some kind of worm??? Now a few of my Black Neon Tetras are starting to puff up. Their bellys look lumpy and really big. They are still eating but one of them hardly moves around. I don't know what to do. I've never seen anything like it. I checked my water and it looks good. pH 7.6, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 40, Temp 78. I do weekly gravel cleanings and 20% water changes. HELP PLease! Before they start dying!!!

 

[fish_r_great]

How long has it been running

 

[Phantom Thief]

I think its dropsy.

I have no clue what to do though.

P.T.

 

[fish_r_great]

Maybe a water cahnge?

 

[snowrat2004]

do they look kinda like pine cones? ie; are their scales sticking out? if so than it is dropsy, but im not sure it would effect all of them.

 

[KellieFishEggs]

nope, nobodys scales are sticking out.......they are just really fat.

 

[Feline]

Do a bigger water change to improve the water quality first.

From what you said, it seems that whatever they have is contagious. So you'll need to treat the whole tank. (Or if thinking from another direction, could it be constipation?) What are you feeding them?

I think it's either internal bacteria or internal parasite. But if it spreads so quickly, my bet is internal bacteria. There'r a number of medicine treating this, just ask your lfs! GOod luck~

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Aw,

I am really sorry to read that it has spread. Hope you get it sorted out okay.

 

[KellieFishEggs]

I have been feeding them flake food twice a day, and bloodworms every couple days as a treat. I am not going to feed them at all today and see if the condition improves.

 

[DrOizo]

If white hangers on are sticking out it could be parasites. If there are so many parasites that your fish are getting bloated then it sounds pretty bad. My guess would be to treat with an anti parasite treatment

 

[KellieFishEggs]

I will go to the LFS today and check out the medications.