Sick Tiger Barb

[gangeox]

Hi all

Please can someone help me with my fish. The other day we started losing our Harlequins, we had 6 and are now down to 2. The other fish in the tank seemed to be fine but today one of the Tiger Barbs just doesnt look right. He is just swimming at the top of the tank. I cant particularly see anything wrong but have attached a picture anyway. Cant give you stats cos we only just did a partial water change but the stats have been consistently good up until yesterday when we last tested it. Then it was 0 ammonia, nitrite 0 nitrate 7. We have 2 Harlequins, 6 Tiger Barbs, 5 Cherry Barbs, 3 Julii Corys, 1 Panda Cory and a Bristlenose. Any help would be appreciated cos we are really stuck.

Ok cant seem to get the photo on. Will keep trying but if anyone can help in the meantime that would be appreciated.

 

[WILDER]

Is he laboured breathing at the top of the tank.
Check the gills for looking pale with excess mucas on them, or red and inflamed.
Any fish flicking and rubbing on objects.
Has the fish gone pale or darkened in colour.
Has the fish bloated up.

 

[gangeox]

Not sure whether you can see much from these but i thought i would give it a go.

He doesnt appear to be laboured breathing but his nose is right at the top of the tank. He is not pale or darkened but i think his gills are a little red but no more so than the others. No mucas that i can see. He is not flicking or rubbing. This might sound odd but although he doesnt look particularly bloated i can see his stomach if you know what i mean. Hard to explain but i wouldnt say he was bloated. Only odd thing really is the fact he is not swimming much.

 

[WILDER]

I think you have flukes lost a couple of fish to unknown desease.
Will get you some info to take a look at.

http/article.dphnet.com/cat-02/flukes1.shtml
Does he swim in a jerky movement.

Look under gill flukes.
http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

Need to rule this out first is there enough 02 in the water.
How many gallons or litres is the tank.

 

[gangeox]

180 litres in tank. We have surface agitation via the spraybar on our ehiem 2236 filter. Lots of bubbles. Will have a look through that second link and prob buy the required stuff tomorrow. Hope to save the rest. Reckon we put too many fish in too quick. My fault entirely, didnt realise it would cause a prob and got too carried away with all the beautiful fish!

 

[WILDER]

How long was the fish then in bad water quality.
It can take it's toll on the fish, so can you say how long they were in a uncycled tank.

 

[gangeox]

Sorry i must have confused you. The water quality is fine and the tank was cycled first. I simply meant that all the fish were added over a 2 week period really. They have not been in bad quality water.

 

[WILDER]

I see get you now.
I would look into flukes then.

 

[gangeox]

Thanks Wilder, will be getting meds tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Thanks for all your help.

 

[WILDER]

The waterlife med not bad if there not infested with them, be warned though flukes are quite hard to get rid off.
So I would do two rounds.
http/www.waterlife.co.uk/waterlife/sterazin.htm

 

[gangeox]

Ok Wilder, thanks for the warning. Is that the stuff i should be using in this case then?

 

[WILDER]

Ye4s.
There a better med but you need a ph range of 7 jbl.

http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...products_id=138

 

[gangeox]

Ok will get some tomorrow. Thanks

 

[gangeox]

Just thought i would update you. Lost the Tiger Barb this morning. Due to a mistake with our timings we werent able to get to the LFS so had to go to Pets at Home. Only thing i could find for flukes was King British Methylene Blue. Added this to the tank in the dosage suggested. I never realised that it was really dark blue and turned the tank the same colour (guess the name should have given that away!), can barely see the fish now! How long do we leave this in?

 

[WILDER]

You can use methylene blue for gill flukes but don't know how good it is.
Yes it will send tank blue.
Check instructions should tell you in there, I think its about seven days.