Very Very Sick Jewel Cichlid

[thomas]

I have a jewel cichlid who appears to be dying, and I'm not sure what to do.

Niterate, niterite, and ammonia all check 0

The pH IS way too low, but it has been that low for years without any fish deaths (there are 5 in the tank).

The symptoms are damaged possibly detached patchs of scales, red and pale white fins, pale white patchs of skin, and she has stopped eating and spends most of the time sitting around the top of the tank (although not at the water filter). This condition has been going on 2 days, and although the patchs of damage appeared very quickly (within 48 hours), she has had a decreesed appitite for a couple days prior to this.

Attached are 3 pictures of the condition.

Picture One
Picture Two
Picture Three

I am unsure what to do, from what I've read theirs about 2 or 3 conditions this could be, and I am unsure.

EDIT: Also, the damage to the skin matchs with a water change made within a day of the condition. As of yet, no other fish appear affected.

She is also 5 to 6 years old.

Please help.

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like columnaris, and if there is red patches as well septicemia, can you issolate the fish and use an antibiotic treatment on her, can you say how big is the tank in gallons.
http/article.dphnet.com/cat-02/columnaries.shtml

 

[thomas]

I would have to check the size of the tank, I can't remember.

I can try to issolate her but it will be difficult. I have no other tanks setup as I have no intention of getting more fish. Don't however take that to mean that I don't care about the ones I have left though.

Since the pH is so low, I have a feeling the beneficial bacteria are no longer working, I have been controling the contition with water changes though, and the fish have been happy and eating for a long time with it.

I know it's bad that it's in this condition, but on the upside, won't this mean if I fill another much smaller tank with water from this tank, that it won't start new tank syndrome (since the bacteria can't grow to cause it).


Is columnaris contagious. As in could the other fish get it as a result of this fish? I can't seem to find a direct answer on the page.

EDIT: Also, I read the link, it says about salt dipping, is that safe to do on a jewel cichlid?

EDIT: Oh geese, I can't believe it but I just realised I forgot another symptom she has.

I just fed the fish, and a piece of fish food happened to float right next to her mouth, and she ate it.

Atleast she is still eating, but it made me remembet another symptom I forgot to meantion.

She has cloudy eyes, she showed a tiny sign a long time ago, but I wasn't sure if I was even seeing it, the tank walls are a little cloudy themselves. I noticed that it has grown over both eyes.

As you can see in the photos, it isn't high enough to be visible unless you're looking for it, but it is probably reducing her vision, which might explain lack of food.

I want to get more pictures of her condition, however directly behind the tank is a huge solid wall, and she refuses to turn around for very long for me to see her other side.

EDIT: She's actually eating about as much as the others aslong as I drop the food EXACTLY infront of her mouth.

 

[WILDER]

Plenty of water changes as the columnaris desease is in the tank,yes you can do salt baths as long as the fish isn't scaless, you will need to add internal bacteria med to the tank,and when you do a water change just add the correct amount of med back to the water removed, good luck.

 

[thomas]

Looking at the salt treatments, I have a serious problem.

It says you should put the fish in non-contaminated water, I can't do that because there is no other tank setup. And our water's pH is so different to the tanks that barring actually testing it which I am not willing to do, I am positive that introducing the fish to that water will kill her.

Any ideas?

 

[thomas]

What would you use, Melafix or Malachite Green (The bottle actually says broad spectrum medication containing malachite green).

 

[WILDER]

For columnaris you need an antibiotic like maracyn 2.