Whirling Disesase In My Rosy Barbs

[Lisa-Noodles]

Hi all

I have a recently established 260l tank which has gone through a fishless cycle (using ammonia) and is housing all my fish quite happily now. All the tests are clear and everybody appears to be quite happy.

However, before I moved the fish from their previous tank, I lost one of my 3 rosy barbs quite unexpectedly he was dead on the floor of the tank, then the second one starting swimming quite erratically, twisting in the water, spinning round and went very pale. As he did not appear to have any external problems, fungus, finrot etc, I thought I would just keep an eye on him, a week later he was still doing this strange behaviour, was not interacting with his mate and I decided, after much research, that I suspected him to have Whirling Disease as these were the exact symptoms. After another couple of days it was upsetting me so much, his eyes had started to bulge out, he was not eating and I decided that Euthanasia was the best option.

Yesterday my final Rosy Barb started showing the exact same behaviour but far more intense and violent so I euthanased him late last night.

Does anybody know if this is common among rosy barbs particularly as none of my other fish are showing any signs of unhappiness, my water readings are all excellent and it has only affected them. I have read lots of articles about this disease infecting freshwater wild fish but not so much about aquarium fish. I obviously want to ensure that this disease is not contracted by the entire tank.

Thank you so much

 

[loraxchick]

Whirling disease is more commonly seen in aquacultured fish like salmon and trout. Doubtful that is indeed the cause but gives me a good idea of what it could be.
Are any of the fish flicking or rubbing? white stringy poo? bloated or skinny? are any of their spines in an "s' shape? are they eating and if so spitting out food? is their color pale?
probably internal parasites but cant know for sure without some more info. Possible to put up a pic?
all the best
cheers

 

[Lisa-Noodles]

They were flicking for a while, so I thought maybe a bit of constipation, as I had read this could be cause, then they went pale, I did not notice anything unusual about their scales as I would have looked this up as a particular sign. As I say water is good and no chemicals added, all other fish appear ok. I have euthanased both of them now as learnt by first one that they do not get better and was worried it would be contagious.

If it was a parasite, is there anything I may be doing wrong or that I need to do?

Thank you for your help

 

[loraxchick]

Ive not heard of fish flicking from constipation. Were they bloated before they died? Any white stringy mucousy poo? spitting out food?
If it is parasitic it is nothing you necessarily did wrong-just brought it into the tank somehow. Keep watching the remaining fish for flicking, rubbing, darting, stringy poo, red threadlike "pom poms" hanging from the fish's vent and for spitting food or getting skinny (even if eating) or bloating.
If you notice any of these id get a good internal anti-parasitic medicated food (with praoziquentil, metronidazole and lavamasole-treats wide array of internal buggers). Might not hurt getting a tank treatment now to kill any free-swimming stage parasites (could be flukes, worms, nematodes etc..we are not talking ich here).
do a large water change and a very thorough gravel vac and just keep a close eye for a few weeks.
all the best!
cheers

 

[Lisa-Noodles]

Thank you so much for great advice, I will keep eye out and as you say give the tank a blast of medication just in case.