White Film On Harlequin Rasboras

[Ziggs180]

Tank size: 29 Gallons
pH: 7.4
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: Less than 5 PPM.
kH: Unknown
gH: Unknown
tank temp: 80 Degrees

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):

Two of the Five Harlequin Rasboras have a whiteish substance around their top fin. The Top fin is bent down and pressed against its body, and the fin itself dosn't seem to be moving much. I Noticed this about two days ago, and has since gotten worst for one Rasbora. As of this morning one of the Harlequin Rasboras has the white film spread to its tail fin, and a small area on the black patch. its also beginning to move erratically and constantly gasping for air. The other sick Rasbora is acting mostly normal, slightly fast breathing, but is not gasping for air and is swimming with the rest.

Volume and Frequency of water changes:

about 5 Gallons every week and a half. Using Prime as the conditioner.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:

I have been adding Melafix for about a week now, because the two Guppies in the tank have been suffering from Fin Rot. They have been recovering, and i noticed the Rasboras. There is also Salt inside the tank to assist in Fin Rot, but not a large amount of salt. Approximately 1 Teaspoon for 10 Gallons.

Tank inhabitantsp:

2 Guppies, 5 Rasboras, and 2 Amano Shrimp.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):

Rasboras were last Additions, they were added about 3 Weeks ago.

Exposure to chemicals: Salt, Melafix. No other chemicals added.

Digital photo:

 

[Delloy12]

Isn't 80 degrees too high?

 

[Ziggs180]

I've read that 80 Degrees is fine for the fish i have, during the middle of the night though, it gradually goes down to 78.

 

[laura120381]

could be a fungal infection?? not completely sure!! try reposting in the appropriate section for rasboras as well and someone with a bit more knowledge might pick up the thread. good luck

L.

 

[squeeky_jane]

I've read that 80 Degrees is fine for the fish i have, during the middle of the night though, it gradually goes down to 78.

Yeah I have read they can cope up to 82 degrees but the pH might be slightly high for them as I also read this up to pH7. Maybe this could be the problem?

I would also suspect that the move to a new tank has possibly stressed them and they have picked up the fin rot and I would up your water changes. I change my water at 20% every week.

 

[Ziggs180]

I am unable to do larger water changes, because my tapwater PH is ridiculously high (8.8) and i need to wait 2 days for it to drop to atleast 7.8, and then for the plants in my tank to naturally lower it down to 7.4. If the PH is high, wouldn't it effect all the Rasboras? there are 3 others that are perfectly fine. This is why im confused, 3 are Fine, 1 is really bad, and 1 is so-so.

 

[squeeky_jane]

I was thinking that it is possible they got a shock when introduced to your tank, due to a higher pH, then the stress could have reduced their immune system resulting in getting the fin rot. Maybe some have a better ability to cope than others. I might be right in saying that bog wood can lower your pH but don't quote me on that one. I put lots bog wood in my tank once and quickly took some out when my pH dropped. Hope you get thing solved soon!

 

[Ziggs180]

I'm actually creating my own driftwood and have been treating it for almost 2 months now, to be placed in my tank. I want to leach out all the Tannins before i place it in, and the whole purpose was to lower PH. But anyways, i went to PETCO and bought Primafix. I'm pretty sure the film on the Rasbora is some sort of Fungus, and it wouldn't hurt to start dosing my tank with Primafix. The Sick Rasbora is acting very erratically, but is still hanging in there.

 

[squeeky_jane]

Hope the treatments works Good luck!

 

[Ziggs180]

Oh boy, massive issues now. This morning the very sick Harlequin died. And it seems one of the warnings for Primafix, about it feeding Bacteria, came true. a Huge bacterial bloom just occured in my tank and its choking all the oxygen out of the tank, with all the fish gasping for air at the surface. I lowered the water level just a bit and increased the powerhead to cause surface tension to oxygenate the water. Going to change the water tommorow morning when the PH drops further.

I might buy PH down so i can do daily water changes until the white cloudiness dissipates, but one of the guppies that was recovering before seems to be getting worst again.

 

[squeeky_jane]

Oh boy, massive issues now. This morning the very sick Harlequin died. And it seems one of the warnings for Primafix, about it feeding Bacteria, came true. a Huge bacterial bloom just occured in my tank and its choking all the oxygen out of the tank, with all the fish gasping for air at the surface. I lowered the water level just a bit and increased the powerhead to cause surface tension to oxygenate the water. Going to change the water tommorow morning when the PH drops further.

I might buy PH down so i can do daily water changes until the white cloudiness dissipates, but one of the guppies that was recovering before seems to be getting worst again.

EEK....good move move with the powerhead , I'm assuming you don't have a spare air pump you can use to place and air line in the tank as you seem smart enough to has do so. I would change the water sooner and if possible use carbon in the filtration.

 

[Ziggs180]

My powerhead has an addon for an airstone, but i lost the part that allows that, so im stuck. I actually dont have a filter, since i'm using a Natural planted Tank. I'm going to try and figure out a way to do a large water change. If anybody could pitch in advice it would be helpful

 

[Fishy friend2]

maybe ich

 

[Ziggs180]

Doubtful its Itch, i've seen its symptoms and its not what my fish are suffering from.

Anyways, the second sick one died this morning before i did the water change. I saw it at the bottom still breathing, but by the time i started to get the buckets/siphons he was a goner. Not much i could of done anyways. The Water seems aeriated enough now, the fish arent sticking to the bottom, and the last 3 Rasboras are darting around. However im worried about one of the Guppies, whos tail ripped in two. Seems the Fin Rot medicine didin't work or just delayed it. I'm going to be performing bi-daily water changes for the next week.