Hi everyone
I'm Nat (yes another one) and I need help quick.
I have been attempting to keep tropical fish since Jan 09 and have had many struggles and much heartache on the way. I had never had fish before, it was my boss who got me interested when I looked after his tank whilst he was away for a couple of weeks. I did not think fish keeping could be so hard and so upsetting.
Anyway, on to my problem.
I have a 60L tank that has been set up since Jan 10 (I started with a 15L Biorb in Jan 09 and was informed that a bigger tank was easier to keep so upgraded this year and now use the Biorb as a quarantine tank that is curerntly housing 1 male guppy and 4 neon tetras). I moved 2 male guppies ("OJ" and "Sole" - I'd had them in the Biorb since June 09) 2 weeks after 60L set up (as advied by my local aquatics store) and they were doing fine until I introduced 2 new male guppies ("Winston" and "Beau"). 2 weeks later one of the original guppies ("Sole") died in the night. 4 days later the 2nd ("Bluey") died in the night. I tested their water and all was ok, there were no obvious symptoms and so I assumed it was "something" nasty the 2 newbies had brought with them as I was not using a quarantine tank at this time. Devastated.
I reported this to the aquatics store who were concerned and gave me 3 male guppies to replace my lost ones (I named these "Crusoe", "Clements" and "Jif") and they wanted me to report back to them in 2 weeks to let them know how things were going. Well all was going well. Until last week when Winston died in the night. He had had white stringy poo for about a week and so I had been using Interpet Anti Internal Bacteria. Then yesterday Jif died (he did not have white stringy poo but I noticed the day before he died he was on his own when normally they all hang out together and also he seemed to have a red bum). Now this morning my remaining 3 have all got red bums and Beau did not eat this morning. I went to the aquatics store this afternoon and they sold me Protozin which I have not yet used. I did some online research when I got home and from what I have found out I am pretty sure my babies might be suffering from Camallanus Worms. From what I can tell it looks likely that I won't be able to save them and the only medication that appears to help does not seem to be available except in the States.
How does this parasite get into the tank? How can I get rid of it?
Please can anyone offer any advise on what I can do to save my babies and keep them healthy?
I am so upset by this that I cannot think about having any more fish. I am also extremely concerned that I may have inadvertently infected the little swimmers currently in the quarantine tank as I use the same syphon for water changes.
I feed Tetramin flakes once a day, every day except Friday's when they fast.
I do 10% water changes every week and prepare the water the day before. I performed a change right before this post.
Readings as of yesterday are:
Ammonia - 0.0
Nitrite - 0.0
Nitrate - 20
PH - 7.6
Please help Beau, Crusoe, Clem and me.
Thank you
I'm Nat (yes another one) and I need help quick.
I have been attempting to keep tropical fish since Jan 09 and have had many struggles and much heartache on the way. I had never had fish before, it was my boss who got me interested when I looked after his tank whilst he was away for a couple of weeks. I did not think fish keeping could be so hard and so upsetting.
Anyway, on to my problem.
I have a 60L tank that has been set up since Jan 10 (I started with a 15L Biorb in Jan 09 and was informed that a bigger tank was easier to keep so upgraded this year and now use the Biorb as a quarantine tank that is curerntly housing 1 male guppy and 4 neon tetras). I moved 2 male guppies ("OJ" and "Sole" - I'd had them in the Biorb since June 09) 2 weeks after 60L set up (as advied by my local aquatics store) and they were doing fine until I introduced 2 new male guppies ("Winston" and "Beau"). 2 weeks later one of the original guppies ("Sole") died in the night. 4 days later the 2nd ("Bluey") died in the night. I tested their water and all was ok, there were no obvious symptoms and so I assumed it was "something" nasty the 2 newbies had brought with them as I was not using a quarantine tank at this time. Devastated.
I reported this to the aquatics store who were concerned and gave me 3 male guppies to replace my lost ones (I named these "Crusoe", "Clements" and "Jif") and they wanted me to report back to them in 2 weeks to let them know how things were going. Well all was going well. Until last week when Winston died in the night. He had had white stringy poo for about a week and so I had been using Interpet Anti Internal Bacteria. Then yesterday Jif died (he did not have white stringy poo but I noticed the day before he died he was on his own when normally they all hang out together and also he seemed to have a red bum). Now this morning my remaining 3 have all got red bums and Beau did not eat this morning. I went to the aquatics store this afternoon and they sold me Protozin which I have not yet used. I did some online research when I got home and from what I have found out I am pretty sure my babies might be suffering from Camallanus Worms. From what I can tell it looks likely that I won't be able to save them and the only medication that appears to help does not seem to be available except in the States.
How does this parasite get into the tank? How can I get rid of it?
Please can anyone offer any advise on what I can do to save my babies and keep them healthy?
I am so upset by this that I cannot think about having any more fish. I am also extremely concerned that I may have inadvertently infected the little swimmers currently in the quarantine tank as I use the same syphon for water changes.
I feed Tetramin flakes once a day, every day except Friday's when they fast.
I do 10% water changes every week and prepare the water the day before. I performed a change right before this post.
Readings as of yesterday are:
Ammonia - 0.0
Nitrite - 0.0
Nitrate - 20
PH - 7.6
Please help Beau, Crusoe, Clem and me.
Thank you