Hi all,
Recently I have been experiencing fish death every other day in my tank. I notice a white patch near the dorsal fins on most of the death cardinals. I have spotted some white spots on my sliver tipped, black widow tetras but they seems ok this far. Can anyone tell me if this is neon tetra disease. I am currently treating the entire tank with Waterlife product call Proxxxx (can remember spelling) recommended by LFS.
Artificial Intelligence
Hi CLementi,
Firstly, there is no cure for neon tetra's disease. You can try BEFURAN, which I have much success with curing most of the ailment, my small fishies come in contact with. Try using UV too, its very effective and efficient.
*PS, I have no vested interest in any of this products, just sharing what works for me. Read my last reply on your thread( new to hobby ) It will at least save what's left of the group. Cardinals mortality are much better than neons.
Something about the water & the fishes that calms me down.
Thanks Michael, from the symptoms do you think it is neon tetra disease? There were 5 deaths last nite. I felt so helpless watching them wasting away. Dont think the medication recommended by the LFS is working that well. Infact one of the cardinal has popping eyes and its color darken. For the first time, I have seen my cardinal having such lovely color but by its movement its not well. Moved it to the hospital tank but it died later. I am still trying to figure what sort of disease it is. The other tetras such as black widow, silver tipped seems ok.
How to UV my tank? Yes noted your last reply in my other thread. I ll definately give befuran a try. BTW, do you think I should quarantine my new fishes in befuran in future before adding into my main tank?
Indeed very sad to see my cardinals dying.
Artificial Intelligence
Hi Clementi,
I suspect its Neon tetra disease but I can't confirm without any pictures, the systoms are like what you describe, White patches around the body. This is caused by a Sporozoan parasite called Plistophora hyphessobryconis, which I believe until today is still uncurable.
Btw, there is another bacteria that will cause white or yellowish patches around the dorsal fin area, Flexibacter columnaris. But this usually affects Barbs. This guy here is easily cured.
I hope the info helps, inregards to neon tetra disease, remove dead fish, euthanase( mercy killing )obviously affected fish. If your tank is in good condition, the school's survival rate is 60-70%. Neon tetra disease will infect other fishes so you really gotta quarantine.Good luck.
You can buy a UV steriliser at any decent LFS but you have to use it with a powerhead. It comes in a casement, as water is pumped thru it, the UV rays will eradicate any form of bacterial. I use oceanfree, super disease away to disinfect any new fish or plants( I think its potassium permanganate ). Its quite effective and cheap.
Something about the water & the fishes that calms me down.
I don't think it is neon tetra disease... that is more blatant... I recently spotted somethiing similar on my cardinals as well... some of them have a white spot near the tail, which eventually darkens to a black spot lump near the tail.
I'm not 100% sure of the cause, but I was guessing parastic infection. For now I'm treating with sterazin and salt. I pretty sure the treatment is working as all the fish deaths have stopped, and also my fish have all regained their colors... Having said that, I'm not sure if its the salt or the sterazin or both which is doing the job.
Allen
Forgot to add... if you are planning to UV, make sure you don't use medicines. The UV light is strong enough to affect the chemical properties of some medicines causing them to break down into toxic substances. Many medicines have such warnings.
Allen
Thanks guys. My cardinals are dying about 1 to 2 a day for the last few days. Inoticed the cardinal's color darken then the dorsal fin area turns a little black. Thereafter a white patch will appear and that seems to be the end stage. I have been removing them whenever I spotted some irregularities in behaviour and color. The other observation is that, their seems to be bulging and looks like popping out soon.
Artificial Intelligence
Hi clementi,
The bulging part is likely due to advance state of infection but it can also mean secondary infection like ie Dropsy. Which also means the end is near.
Btw, small tetras apparently have an social order in a school. Gotta be careful when quarantine single specimen, might be quite stressful for the fella.
Good luck
Something about the water & the fishes that calms me down.
Originally Posted by michael lai
Hi clementi,
The bulging part is likely due to advance state of infection but it can also mean secondary infection like ie Dropsy. Which also means the end is near.
Btw, small tetras apparently have an social order in a school. Gotta be careful when quarantine single specimen, might be quite stressful for the fella.
Good luck
Thanks Michael, I have no choice but to quarantine them for the sake of the other cardinals. Just to add, the bulging effect in their eyes. The eyes seems to be popping out. Its stressful for me too to see them dying each day!If it is Dropsy, what can I do? What puzzle me most is what disease? Why suddenly after 3 good months. Any suggestion guys?
Artificial Intelligence
Dear Clementi,
Bacterial is usually introduce into the tank when adding new fish or feeding live feed, tubifex or daphnia. That's why its important not to overfeed and overcrowd. Popping eyes is one symtoms of dropsy, the other is scales all protruding out like our esplanade design.and the body gets blown up like a balloon. Befuran can cure these.
Anyway, don't feel too bad. Last month 'ICH' wipe out my entire clown loach population and some rare catfishes. They were introduced into the tank, I think by tubifex worms.
Something about the water & the fishes that calms me down.
Fingers crossed, no death yesterday. Maybe the waterlife product is finally working !!! Michael, need your input. Now that the fishes have kind of stabilized should I still add in the Befuran to wipe out all remnants of those nasty devils? Should I do 50-70% water change thereafter add in Befuran? Logically that will take away some of the viruses and bacterials.
I dont feed my fishes with worms and I can only think of the new rummy nose I added weeks back. I bot 8 and 6 died. I thought they died due to changed in environment but the remaining 2 is healthy and dart around the tank now. Guess that must be the cause. In conclusion, do you guys think it is false neon tetra disease or just a kind bacterial infection which affects only the cardinals?
Artificial Intelligence
Hi Clementi,
Glad to hear that the deaths have stopped. The bacterial is probably dormant for now. Kind of think of it now, my rummies also intro some white wormiies into my tank. Befuran will stay in the waters for some time so don't add anymore as for the water change. regularise it, maybe once a week with 20% change. Must note, too much change will not allow the water to mature in your tank, which is a priority now and it is very stressful for the fishes. Be alert still to their behaviour but slow down on your medicative measures for now. Let nature takes its course, please do not add any new fishes for at least 1-2 months from now.
There is no false neon tetra disease but just another curable infection. When buying medication, point to note all anti biotics will kill any bacterial be it good or bad. So gotta be careful, you wouldn't wanna ruin your matured tank or filter.
I think I also have an infection starting, just saw 1 cardinal with white patches this morning....
Something about the water & the fishes that calms me down.
Yes this is quite true... I found that cardinals have their own pegging order... Some years back, the "king" cardinal in my tank fell sick... so I decided to remove him for treatment (which he didn't survive). Anyway, what surprised me after that was the change in behaviour from the remaining cardinals... before this they were very bold... but with the removal of the "king" their behaviour suddenly became very shy... at least until a new king stepped up...Btw, small tetras apparently have an social order in a school.
Good luck
Allen
Hey clementi, from personal experience i think it's the erratic and sudden drop in temperature that's causing the fish to get stressed and get infected by the disease. I suggest u stop doin the ice bottle thing and just use a fan instead.
I think you're treating the fish correctly with protozin but your water change has to stop. Also do you use a water conditioner?
The disease has most likely reached the advanced stages already and so any medication now is useless.(thus explaining the continued deaths). Continue to treat the rest of the tank and hope that the rest will recover.
Thanks Mercurial,
I have stopped using the ice bottle thingy. Now running a fan and kept temperature around 27 degrees. Quite happy with it. Yes, I used protozin by water life. The past 2 days, no more death. I am still watching them. Fingers crossed. I have not changed water so far just topping up. How long you suggest I continue to treat the tank? The others seems ok, eating and swiming well.
I am using Seachem any other conditioner you suggest?
hi Clementi,
Good to note that the fish are doing fine. Make sure that the conditioners or medication do not also kill the good bacteria. Maybe an activated carbon in the filter for a week after this will help to clear your medicated substance.
There will be no more deaths after the holocaust. Of course, having 3 fishes in my 400L tank helps.
Most websites recommend 10-14 days for treatment. What i do is to do a WC on the 7th day and continue the treatment for another week. (i use waterlife too).
I would say most water conditioners from any reputable brands are fine.
a bit more info on ich
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/ich.htm
Thanks Mercurial. What % of WC on the 7th day? Past few days, no more death. Very happy!!
Congrats... i'd recommend 50% WC. Try to quarantine new fishes to prevent further outbreaks.
good luck
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