SARAH1982

Hi Everyone,
Just looking for some advice. I have a 55gal tank with what seems like an array of diseases. I have had the water levels tested and my LPS said everything is OK. I have:
2 Platy
2 Guppy
2 balloon Molly
6 Neon Tetra
1 Betta
1 Bristlenose Pleco
1 sailfin Pleco
4 gourami
1 Rainbow Shark
1 Spaghetti Eel

Tank has been set up for just over 2 months now. I did have 2 bristlenose pleco but one died. he started to form a really light patch between his eyes, I kept an eye on him but he just died. i have had a look on this site, am i right in thinking this might be 'hole in the head'? I had a power cut yesterday for 7 hours, i really panicked! I thought they would be alright but my guppy started to swim in jolting movements and had a really bloated stomach. He just lay on the bottom and died. Is this anything to do with the temperature drop? My fish are flashing more now. I have treated them for Ich but they keep flashing.

Is there anything you can recommend as a good all-round medication? I feel like I have created a death trap, opposed to a tropical ecosystem.

Last water change I did was yesterday (about 30%).

Sorry for the essay. please help.

jsalemi

Well, first off, don't rely entirely on the LPS for your water tests -- you should invest in the tests (liquid, like the API master test kit) yourself so you can keep your own watch on the tank chemistry.

That said, what temperature do you keep the water at? Sudden temperature drops can stress the fish, causing any dormant diseases to break out. And flashing is a good indicator of ich when you can't see the actual white spots.

One of the best ways to treat ich is simply raising the water temp up to 82-84 degrees F for two weeks or so. That speeds up the lifecycle of the ich parasite, and makes it harder for them attach to the fish. You should vacuum the gravel every day or two during this treatment to clean up any dead or dormant ich cysts.

You can also add anti-ich meds (we usually recommend Ich Attack from Kordon here) if the outbreak is really severe, as in many visible white spots on the fish. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on water changes and removing carbon from the filter for the best results.

COBettaCouple

Do they have the small, white salt-crystal-like spots? Flashing is a symptom of other diseases.

Skin Flukes - Symptoms include: sluggishness, flashing, spider web lesions on skin, color loss, reddened fins, drooping fins, fin damage.

They're not scratching any? Just flashing?

SARAH1982

There are no visible white spots or physical symptoms on the fish, except the flashing. I lost my spaghetti eel this morning. I am going down to my LPS this morning to find all the cures that i can. I will also be invsting in several water testing kits. They seem to have calmed down on the flashing but am worried about my Pleco as he seems to be developing a lighter patch of skin inbetween his eyes, my Bristlenose had this about a week before he just died. I will raise the temperature as suggested and medicate the whole tank accordingly.

COBettaCouple

It sounds like a high possibility of them having parasites, internal most likely. I believe Parasite Clear tablets are Pleco-safe.

susitna-flower

Welcome to Fishlore, Sarah.

Sounds like you really care about your fish, but like many maybe got started without reading and researching everything. I am so sorry your fish are suffering.

Two things pop out for me right away. #1 Your 55 gallon tank is overcrowded. With what you currently have you need at least a 75 gallon tank. #2 You haven't said if you cycled the tank before you introduced all those fish, but with that load if it is cycled, I can predict that the nitrates are HIGH.

High nitrates in itself can cause the flashing, but would definitely stress the fish and make them susceptible to infections of all sorts.

IF your BN died from 'hole in the head', that can be a result of a vitamin deficiency. You need to purchase some vita-chem and use as directed.

Until you get an API test kit, do AT LEAST a 50% water change every day. Vacuum 1/2 the tank one day, and the other half the next. Then after testing your water, continue the water changes if Ammonia or nitrite are above 0, or if nitrate is above 20.

I would NOT just start treating the whole tank. Give the higher temperatures, and clean water a chance, continue to observe your fish closely, and note any symptoms.....Be sure to tell us what they are, and someone will help you figure out if a medication will help. Until you can say for sure there is a disease besides stress from bad water, it can do more harm than good to just treat the whole tank.

What food are you using? How often do you feed? Does much fall to the bottom of the tank? I know you have a clean up crew, but IF mr sailfin survives, I would suggest trying to trade him in for another BN pleco. This will reduce the waste in the tank, and you will still have an adequate cleaning crew. Save those large plecos for a BIG tank.... Good Luck