GaryGourami

Hi,
Three weeks ago I purchased a ten-gallon tank, and after letting it cycle I went to the fish store and bought one Leopard pl’co, and two tiger barbs, with the salesman assurance I had chosen wisely. Two days later one of the barbs was dead, nipped to death. So I did some research and went back to get five more barbs to make six, and let myself get talked into taking a giant red tail gourami as well (Which I was told was ok for a ten gallon). After going online and looking more at the fish I had bought I realized I was over stocked so I went and got a 30 gallon tank with a whisper filter a bubble strip and gravel to start it cycling. This took me a week. Now after almost three weeks of owning fish tanks, I noticed that one of my barbs was separating it’s self from the group, and looked ill and looked like it had a salty coat around it. I went out and bought Quick Cure but the fish died that night. Now it has spread to my other barbs, which have lost their interest in eating. One in particularly bad shape has flipped over on its back several times and floated to the top as if dead, and then snaps back to life. I have been using the meds salt and a heater for 24 hours now, and the thirty-gallon tank is about to finish cycling in 48. My question (other than what you think) is whether or not I should separate the gourami and the pl’co who seem so far unaffected to the new tank and continue treatment for them there when it’s ready or leave the fight to one tank. Also, now that I am down to a dangerously low number of tiger barbs (5) if another one dies what would be the best thing to do for the other four.

10-gallon tank
0-nitrate,0-nitrite, ammonia ?, pH 6.5-7.0, temp: 80. Whisper filter (carbon removed), I feed my fish two to three times daily with Tetra Menu, with brine shrimp three times a week, and half an algae wafer ever two days at night for the pl’co.

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore.

Unless you used Bio-Spira or seeded it from an established tank, the 30g wouldn't be cycled in a week. I'd recommned using the API master freshwater kit to test the water. The strips are not really reliable and can often give very erratic results.

What are you using for tap water conditioner? I'd recommend Prime for both tanks - it will help the fish and protect them from any the ammonia, nitrites and nitrates that could be in the water. It will help stabilize things in the tanks.

Your fish have small white salt-like spots on them, right? If they didn't, I would say they had internal parasites and they might, but that's a guess at this point. They don't need any meds to treat ick, but if you want to add a product called ICH-Attack to their water - it would be good for them and not harsh. I would probably pick up some parasite clear though, as they might need that. The lack of appetite makes me think that's VERY likely. Parasite Clear is a milder med for parasites but usually pretty effective. I would start treating them with that and hopefully their appetites will return.

To treat ick, you need to raise the water temp to 82-84F and keep it there for 2 weeks. 25% water changes every other day and cleaning the substrate once a week are also helpful.

GaryGourami

Thank you, I appreciate the response and the advice. My fish (only the tiger barbs) have have small white spots on them right now, and my weakest has just bought himself a farm not twenty mins ago. so now I have four.
I am using Top Fin water conditioner, but I also have conditioning salt which I am got to help fight against ich. Before my tiger barb died he would float aimlessly, sometimes in circles from the bottom to the top, and some times in the current of the tank, do you think it could be internal parasites and ich?

COBettaCouple

I'm sorry that you lost another one. I think it's very possible for them to have both problems. With parasite clear being relatively mild and the treatment for ich being warmer water and an optional herbal med, I'd treat both conditions.

GaryGourami

Thanks, I am glad he is no longer suffering. The disease seems to still be isolated to my tiger barbs, and the treatment seems to be working as three of the four are back to eating allready, but one is starting to look worse. He is now covered in white and about as pale as the one that died last night. It also looks as though his gills and mouth are "redder". I will continue the treatment for the two weeks, but some one I know said I should just euthanize my barbs, return the gourami and keep the pleco (my gf through out the barbs bags and the store will not accept returns with out them). I feel like i have allready messed this up, and don't awnt to make it worse, I have only had them for a short time, but I really like my fish and would like to make it work.

susitna-flower

HI GaryGourami, WELCOME TO FISHLORE!

I noticed you are showing 0 for nitrates.....this is an indication that this tank is NOT cycled.

You also don't have a reading for ammonia. The red gills are an indication that the ammonia is rising and is becoming toxic.

Water conditions in an uncycled tank are really stressful to fish, which leaves them open to attack from parasites like ick. Worse case toxic levels of ammonia or nitrite will kill them.

Besides the things COBettaCouple have suggested you should be doing 25-50% water changes every day...that and the warmer temperatures -82+ should improve the condition of your fish soon.
Good Luck

GaryGourami

thank you,
I really appreciate your advice and comments. I have been using quick cure, and true to it's name this morning my fish seemed healthy again. i am going to continue for the two weeks.