riley132

I'm still puzzeled as to why is all my fish are dying. After many massive water changes, and hundreds of water tests, filter media change, and taking almost everything out of the tank, there still dying. Some got skinny and had sunken eyes, some have faces that look like frankenstein, some just up and died with no symptoms, and now one has white stuff all over his face and is bloated. Maybe tuberculosis, who knows, but is seems there's nothing I can do, but let it happen, and start over someday. I thought i had done all my research before this setup, oh well.

MissMTS

Oh no. I'm so sorry to hear that. That is really dissapointing when you put so much work into a tank and then something goes wrong. Best of luck to you on your next try. Don't get discouraged. Did you use a quarantine tank or did you put the fish directly into your main tank? It may have just been a disease that a fish was carrying and it spread to all the other fish in your tank. Maybe try starting over and using a quarantine tank to make sure that all fish are healthy. It does not sound like any water problems were the issue.

Blub

riley132

It's a 55 gallon tank . I started with two danios for about a month. Then I added 3 polka dotted cats, that go big and were so healthy it seemed and the all dropped dead in two days. this tank is about six months old and now theres otos, upside downs, one rainbow shark, mixed corys, and gouramis. None of this started until i bought some gouramis and a large aquarium store that is far from me and i don't get to go to very often. I didn't quaranteen the fish from there because they are so good at what they do. I only worry when buying from the local store. One of the gouramis died soon after i brough him home. Had a curved spine, sunken eyes, and a flat belly. thats where it all started i think

Blub

capekate

Im so sorry to hear about your losses. I too have lost a number of fish recently due to disease. Your gourami's symptoms sound like Fish TB, the same thing my fish had. Which I am surprised to read its not all that rare. There is nothing you can do for them when they have it. They waste away to nothing and some end up with the 'cotton' all over their bodies as a secondary infection to the original diseases,as mine did as well..
Your tank was probably just fine.. Im sure you did all you were supposed to do. Once you bring in these sick fish, it can be infectious and the result is what you are finding now.
I would not bring in anymore fish because no doubt they will get sick. When the time comes, I would then do a real good tank cleaning starting with draining all the water out, boiling the gravel and scrubbing down the tank ( but not with soap!) Get new filter media and start over with the cycle once again. I know its a pain but I cannot think of anything else do to do prevent the disease from spreading again.
I am going through the same thing in my 29g community tank..
Good luck.... and try not to get too discouraged.

~ kate

≈ D ≈

I feel for you riley. I know it's got to be depressing when you go through all that effort and the along comes Fish-TB to ruin it all. Chin up mate, we're with you.

At least you didn't contact it from them - years ago when I first kept fish I got it and still have the 'indent' on my left arm from it.

zpecialt

Sorry to hear of your fish troubles, Riley. And here I am fretting over a little fin rot.

Harley, I didn't realize you could contract tb from your fish. That's frightening. Does it need to be treated?

riley132

Thanks for all the support it means alot. It is a big disappointment cause I put a lot of planning in to this one, but it will be all good. I was wondering capekake, if I could salvage my driftwood. It's a one of a kind piece I don't want to part with. I know TB can lie dormant for a long time, but is there something i can clean it with so i could use it agian, and what about all my plants.

capekate

I can understand not wanting to get rid of a favorite driftwood piece. If it were me, I would boil the heck out if it... and then Im sure it would kill anything at a high temperature. I hope for your sake, if I am wrong on this that someone will correct me. But IMO I think it would be ok after a good boil.
I cannot say for the plants, I just dont know.

~ kate

nmwierman1977

I am very sorry to hear that this happened. IMO opinion I would just get all new plants. I'm not sure if they are real or fake, but either case I would just get new. You could try to putting them in hot water with some vinegar if they're fake, but you have to be careful the water isn't boiling hot cuz then it'll just melt the glue off the plants and you'll have to replace them anyway. Vinegar I think is the best way to sanitize your decor and tank, cuz it won't harm the fish as much as bleach would if it's not throrughly rinsed off. Just make sure you rinse a few times and let it all air dry for a couple days. Let everything sit in the vinegar water for 24 hours and then rinse very well. I usually put 1 part vinegar and do the rest water. Good luck and I'm very sorry you lost all of your fish. Natalie

riley132

Well, the driftwood is definately too big to boil. Do you think a good salt bath would do? I should probably just trash it to be safe, huh. Man, that's gonna suck, but I want to make sure this doesn't happen again.

susitna-flower

Gouramis are notorious for carrying parasites and so on. I wouldn't be able to say about the rest of your fish, and what may have happened to them.....

It MIGHT be TB, but it also sounds like if they didn't all die of the exace same symptome, something else could be going on.

You told us a little more about your tank, but would list exactly what was in it at the time your problems started (fish).

How many are left?

What are the water parameters? The results of your water tests?
Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:

If you have to tear your tank down and you want to save your driftwood, and can't boil it. Would it fit in your oven? Maybe an hour at 350 would be good, but you would have to soak it again to get it to sink..... we share your pain..

Blub

Bishop169

Well look at the bright side if you were thinking of going over to saltwater no better time

Oil_Fan

Yes, come to the dark side. You know you want to!!!

riley132

Well I Havent Lost Any Fish In A Few Days. I Have Been Giving Them Antibiotics And They Seem To Be Doing Better. Still Have:
1 Blue Gourami
1 Gold Gourami
2 Upside Downs
2 Otos
1 Redtail Shark
2 Panda Corys
1 Albinio Cory

No Fish Are Currently Showing Signs Of Tb Or Whatever It Is Currently. I Was Planning On Tearing Down Everything And Starting Over After They All Died But Not Sure There Going To Now. I Also Feel Like The Tank Is A Tank Full Of Nuclear Waste, And I Dont Want To Get My Family Or I Or Dogs Sick. Should I Take Out The Fish And Put Them In Another Tank And Tear It Down Or Should I Ride It Out And Just Keep Doing Water Changes And Not Worry About Getting Sick From It? Im Confussed Again

Drea

DON'T GIVE UP keep up the water changes, finish the meds. But if you took your carbon out from the filter (if there was some) It would help water parameters, when you finish with meds to put carbon in the filter for a few hours, then remove it. I wouldn't give up on the tank, you still have alot of great fish there, and when things settle down, if you have the room (1" rule) you can still add fish.