Jenalways

Hi all !

I'm hoping you can help me out here... I noticed over the past couple days that my gold barbs have been hanging out at the back of their 2 gallon tank.
So I took a closer look at them today, and one of them has two sore-like things on its side....

Its very pink looking, and has two yellowinsh patches in the middle.... It looks like a misquito bite when your first bitten and start to scratch it...
At first I thought it was Ick... but... i'm just not too sure.. It dosn't lok like ICH is described.. it dosen't look like a sprinkling of salt...

Their tails are intact so.. its not fin rot.... I'm a little at a loss...
The water is only a week old, and it was spring water that I used not tap...

suggestions?

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore..sorry your fishies are sick..but it sounds like ammonia burns....read this link and follow cycleing with fish http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm goodluck!

Jenalways

Thanks for the suggestion.... After reading the nitrate cycle I tested my water to see what the levels were at, and my nitrates and nitrites are on normal levels... my pH is in the safe zone (the high side of safe but still ok) alkalinity.. is good.. water is soft...
It's only a small 2 gallon tank... by the time I cycled the water like it decribes, it would be time to change it again.... Do you think the changing the water more frequently would help? I don't want to stress them out... but if it helps *shrugs*

I feel bad because I moved them out of the main 5 gal tank on the 15th because the barbs pretty aggressive, and I had gotton platies smaller than them, and just wanted to seperate them for a little while till the platies got bigger.. Barbs are not my favorite kind of fish, But I didn't want them to get sick either

Lucy

Hi welcome to Fish Lore

I'm really sorry your fish aren't feeling well.

It would help to know what the exact readings are for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.
What temperature is the water?


It sounds like you have a couple of issues going on.

Your 5g tank had aggression because it's really not big enough the the the amount and kind of fish you had in there.

The 2g isn't big enough for your gold barbs either, they prefer to be in a school and would do best with more of their own kind in a 20g tank.

Here are the profiles for the fish you have
http://www.fishlore.com/profile-goldbarb.htm
http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-Platy.htm

When fish are stressed from incompatable tank mates, an uncycled tank, and overcrowded conditions they're much more suseptable to disease.

Keeping the water pristine with daily water changes until the tank is cylced will hopefully keep them from getting infected.
In the mean time, you really should look into getting a bigger tank.

Good luck, I hope they feel better soon.

Alessa

What are your exact readings for ammonia nitrite and nitrate?

Jenalways

Ok.. so
Nitrate : 20
Nitrite : 0
Hardness : 75
Alkalinity : 120
PH : 6.8

This is one of those quick dip strip tests
Oh and I took pictures So you guys can see wat it looks like..

http://s390.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=100_0085.jpg

http://s390.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=100_0084.jpg


See how red it is? It's a little brighter cause of the flash.. but still....

Lucy

An ammonia reading will still help.

If looks like an injury, not sure though.

Jenalways

Thanks Lucy,
I was told the rule of thumb is and inch of fish per gallon? Is that wrong?

Origionall I have 4 barbs... 1 died in a vacuming accident , and I don't know why the other went... I think I over fed him...they were my first fish, rookie mistake unfortunatly.
But these are the two that are left of the four.. and since I don't want more barbs... hopefully if I can get them better I can find them a new home... I don't want them to be unhappy

Jenalways

huh... injury could be a possibly... One of them jumped out of my seclusion tank while I was setting up that tank last week and landed on the desk.... maybe that was her?
but wouldn't evidance of that ave appeard right away if she was hurt?

Lucy

It's more of a guidline than a rule. When using that guideline, you have to use their adult size, not the size they are when we buy them. The things that also has to be taken into consideration is swim room, the amount of waste they produce and schooling preference.

Platys can get up 2" and gold barbs up to 3". If you started out with 4 gold barbs and 3 platys that would have been 12" of fish in a 5g tank.

If something was hurt internally, it may not show up right away.

Without knowing the ammonia readings, we'd still like to rule out an ammonia spike if possible.

Unless someone else comes along and can pinpoint what it might be, keeping the water clean to help prevent infection is your best bet.

Jenalways

I've never had more than 5 fish at a time....
Maybe the tanks will be on sale tommorw... gotta love black friday hehe

I did a 50% water change today, and they seem a little more active..
the area isn't as red as it was.. it's gone white an patchy now.... The pet store wasn't open today cause of the holiday... but i'll go tomorrow so that I can get an ammonia testing kit... that way I can get you guys official readings....

Thank you every one for all your help I really appreciate it.

Lucy

It would be a good idea to pick up your own test kit. The liquid kits are very reliable. A lot of members use the API master kit. While it may seems pricey at first it's cheaper than the strips in the long run.

Have the store write down the readings for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Don't let them just say 'they're fine' or whatever.

Jenalways

OK.. verdict on the Ammonia test... 1.0

-pinky-

even the smallest amount of ammonia can effect your fish, so you really should think about daily water changes or investing in a larger tank for your barbs.

Jenalways

Yea.. i'm starting to get that... I think that starting a 10 gal tank the right way is going to be the next project.... When I got the 5 gal tank... I really didn't read up on getting it cycled properly. I kinda just put water conditioning, gravel and water in it and called it a day...
the parental units are going to kill me when the see another big tank in the room. Oh well..

Jenalways

So the white patch is starting to raise... im assuming thaqt this means its a fungal infection?


Thanks everyone

Lucy

It sounds it. Did the store give you the nitrite and nitrate readings?

Jenalways

yeppers they were the same as before 20 & 0

Lucy

Nitrites are 20?

The good news is it looks like your getting to the tail end of the cycle. The bad news is nitrites are toxic.
I hope you're doing daily water changes. Getting the cycle finished up will go a long way to keeping your fish healthier.

How is he today?

Jenalways

Yea, i've been doing like 75% water changes every day... I'd flush out the whole thing, but I don't want to stress him out more than he is by moving him...
I ran out and got the API Medication for fungal disease..... he was not looking good at all when I did the water change tho... only his little gills were movingand he was belly up.... But about 5 minutes after I put the meds in he actually started swimming around again and has been doing so for the last hour... along with looing for food, So... i'm keeping my finger crossed, not much I can do besides wait now.. poor fishie

What do you think about the API ammonia lock? Does it work well?

Lucy

Ammonia lock will do exactly what is says 'lock' the ammonia and not make it available to the beneficial bacteria.

If you use Prime as your water conditioner that will detoxify the ammonia for 24 hours between water changes but still make it available to the bacteria.

I'm glad your fish is looking better.

Jenalways

So essentially, it dosn't get rid or neutralize the ammonia
Hrm.. never used prime, but i'll give it a try..

Me too. *crosses fingers* If he survives he's getting a whole new tank, and some more barb friends.. I know I didn't want more at first but....their "bounce back resilliance" is kinda growing on me.

Lucy

Right, it can set the cycle wayyyy back.

Gold barbs are very pretty and should do well in a bigger tank with others to school with. According to their profile a 20g would be best suited for them.

Keep us posted with his progress.

Jenalways

Will do, the growth looks pretty nasty, but shes still going strong... i'll let you know what happen at the end of the first week of treatment.

Thanks for all your input it really helps to have someone to run things by

Matt

Maybe some pictures might help?

I am sorry to hear your fish isnt well

Jenalways

Day 2 update.... when I changed the water she relapsed... the fungus is starting to come off, but shes back to sitting on the bottom of the tank breathing pretty rapidly.
If she survives the day, maybe I shouldn't chane the water as much as I am.... I didn't want to strees her out which is why I was doing A 75% change... but it seems like i'm just stressing her out just as much

Jenalways

Unfortunatly My Barb died at 7pm today
His little barb friend is looking around the tank for him, poor thing.
I'm going to continue the meds for the next 7 days though to make sure that the other one dosn't get infected, does this sound like the right course of action before putting the remaining barb in a community tank?

Lucy

I'm really sorry he didn't make it. You tried very hard to save the little guy.
It might be a good idea to go ahead and finish up the treatment on him. How is he looking?

Jenalways

Thanks Lucy, I guess I just didn't start the meds soon enough to help him.
The other one looks just fine, he always has, aside from swimming around frantically once he realized he was the only one left in the tank
i'll go ahead and finish the 5 days of meds to be on the safe side tho

Thanks for everything, at least now I know what it looks like when
I first begin to see this type of infection though.

Lucy

Your welcome. Good Luck