irishdolfan

Hi,

This is my first post but I have been reading these forums on and off for the last 2 months

I have a 24 gallon tank that was bought for me about 2 months ago. The tank has a couple of plants and the following fish

6 Rummy Nose Tetras
6 Harlequins
2 Ancistrus

The tank readings are

ammonia = 0.25
nitrate = 5
nitrite = 0
Temp = 78 degrees F
pH = 7.4

I wanted to do a fishless cycle but the lack of Ammonia products available in this country which were suitable made it impossible so I added fish after approx 2 weeks.

Anyway, on to the problem. My fish were left unattended over Christmas. I did a 25% water change before I left and asked my girlfriend to feed them while I was away. I got back yesterday and had a very quick look, fed them and all seemed well. Today when I came home from visiting friends over night I noticed my Rummy Noses and Harlequins seemed stressed and also that one of my Rummy Nose Tetras has a strange white growth above one of its eyes and that same eye seems to be bulging a bit. The Rummy Nose in question has always been the palest of my tetras. I have been reading about all of the fish diseases on here but I am very confused as to what to do. I have also noticed that one other Rummy Nose has a damaged fin.

I did a 50% water change right away but now I am at a loss about what to do because I cannot seem to identify what is wrong.

Any help you guys/girls can give me would be great!

Thanks!

catbtony

50% water change good.. if you can QT the sick fish and post pic. You don't want any ammonia reading ever, really bad for fish but the 50% water change should dilute it some, keep doing the 50% water change daily until 0ppm ammonia reading. How are all your other fish? Was your tank cycled? it looked like it may not have been...does the stuff on your fish have a fuzzy appearence keep us posted

irishdolfan

I have been trying to get a pic of the sick fish since yesterday but he moves too fast The white growth is not fuzzy, it is more like a small worm that is attached above its eye.

The tank was not cycled before I added fish as I was unable to find Ammonia to cycle the tank and my local fish shop said I should be safe to add fish.

The rest of the fish appear fine except for the other tetra with a damaged fin and I also noticed that one of the Ancistrus has a fuzzy white patch on him. I thought it was normal as they are black with white spots.

i will continue with the 50% water changes. Thanks so much for the reply.

Mike19

did you read Anchor Worm, its like a small cotton like thread popping out.
Fuzzy white spot? dose it look like grains of salt or more like the cotton ive spoken about above, it sounds like a fungal infection although without additional information and a photo i cant really comment on what is going on.

irishdolfan

I just visited my local fish Store and they seem to think it is Anchor Worm as well. They suggested trying to remove the work with a pair of tweezers and then boiling my gravel to try and reduce the chance of reinfection.

Sound right?