eaglescout316

I've had a lot of trouble lately with my tank. A few weeks ago, i went on a weekend vacation, and when i came back found one fish with white growths on its side. The looked like they could either be cottony growths, or spots with pus, i couldn't tell. It was already very weak, didn't fight the net at all or anything. I put it in my quarantine tank and it died within an hour, i think the added stress probably finished it off.

I observed the other fish for a couple of weeks and did not see any problem on any of them. In trying to find a cause, i blamed the green stuff growing in the tank and found out it's cyanobacteria, so i started treating the tank with Maracyn. I also bought some new fish and put them in the quarantine tank for observation.

I'm about to put the fifth dose of maracyn in the main tank, and i noticed a bloodfin tetra sticking to itself just above the gravel. It looks like its head is slightly deformed, as if the top jaw is sunken in, leaving its mouth permanently gaped open. When it turned, i thought it was missing its eye but it's just massively bulging. It looks like the eye might be fuzz-covered. I thought it might be pop-eye, but sure enough the maracyn that's already in there is the treatment for that. I'd pull it and put it in the quarantine tank, but i have the new fish in there already. I can't seem to find it a picture of cloud eye, because i'm wondering if that's what it is.

I've gone almost a year and never had fish get sick, so i'm not sure what's going on. I've changed nothing in the tank, so i don't see where anything could be introduced. Any help on any of these matters someone can give me would be greatly appreciated.

inari

I'm sorry to hear about you problems, but if memory serves it sounds like fish fungus, instaed of using antibiotics (which for the record are bad for your cycle as well...) try using some anti funugal meds like jungle buddies anti fungus tabs, I'm pretty sure I'm right but maybe hold off until another responds if i'm way off please let me know as well so I can correct my information, but if it is a fungus the tabs should take it out in about 2 weeks, but as always with any meds take out your activated carbon as well. best of luck

~inari

eaglescout316

I've tried looking up the symptoms in one of my books, and i'm wondering if it could be lymphocystis. If so, it would be viral but isn't supposed to be highly contagious.

Does anyone have experience with this?

Also, does anyone have recommendations for dealing with the fact my quarantine tank is already occupied?

inari

As for a viral disease I think you are pretty much boned on that part. Viruses are pretty much impossible to get rid of, they aren't like bacteria or fungus that you can throw a chemical at them to kill them, a virus is a moving DNA box (or RNA as well some of them) but enough of the biology lesson, as for dealing with the virus I'm afraid I can't be of much help. As for the Quarentine tank, I'd keep your noobie fish in there and if there's room consider adding some friends.

as for the preocupation of ur Q tank, well I wouldn't mix the ill fish with a possible good fish, but that is your judgement call, however, like i said with the virus you cannot get rid of them with chemicals the only way I know how to get rid of a virus is to completely dissemble your tank and start over as difficult and heartreching as that is, it may very well be you only option. I hope it isn't a viral disease you, if it is, I'd consider finding another LFS.

Best of luck,

Inari

eaglescout316

I guess i'm just confused about where fish disease comes from...so far i've never had problems with new arrivals, just fish that have been in the tank for 6+ months, and months after new arrivals were added.

After waiting for so long, i had to make a decision so i did the swap. I explained the choice in the beginner's forum. I added the API Fungus Cure (slight discoloration? the water's neon green) and the sick guy actually seems far more energetic after a night of the treatment being in the tank, so maybe (hopefully) it is a fungus.

prairielilly

I've used the API fungus cure successfully, it's good stuff (and the green will go away w. water changes and carbon). The only other thing I can think of is columnaris, bc it manifests as cottony growths on the fish's body especially the mouth, and can cause the mouth to appear 'eaten away'. Columnaris is a gram-negative bacterium, and Maracyn is a medicine for gram-positive bacteria, so the Maracyn will likely have little effect. I know it says on the Maracyn package it treats columnaris, however the research I've done has turned up the gram-negative/positive connection. I never had any luck treating columnaris with Maracyn, but some luck with Maracyn-Two and more luck with API's Furan-2.

What I would do in your case is continue the meds you've started, and once done do daily 50% wc's for a week and see how the sick fish do - that may be enough. If you do decide to medicate again, I'd give the fish a 'week off' between meds - it's hard on them.

Good luck

eaglescout316

Well, from what i've read, Columnaris would be a potential tank-killer. When i was trying to think of how to make moving this aquarium at the end of August easier, i expected to have fish...

prairielilly

...and you likely will! I always find it hard to be optimistic when my finny babies are sick, but it's a whole lot easier if I force myself to look at the bright side...no one's saying it IS definitely columnaris. Which if it is, is NOT always a tank killer

I'd still stick with your current regime and take it one step at a time...