Fi$hFace

I have had this tank set up for about 3 weeks now. Its pretty much cycled except I can't get the ammonia down to zero. (I found out that my tap water has ammonia in it). So my fish have been happy and healthy for 3 weeks. I have 2 Serpae Tetras, 2 Gold-dust Mollies, 1 Mickey Mouse Platy and 1 red platy. I thought that the Tetras might be stressed because they are supposed to be in a school of 6 or more, but they've been fine. Swimming around as a pair and socializing with the other fish. Today, I noticed one of my Tetras has a few white spots on his face (possibly ICH or Velvet?) and the other one is by himself, swimming near the surface and is almost transparent. He looks really stressed. The other fish are just fine. What do I do about my Tetras?

CAS512

if it's Ich, turn the temperture up to about 82 to try and get rid of it. do 25% water change.

Fi$hFace

The water is always around 80 degrees anyway. Should I separate them? I have a small quarantine/pregnancy tank. I just don't want the others to get sick.

Lucy

If it looks like salt it's probably ich.
You can turn the temp up to 84F and leave it there for two weeks.
Do a good vacumm to get all the spores and increase aearation to make up for the lack of oxygen.

Fi$hFace

But why is it only affecting my 2 fish? The mollies/platys seem absolutely fine.

Lucy

Could be the other's were less stressed for whatever reason and they were less susceptible at this point.

Does it look like salt or is it fuzzy?

Shawnie

if you can visably see it, the entire tank has been exposed...the advice given will help heal them...and not all fish show signs of stress ..some just die without showing anything ...goodluck!

Fi$hFace

It looks like fuzzy salt. LOL. I don't really know? I'll try to take a pic. The other Tetra is realllly pale. Almost white/translucent. He's lost almost all his redish color. I can't see if he's got any salty looking spots because he's in the top corner where its darker.

Shawnie

that would be from the ammonia...you probably need to buy some spring water and use some prime to neutralize the ammonia to make it safe for the fish....

Fi$hFace

Yeah. I've been using prime every day when I do the 50% water change. Since my tap water has ammonia, I'm considering either using water from the store or buying those ammo chips. I just don't want them to get sick! They've been doing so well these past three weeks. Even when the ammo was WAY up at 2ppm.

Fi$hFace

I just saw the other Tetra. He's covered in white spots as well. I am going to do a water change with tap water tonight, but tomorrow I will get some non-ammonia water from the store. Should I separate the Tetras in my smaller tank?

Shawnie

no pretty much the entire tank has been exposed so turning up the temp to 83 as lucy said, and the extra vacuuming as well as maybe more airation like a bubble wand, will cure them up ..goodluck!

Fi$hFace

I already have a bubble wand. I need to get a new heater though. I don't think this one works. Thanks for all the advice.

Fi$hFace

Sadly, I lost one of my Tetras. =( I woke up today and saw him spinning around and the others were nipping at him. Should I get more Tetras? I know they're schooling fish and I only have one now. Will that stress him out?

soldieroffortune1974

I wouldn't add anymore fish right now,adding more will expose them to the ick spores in the water.You need to increase the temp, vaccum the gravel and make sure the remaining fish are fine. you can buy some more,to put in quarantine,and make sure they are fine. I wouldn't suggest adding ANY fish without quarantining for 3 weeks first. Adding fish from the store directly into the main aquarium can cause potential illness and disease for all the fish.

I would allow the aquarium to finish cycling and figure out how to add water without ammonia before adding anything else. Good luck,I hope that helps.

Fi$hFace

Thanks soldier. I guess I'll just see what happens with the other fish before adding more. Can I quarantine new fish in a small 1 gal tank? there is not a filter but I figure I can just change the water out every day. I'm buying spring water now to do all of my water changes.

Matt

it could be because it doesnt have scales and maybe it is more susceptible to Ich.

soldieroffortune1974

I wouldn't suggest using a 1 gallon aquarium for a quarantine,it's a lot harder to maintain stable parameters in a small aquarium.In the quarantine,you want everything as stable as possible (just like the main aquarium).I wouldn't put anything in it without a filter. (Maybe plants)

Fi$hFace

Hmm. Well. Perhaps I will just wait and see what happens with the Ich before adding fish. Thanks again.

Fi$hFace

Okay. So I'll just wait it out and see where this Ich goes. Hopefully it will go away. I've got the temp up to around 84. If that doesn't work maybe I'll buy some Ich medicine.