My fish have septicemia. please read for more info!

I have a 29 gallon freshwater tank. Tankmates: 5 Black Skirt Tetras, 5 Flame Tetras. I know they have it and I have researched some. I treated 2 days ago with Jungle Labs Fungus Cure for it, today I did a 50% water change. I have decided that I am not going to use it and am going to wait until this tuesday to change products. I want to do all I can to help my fish please tell me your suggestions after you read what medicines I have prepared. I just got some Jungle Labs Anti-Bacteria Medicated Fish Food, which is supposed to help with Septicemia. I tried feeding them that ground up but all they did was spit it out?! It says once I feed it to them I can't feed them any other food and should feed them this for 5-10 days, which I want to. I also just bought Maracyn-Two by Mardel - Fast dissolving powder form- 24 packets, supposed to help with Septicemia. I also want to use Doc Wellfish's Aquarium Salt (I think it will help to relax them?). Will this be okay on them? Please tell me of any more suggestions I don't use the heater because the temp. of my room usually stays around 78-80. I have melafix, haven't used it do I really need too? it doesn't say it works for septicemia, I would rather use something made for septicemia anyway. Why won't they eat the food. I hope they eat it when they get hungry. Could this have started by this: I was away on vacation for a week had a feeder block in, when I came home one of my black skirts was dead and had white cotten all over it (fungus). I took it out immediatly and did a good water change and left in only gravel and fake plants. Was this the starter? I also had two leopard danios get sick with septicemia and I had to get them out of there. I am now seeing it very little on my flame tetras. Please do all you can I don't want them all to die... :[

 

My fish have septicemia. please read for more details.

I have a 29 gallon freshwater tank. Tankmates: 5 Black Skirt Tetras, 5 Flame Tetras. I know they have it and I have researched some. I treated 2 days ago with Jungle Labs Fungus Cure for it, today I did a 50% water change. I have decided that I am not going to use it and am going to wait until this tuesday to change products. I want to do all I can to help my fish please tell me your suggestions after you read what medicines I have prepared. I just got some Jungle Labs Anti-Bacteria Medicated Fish Food, which is supposed to help with Septicemia. I tried feeding them that ground up but all they did was spit it out?! It says once I feed it to them I can't feed them any other food and should feed them this for 5-10 days, which I want to. I also just bought Maracyn-Two by Mardel - Fast dissolving powder form- 24 packets, supposed to help with Septicemia. I also want to use Doc Wellfish's Aquarium Salt (I think it will help to relax them?). Will this be okay on them? Please tell me of any more suggestions I don't use the heater because the temp. of my room usually stays around 78-80. I have melafix, haven't used it do I really need too? it doesn't say it works for septicemia, I would rather use something made for septicemia anyway. Why won't they eat the food. I hope they eat it when they get hungry. Could this have started by this: I was away on vacation for a week had a feeder block in, when I came home one of my black skirts was dead and had white cotten all over it (fungus). I took it out immediatly and did a good water change and left in only gravel and fake plants. Was this the starter? I also had two leopard danios get sick with septicemia and I had to get them out of there. I am now seeing it very little on my flame tetras. Please do all you can I don't want them all to die... :[

 

Re: My fish have septicemia.

How do you know you fish have blood poisoning?
Susan

 

Re: My fish have septicemia. please read for more details.

What symptoms are your fish showing?
carol

 

Fishlover I merged your duplicate topics so all your answers and information would be in one place
carol

 

Thanks for that Carol. I know my fish have it because I recently had a leopard danio with it, it looked horrible so I killed it (please don't ask how I just killed it, the septicemia was far too along.) I also had the other danio come down with it. The first one had the trademark red lines/streaks going down its sides and tummy. It was horrible. I am now seeing a small tiny lump on one of my flame tetras bellies and it looks like an ulcer and I thought I could see very faint red lines on it too. I want to treat my whole tank for it since it has spread to them, unfortunatly. I have also researched septicemia, and on Yahoo, in the pet section Fish I posted the first sign which for me. Was my leopard danio had a red spot at the end of its body before the tail started, just one person suggested septicemia and I then researched it but saw no red streaks or lines then.. I just want to end it before it gets worse. I want to start treatment with Maracyn 11- or Maracyn-Two on this tuesday. The only reason I am not doing it now is because the day I realized what it was I put in the only thing I had on hand that would treat it. That was Jungle Labs Fungus Clear, 2 Tabs that dissolve, it says if I need to repeat treatment to do that in four days and so I think on tuesday it would be safe enough to switch treatments. I just did a 50% water change today and have had 2 Topfin filters running throughout the whole time. A TopFin 20 & TopFin 30 filters. I also have aquarium salt which I want to put in but am cautious with because I don't want to overdose them since they are Tetras. The type of salt is Doc Wellingtons Aqaurium Salt. I am trying to get them to start eating Anti-Bacteria Medicated Fish Food from Jungle Labs. I don't have any more money to spend on fish supplies or anything else for that matter I spent it all today on this stuff. I also purchased a 1 gallon tank for if I ever needed it. It has an aerator in it, gravel and a fake plant. I have nothing to quarantine with I think except this salt.. I have melafix too but? I just don't want to harm them or stress them out.

 

Heres everything you ever wanted to know about septicemia(and some you don't) with med recommendations.
Carol

 

Thanks that was helpful. I am going to try and get them with my net while they are sleeping so that they will be okay to quarantine safely. I want to quarantine them with Methelyne Blue, am trying to find a cheap place to get it though since I don't have any money except change. I only have a 1 gallon tank set up today with gravel a fake plant and an undergravel filter. Will this be okay to put one at a time in or no?? I feel so bad for them. How fast does this disease progress? I am going to try to get them to eat this Anti-Bacteria medicated fish food but they don't seem to like it too much. Hopefully they eat it when they are hungry. Will it be okay if I add the salt or no? How much if yes? Also is it okay if I wait until tuesday to put in the Maracyn 2? I don't want them to die because of it. And I don't want them to die because it may be mixed with the Jungle LAbs Fungus Clear. Please answer those questions thank you a bunch

 

What size tank is it and how many and what fish are in the tank.
I personally would just leave tehm in the tank and treat them. Maracyn and maracyn II are excellent meds.
Carol

 

My tank is 29 gallons my guess would be 29" long approx. and 15" tall or so. I have 5 Black Skirt Tetras, and 5 Flame Tetras. I only have Maracyn 2. I have other meds like: Fungus Clear, Parasite clear, melafix, super ick cure, aquarium salt. Should I put in the salt or no I haven't added anything else today except this morning during the water change these things: Prime, Stability, Neutral Regulator (it doesn't work). I bought Proper pH 7.0 today and will use that in the next water change. When should I do another?

 

1) No I would not use the salt
2)Maracyn is an excellent med use it as directed
3) leave your ph alone- a fluctuating pH is very stressful and most fish will acclimate to just about any stable pH
4) the only chemicals you need is dechlor- the other things are just ways for teh stores to make money
You need to do at least 25% water changes once a week and vacuum the substrate about every other water change. Since the Maracyn advises not doing a water change until treatment is over I think I would do a 50% water change before treating.
Carol

 

I have always vaccumed my gravel every time I do a water change is this bad?? I will do it like you said now. Also how dirty do filters have to get until you change them? -- Last so you think it would be okay to introduce the Maracyn-2 tomorrow? Please read this:
Today I did a 50% water change and gravel vaccum, I had put in 2 fizzing tabs of Jungle Labs Fungus Clear on thursday evening. It said on the pack if I wanted to redose to do it in four days so do you still think it will be safe to put in Maracyn-2? So just for me to be clear on what you want me to do:
1. Tomorrow do another 50% just water? water change or gravel?
2. Use Prime as well with new water.
3. Add the Maracyn-2.
4. Follow the packet instructions which are:
First day add the contents of 2 packets per 10 gallons of water. Second through fifth day, add the contents of 1 packet per 10 gallons of water. Repeat this 5 day treatment only once if needed. Important: Treat for 5 days even if visible signs disappear.
5. I will keep trying to feed them ground up Anti-Bacteria Medicated Fish Food, since they are still well up to eating I won't change the food for 10 days.
6. Do I need to do or add any more things I want to make sure I do this right.
One more thing. I have heard people say I should still treat for 7 or so more days after the regular packaging instructions say?
I have 24 dissolving powder packets I think this will be enough for my 29 gallon.
1st day tomorrow: add 6 packets? since 2 packets for 10 gallons?
2nd day-5th day: add 3 packets a day? since 1 packet for 10 gallons?
if you want me to do more: 6th-7day: add 3 packets a day?
this will be a total of 24 packets used up.

Absolute last thing: After the last treatment. The next day should I do a water change or anything?
Sorry about bugging you so much with these questions.. :\

 

1)If you get a lot of stuff out of the substrate when you vacuum then continue to do so at each water change.
2)Your filter media can be rinsed in used tank water to get the larger particles out and this will preserve your beneficial bacteria. when the media starts to deteriorate the put new media in with a piece of the old to re-seed it.
3) Tomorrow I would do another 50% water change to make sure you got all of the other meds out. Some medications don't mix well. Mix the Prime with the tap water. It's an excellent dechlor among other things. Much recommended.
4) after the water change add the maracyn II as directed. Follow the directions precisely. do not use the medicated food, it might not mix with the Maracyn II.
5) After the treatment time is up do a 50% water change and gravel Vac. If they are still a little sick a second round of MaracynII won't hurt them.
Hope you don't mind me numbering things, it helps me keep my mind in order did I skip anything? If so let me know and questions are never a problem, that's what we're here for
Carol

 

I don't think you missed anything but I do have a fact for you! I think I actually can use the Anti-Bacteria Medicated Food. This is what it says on it for Instructions: May be used with external water treatments, antibiotic/fungal or parasite treatments. <-- Would that be okay now with the Maracyn-2? Hopefully it would be. You gave me good interesting facts there.
1. I will still do the vacuum of the gravel since I always get poo and other things out of it.
2. I had no idea you could do that! I always would just dump the filter and carbon out and make a new one! What does the deteriorated carbon look like, if you know?
3. I will do the 50% change with Prime like I always do ;D
4. I will add the maracyn II, asking you on the medicated food
5. I will do the other 50% when treatment time is over and of course look them over to see if they are still sick.

I don't mind at all numbering I like to do that too obviously
I hope that none of my fish are on there way out they are too cute, and its heartbreaking to me too. They all swim up to the tank walls when I come in and am near them.

 

If it says you can use it then I guess you can. I've just never used them together so couldn't speak from personal experience I just have an aversion to mixing too many chemicals together. LOL
I know it's hard when your fish are sick their almost like our children after all ;0
carol

 

They really are our babys!!

I will def. be back here posting how the tank is coming along so look forward to those! lol

 

Keep us posted!
carol

 

Alright it is the morning and I just tested my water parameters here are the results:
NitrAte - 0
NitrIte - 0
pH - 7.6 - 7.8
Ammonia - 0.25 (around that area its hard to tell)
Those are according to my Freshwater Master Test Kit. So hopefully that's good enough.
I will be doing the 50% water change a little later. :]

 

By your water test readings it sounds like your tank isn't finished cycling. If a tank is finished cycling ammonia is 0, Nitrites are 0 and you will have a Nitrate reading. It usually takes about 6-8 weeks to cycle unless using Bio-Spira which is an excellent instant cycle product.
Now with your tank not cycled I figure your fish probably had ammonia poisoning instead of Septicemia. The symptoms are similar.
After the 50% watr change if you will feel better go ahead and use the Maracyn II that you have. If it is ammonia poisoning the fresh water will help.
Your tank will continue to cycle, so keep an eye on the Ammonia reading and don't let it go over.25 soon you will see some Nitrite readings and your cycle will be on its way.
Carol

 

I have had my tank up for about 3-4 months now. I think the ammonia is still left over from my vacationS. The first week I put in a feeder block and when I got back I did a big water change because leftover feeder block was everywhere. The second week I put in another feeder block and when I got back my ammonia was 2.0 I think. I did a big water change to help got out the feeder block (I think that is what caused the ammonia to spike). My ammonia is going down as of then. The person at the pet store which is a fish & pet store (it says fish in the title so I figured someone would acutally know something there) he told me to get stability that it would get my tank cycled. On the bottle it says it is safe to add fish anytime during the 7 straight days of adding it. Are you sure my fish have ammonia poisioning? My first leopard danio really had red lines down his sides and stomach, it was so heartbreaking, he was not eating when I put my hand on the top, and wouldnt even move to go near it. Here: The first day I saw something odd I saw this: At the end of his/her body (before the tail started) I saw this red area not too big but just there. So I went on the fish section of yahoo and posted and one person suggested maybe he bumped into something or could be septicemia. It went away, and I was trying to keep the light off in my tank so that no more algae would grow because I just had a rock in there and the back of my aquarium get brown algae on it. :\ I saw him just sitting around in the back of the tank one day just gasping (all my other fish aren't doing that). I just checked they aren't doing that. Then one day I couldn't see my other danio at the window I was at and wondering where he was I turned on the light and saw these red lines going on his sides to his belly. I also noticed that he was getting fatter, and I just thought he was picking up the scrap food on the bottem maybe, they usually went along the bottem of my tank and got food.. My other danio soon had lines like this one, also when I took the 1st one or 2nd out of my tank I think he had a little dropsy in him..

I sure hope it isn't ammonia poisoning! :[ That will make me feel even worse for them. All this time! If it does go over .25 what should I do? Another gravel/water change? how much if so. I picked up a 1 oz Ammo Lock, and I have a Jungle Labs Ammonia Clear Tank Buddies tabs. I don't know if those would be safe to use with the Maracyn though so I would rather do the safer thing. Sorry this is so long just gotta say stuff! My flame tetras must have been hungry because they have started eating the Anti-Bacteria food, my black tetras are still saying that want better food. (spitting it out). But it is possible my tank hasnt cycled I guess, I have never had nitrite, nitrate readings and not much ammonia readings. Is this gonna be a tough ride for my fish? How is that possible all this time it hasnt cycled?

 

Test Results as of Monday, September 3, 2007 at 5:24 p.m.
pH: 7.6-7.8
nitrite: 0
ammonia: 0.25
nitrate: 0

My questions about the ammonia were in the reply above this ^^

 

when the ammonia gets over.25 you need to do a 255 water change now that you've done the large ones. The tank will slowly cycle because you are having to d water chnages due to the fish being in the tank. If you were fishless cycling you could let the ammonia get much higher and the tank would cycle faster. the only product that I know of that will instantly cycle a tank is BioSpira and you still have to add your fish slowly.
I wouldn't use the ammo lock or the jungle labs ammonia clear right now, that's just adding more chemicals to the water. Just keep a watch on the water test readings and do a 25% water change if the ammonia goes over .25 I would leave the gravel vac for about every other water change now.
Yep it may be a tough ride for the fishies but we're onto the problem now and hopefully they will ride it out.
Certain medications can kill the beneficial bacteria as well as the bad stuff so if it was cycled at one time that may have been the problem but your on the way to cycled now so lets just deal with that and don't worry about the past.
As for the long post However much you need to say what you need to say is ok
Carol

 

Alright well just to be sure it isn't the septecimia I would feel much safer by just doing what ive been doing and finishing that out. Hmm.. I just think that is so odd. Anyway since I have about 11.5" left in my tank in a couple weeks maybe 3 weeks or so? hope that would be alright I was wanting to get some cories! I am so excited because we are getting two BRAND NEW pet stores near us. Yes they are Petco and PetSmart in different locations but soooo close. I am so happy because I love going there, my mom gets so sick of it when I'm there because I spend all my time in the fish section admiring all the fish and all the supplies I wish I could have everything there sometimes! I wish that I could have a betta I feel so bad for them all alone in those tiny cups with blue stuff in it I just can't look at them. :-\ I want to work there one day I think in the fish section if they let me it would make me have fun at the job seeing them.

Back to the cory cat idea that I had I wanted to get 5 or so for my 29 gallon. How I wanted to introduce them is 1 by 1 though. Using my 1 gallon if I find it cycled by then (it was set up on Saturday) I added some bacteria supplement to it so hopefully that gave it something to start the cycle. If it is cycled by the time I want to get them I will use it. I want to get something that will be safe for them since they are scaleless?? am I right? anyway and put 1 in the 1 gallon with that medicine and use it sort of as a quarantine tank for it. After 1 day I would like to put it in the main tank then go out and get another do the same thing until I have 5 or so. Do you think that would work or not?? I was thinking as long as the cory wasn't full grown just small it would work. I didn't want to do it until I got someone elses thought about it. I would post pictures of my tank but I have no idea how ??? I love how cute cories are and every fish is, especially the uncommon ones like the orange line ones?

 

It would really be best to wait until your tank is completely cycled(which could be 6-8 weeks) before buying anymore fish. The only cycling product I know of that works is biospira and you still have to add fish carefully and slowly. I haven't found the other cycling supplemets to work at all.
I'm really sorry but the 1 G tank isn't big enough to put fish in. When you quarantine you need to quarantine for about two weeks to make sure the fish are healthy. Quarantining new fish is an excellent idea. I don't know that I would use meds on them though.
Cories are adorable true enough.
Carol

 

Hmmm.. Then I have no idea what I'm going to do with my 1 gallon ??? My mom doesn't want me getting a betta, or anything else like that. And I would feel kindof bad putting him in there anyway. What do you suggest I use it for then?
Also I think your idea of waiting 6-8 weeks will work out fine with me. :] that way I can gather up more money.
I wasn't going to keep the cory in there though if that's what you thought.. ? Oh well also how do you post pics do you know??

 

to post pics click reply, under the reply area is a button that says other options click on that then browse your computer for the pic you want to post
I knew you weren't gonna keep corys in the 1 g but I did think you were going to quarantine them in it
Carol

 

Hey,

I just went into the fishlore section of freshwater fish diseases. I read about the ammonia poisioning and I'm still not sure it could be but then why would my danios get big bellys and red lines down them?? Also it said they would be gasping for air at the top of the tank.. They werent doing that they were just gasping near the middle/bottem area. I guess it could be that my tank isn't cycled but does that really mean that it is ammonia poisioning??

 

ammonia poisioning could be a factor.. like an open door to something else. If you have Prime, that's what i'd treat the water with to help that end of things.

 

How are they after doing the large water changes?
Carol

 

The large water changes? You told me to do them if it got above .25 and so far it hasnt here are my test results:
Tuesday Sep 4
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Ammonia: 0-0.25

Wednesday Sep 5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Ammonia: 0-0.25


Was I wrong in thinking you wanted me to do water changes if it got above .25? Well I came home today and found that my tank is cloudy... what could that be from? Maybe the anti-bacteria food if they haven't been eating that much.. Also I have noticed that one of my flame tetras lost almost all of its gorgeous coloring, it goes away then comes back. Please tell me what I should do next. I have still been adding the Maracyn 2 only have to use it one more day I think. I have to wait about 3 more days to stop using the Anti-Bacteria food.

FLBettaCouple - I do and have always used Prime from the start when conditioning my water.

 

I don't think you missed anything but I do have a fact for you! I think I actually can use the Anti-Bacteria Medicated Food. This is what it says on it for Instructions: May be used with external water treatments, antibiotic/fungal or parasite treatments. <-- Would that be okay now with the Maracyn-2? Hopefully it would be. You gave me good interesting facts there.
1. I will still do the vacuum of the gravel since I always get poo and other things out of it.
2. I had no idea you could do that! I always would just dump the filter and carbon out and make a new one! What does the deteriorated carbon look like, if you know?
3. I will do the 50% change with Prime like I always do ;D
4. I will add the maracyn II, asking you on the medicated food
5. I will do the other 50% when treatment time is over and of course look them over to see if they are still sick.

I don't mind at all numbering I like to do that too obviously
I hope that none of my fish are on there way out they are too cute, and its heartbreaking to me too. They all swim up to the tank walls when I come in and am near them.

#3& 5 thought you had done 50% water changes

Maraycn II always makes the water look cloudy. I don't think you are suppose to do a water change until the treatment is over.
Sorry if there was a misunderstanding

carol

 

Yep, I did the 50% water change that day and added the Maracyn-2 after that. I still have a couple days of the treatment so after the last day I will do the 50%. We'll see how it turns out, I feel bad for my Black Skirts they won't eat the Anti-Bacteria food.. :-\ I have still been adding the Maracyn 2 daily and checking my water parameters. None of my fish have died. "knock on wood". I hope they all survive this, whatever it is.. I think it is that my tank isn't cycled like you said. So I'm just hoping that something starts evening out soon.

Also I reread one of your posts and is said something like "now that you are doing water changes with fish in the tank". I just wanted to make sure that you knew I have always been doing weekly water changes/gravel vacuums since I began..

 

Also I reread one of your posts and is said something like "now that you are doing water changes with fish in the tank". I just wanted to make sure that you knew I have always been doing weekly water changes/gravel vacuums since I began..

I knew you were doing them but I understood you to say you were going to take the fish out and quarantine them, Instead of leaving them in the tank so I was specifying now that you had decided to leave them in the tank nd were doing water changes ...
Carol

 

Alrighty gotcha

 

Today was my last day doing the Maracyn 2. I will wait about 3 more days until I stop feeding them the food. Here are todays test results for my tank:

pH: 7.2-7.4
nitrate: 0
nitrite: 0
ammonia: 0

for some reason my ammonia has gone down by itself.. what does this mean? is my tank starting to cycle ??? I hope so.
*Tomorrow I will do the 50% water change and gravel vacuum. Anything else needed or should I just wait it out after that?
Also my mom doesn't want me on here as much since school is starting so ill try to check in when I can it will mainly be when I get home from school, and maybe right before I go to sleep.. so :-[ ill keep ya posted on my tank results.