Vacation Disaster (well, Sorta)

I'm going to try to explain this without writing an entire novel. First, here are my current freshwater tanks. Do not comment on stocking, please, since it has absolutely nothing to do with this issue and I am an experienced Freshwater keeper.

26g bowfront:
1x angelfish
1x albino bristlenose pleco
1x honey gourami
2x male endlers
3x guppy fry
2x glo tetras
1x male swordtail
2x platys
1x bronze cory
3x black kuhlis

10g:
7x female bettas

5g:
1x male betta

Before my 10 day (ended up being only 8 days) vacation, I did large water changes on all of the tanks. I haven't lost a fish in months, so there were no illnesses prior to vacation. All of the lights were on timers, and the fish went without eating.

Came home and there were a few issues.

• Two female bettas were dead, probably because of an ammonia spike. I had a lot of rotting plants when I returned, and there was a lot of decaying plant matter floating around.
• One of the glo tetras was very ill. Heavy breathing, red gills, and clear/stringy poop. I fed the tank, and he was the only fish that didn't eat.
• My male betta had some ragged fins, probably from stress. His light cord wouldn't reach the timer, so he went without light for the 8 days.

I noticed all of this last night. It got really busy, so I couldn't do water changes until today. At the moment, I don't have any extra tanks that I can set up for a quarantine, so I had to improvise.

• First I completely drained the betta sorority tank to get all the dead plant matter out. I put the remaining girls in a bucket.
• Refilled the betta sorority and took all wood, rocks, and surviving plants out. I put in a few hiding places.
• The sick glo tetra went in the 10g. I added an airstone because he was gasping at the surface.
• Since I have nowhere to put the female bettas, I put them in my 26g community tank. My girls are fairly peaceful, so it's a gamble I'm willing to take. Right now everyone is getting along. I will feed small amounts fairly often so that nobody gets nippy.
• Then I did a 40% water change on the 26g. I added my plants in there so I can do a two-week blackout on the 10 gallon (huge algae problem). The glo tetra will probably like the lights off, anyways.
• I will do a WC on the 5 gallon male betta tank tomorrow, but right now I'm just too exhausted. I still have to mix water and do maintenance on my Saltwater tank tonight.

So basically I have every fish I own in a 26g bowfront, with one sick tetra in the 10g. Here are the best pictures of the tetra I can get. These were from last night, and today he looks the same.





So again, his symptoms are fast breathing, red gills, and clear poop. He also won't eat even his favorite foods.

I'm also concerned that he may have infected my other fish. I am watching them closely for any strange behavior, and so far there is none. Any fish that starts to look sick will be moved to the 10g.

What medicines should I order to treat him, and potentially all of my fish? I don't have much experience with treating disease, other than ich.

I will get water parameters as soon as I can, but again, I am exhausted.

Summary for anyone too lazy to read my way-too-long post.

Glo tetra has stringy clear poop, red gills, and is breathing fast. It is in a 10 gallon quarantine tank. What do you think it is, and what medicines should I order to treat him?

 

So sounds like parasite and ammonia poisoning.

 

I was definitely thinking some sort of internal parasite. What would be the best treatment for that?

The ammonia poisoning is possible as well, but the large water change and airstone should be helping with that.

 

Coradee can you move this thread? I'm tired and posted in the wrong forum

 

Err
Edit: wasn't working before. So what other than clearish poop is wring with that one fish?

 

Err
Edit: wasn't working before. So what other than clearish poop is wring with that one fish?

As soon as we got home I noticed clear, stringy poop that was stuck to its anus. It's also been breathing heavy and acting very lethargic. Right now it's swimming near the surface and gasping above the water every now and then.

 

What are your water parameters Now?

 

In the 10 gallon they're probably 0,0,0. I just did a 100% water change.

 

Maybe it's just from not eating for 8 days. If he won't eat now, I don't know what you can do.

 

Maybe it's just from not eating for 8 days. If he won't eat now, I don't know what you can do.

I'm guessing the lack of food stressed him out and weakened his immune system, making him more susceptible to the parasite (or whatever the illness is).

Medicated food seems like the best treatment for internal parasites, from what I'm reading, but what if the fish isn't eating?

 

I'm guessing the lack of food stressed him out and weakened his immune system, making him more susceptible to the parasite (or whatever the illness is).

Medicated food seems like the best treatment for internal parasites, from what I'm reading, but what if the fish isn't eating?

The stringy white poop could be just because there was nothing in the gut to excrete. I don't think it necessarily means parasites.

 

Hmm... didn’t know that. Should I just observe and not order anything? I’m quite attached to him.... he’s been with me since I first started the hobby

 

Usually when fish are stressed they are more prone to being attacked by bacterial and internal

 

I have decided to wait and observe him for any signs of parasites. There is definitely some improvement this morning. He is exploring the QT and has found a cave decoration to hide in. His breathing is getting better since I added the airstone, and I don't see him pooping clear stuff anymore.

When I get home from practice I will try to feed him some flakes. If he doesn't come up for those, I will drop a shrimp pellet into his cave.

EDIT: The 26g is doing great. My betta girls are leaving the angelfish and gourami alone

 

Hope he starts eating