Would a parasite affect one fish at a time?

I have had several issues with danios. One dying every month. Its never anything obvious. No parameter issues. But eventually the fish stops eating. Loses weight. Gets very skinny and eventually dies. I found something which it maybe which effects danios mainly. It's called microsporidiosis. The only treatment which would possibly work is UV sterilization. Has anyone ever experienced this. Here is a picture of the affected guy

 

I would blame it on bad genetics or internal parasites. Danios have been extremely inbred and aren’t very healthy anymore, and sometimes die for no apparent reason.

 

Microsporidiosis is a fungus. I think it's an internal parasite/bacteria but it affects one fish at a time. I also have Cory's and snails which is why I wont treat with anything. What would you do?

 

Would a parasite affect one fish at once? I have something taking out one fish a month. It's gone on for a while. Only affecting danios. Cory's and snails are fine and healthy. Off what I think it is it says the only way to treat it is with uv sterilization which is costly and could strip the water of nutrients for the snails. It seems to be something prevalent in danios. It sucks to just sit back knowing its going to more than likely kill them all

 

Still pondering if it's Fish-TB?

 

No I found something macZ. It's called Microsporidiosis. Il send you the link I found. If you get chance to read it. It sums up what seems to happen to my fish 100%. Heres the link. Scroll down to microsporidiosis. Protozoan Diseases [ZIRC Public Wiki]

I feel totally stuck between a rock and a hard place with this. Your advice would always be much appreciated MacZ

 

After reading this... I was aware it exists, but I didn't know it was that present in home aquaria much.

So... I would think about giving up keeping danios actually. Don't know if it's really worth it getting an UV sterilizer. You have an internal filter, right? That would mean to actually use a UV you would also have to buy a canister filter...

 

That seems to be what happens to mine. Its usually 4 weeks until death. I read one article on it which said if after 7 weeks it's still alive it will live a normal life. So maybe their is hope for some danios. I wonder wether a new fish I had brought it or wether it was prevalent in an existing fish etc.

I can buy a uv filter that is internal. Its £30 and does 700 litres an hour. I have a fluval u3 and a small 300 litres an hour with crushed coral. I would be running 3 filters. That's some highly polished water and sounds a bit too much to me. Also it would kill algae which would kill my snails and my rabbit snails and the babies are my favourites!

One thing is for sure I cant purposely kill ill fish or the danios. Would you say the best course of action is to let the danios run their course and stock with something new? I just hope the Cory's dont start after this!

 

That seems to be what happens to mine. Its usually 4 weeks until death. I read one article on it which said if after 7 weeks it's still alive it will live a normal life. So maybe their is hope for some danios. I wonder wether a new fish I had brought it or wether it was prevalent in an existing fish etc.

I can buy a uv filter that is internal. Its £30 and does 700 litres an hour. I have a fluval u3 and a small 300 litres an hour with crushed coral. I would be running 3 filters. That's some highly polished water and sounds a bit too much to me. Also it would kill algae which would kill my snails and my rabbit snails and the babies are my favourites!

One thing is for sure I cant purposely kill ill fish or the danios. Would you say the best course of action is to let the danios run their course and stock with something new? I just hope the Cory's dont start after this!

Hard to find out where it came from. Technically it could have been in your tapwater even.

I see, doing UV is all but practical... As uncomfortable and harsh as it may sound, I guess letting it take it's course is probably the best plan. I had to decide that for two species myself before (one being otos and one being habrosus cories) although I know how to euthanize fish and do it if necessary.

 

It can be done it just seems a lot and it isnt guaranteed. It certainly wouldn't cure the affected fish. Can neon tetra disease be treated? It seems similar to that. I couldn't euthanize a healthy fish. I couldn't to a gravely ill one even tho I know it would be for the best. I'm too soft!

 

Yeah. Quite a lot of effort to be taken.

And no, Neon Tetra disease is untreatable and in those cases at least all tetras have to be killed.

If you can't do it, here on the forum are several people that will help you and talk you through gladly. It's luckily possible in quite humane ways. They only require moving a fish from container a to container b.

 

I will more than likely just let it run its course. The only predicament I face is if say 3 or 4 survive but they could he different species of danio. But I cant buy danios knowing something in the water will cause long term harm. Fish keeping is harder than people think. After this it's either rummy nose tetra or rasboras. Just sticking with one species and type as well. Il have my Cory's and snails. Once the baby rabbit snails reach maturity they'll start breeding so I could end up with a good few

 

Sounds reasonable.

Only one thing: Rummynose do best in long tanks (150cm) and groups of more than 20. But definitely Tetras work better with Cories.

 

My tank is 80 long. Its 125L. I couldn't fit 20. Maybe 10 or 12?

 

It's a bit short, yes. You could try 15. Maybe a shoaler instead of a schooler? Rummynose are among the few fish I know that actually school in freshwater aquaria.

 

I'm thinking of bio load with 6 Cory's and 6 rabbit snails and 4 nerites. If every rabbit snail has a baby a month next year during summer I could end up with like 30 rabbit snails! I had 16 danios at one point but the tank looked very busy. I may have put too many in but my parameters were always ok. It just looked like a busy tank with the danios darting about everywhere. Rummy nose do look beautiful. I just hope they're a bit less inbred than the danios

 

I'm thinking of bio load with 6 Cory's and 6 rabbit snails and 4 nerites. If every rabbit snail has a baby a month next year during summer I could end up with like 30 rabbit snails! I had 16 danios at one point but the tank looked very busy. I may have put too many in but my parameters were always ok. It just looked like a busy tank with the danios darting about everywhere. Rummy nose do look beautiful. I just hope they're a bit less inbred than the danios

Just by bioload you could put in 30 rummynose and 10 cories. But you are right accounting for the snails.
Rummynose should be less inbred, because most are wild caught.

 

Would they be ok in my water? I did the hardness tests. General is 6 and kh is 2. Ph is 7

 

Those readings are excellent for Tetras. YES!

 

Finally. Some good news thank you macz