Mystery Wasting Disease... Help...! 3/10/06
I have a sick tank. It's 55 gallon, all of my parameters are good:
ammonia-0, nitrite-0, nitrates 20 - 40,
<I'd keep under 20 ppm>
ph-7.6. Water temp 78 f. Planted. UGF and jet heads.
This tank has been up since last summer and has been extremely stable. I
had one of my original Gouramis die a couple of weeks ago. I have no idea
why she went, she was a red (honey sunset?) Gourami, and the only "sign" of
illness she showed was losing all color the night before she died. She was
truly ashen and looked very "old." Within a week of her death, her partner
developed dropsy.
<Mmm, well, this species, Colisa lalia, does have some standard "problems"
nowadays...>
He is still with us, but not doing well, so far he hasn't really responded to
treatment. Just a little... He is in a 2.5 gal QT.
Since he has been in quarantine, I lost one bloodfin whose body became very
sunken and bullet shaped, head very bony. Best way to describe it is total
emaciation. Another bloodfin has fallen sick with this, I unfortunately had
to put him in with Gourami due to lack of another QT tank and in hopes of
him responding to the treatment. This morning I have another bloodfin and
neon that are showing early signs of this mysterious disease. Fading colors,
body shape thinning, hiding in plants, not eating.
My LFS will give me some advice after seeing a water sample but not until
then. I can't make it there before the weekend.
Any ideas?
Thank you so much,
Mary.
<Mmm... your system may have a Mycobacterial infection... the same genus of
microbe that causes TB in humans... I do encourage you to read:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=treating+mycobacterium+in+aquarium+fishes&spell=1
and consider a treatment with an efficacious antibiotic. Bob Fenner>
Hi,
<Hello>
I have a 1 1/2 year old electric catfish who has quickly developed a growth on the right underside of his jaw. It seems to be three large growths that
make up one puffy protrusion. Could this be a type of cancer, and is there anything I might use to treat him?
<Is likely a goiter... a deficiency syndrome... Not to hard to effectively treat with the addition (to food) of iodine/iodate. Look in your fish store for Lugol's Solution...>
There have been no changes at all in water and diet (shrimp). HELP.
Thank you,
Trey
<Good luck, life to you. Bob Fenner>
Fat barb, dropsy, feeding blocks 8/20/05
Hi,
<Hello there>
We've just returned from a week out of town where we left a ten-day dissolving
feeder in our tank.
<Mmm, a re-comment re... these are almost always more potential trouble than
their intended worth nutritionally... far more often pollute the water,
providing nil in the way of food...>
When we returned, our fattest tiger barb was looking even fatter than usual
and very lethargic, sitting near the bottom. After a few hours, he began
"bumbling" around the tank, swimming up to the top, flipping himself, and
seeming to generally struggle (getting pushed by the stream of the filter, etc)
and my wife noticed that his scales were protruding. Before he died he was
struggling and floating upside down. Is this indicative of some kind of
infection and/or what course of action, if any, should we be taking with the
rest of our fish?
<The general term for this symptomology is "Dropsy" or a "dropsical condition"
(ascites)... internal body fluid pressure so elevated that the fish's scales
stick out at an angle to their body... the cause/s can be several... most often,
inappropriate to toxic water quality, conditions, improper nutrition... leading
to adventitious bacterial problems... Bob Fenner>
Greg and Debbie
Re: fat barb 8/22/05
Thanks for the info. Regarding the time-delay dissolving pellets, what do
you recommend for long trips such as those?
<Please read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/vacfaqsmar.htm
Bob Fenner>
Big Belly? 8/14/05
Hello again, if it is constipation, what can I do to
treat it? Thank you.
From,
Morgan
<Uhh, please include previous correspondence... have little recollection...
there are dozens of us "here"... Many cases of constipation (in humans, fishes)
are best treated with Epsom Salt... please use the search tool on WWM re. Bob
Fenner>
Chuck,
I wrote to you the other day in regards to my new job at work taking care of
our fishes. We have some type of dwarf catfish that isn't suppose to get
much bigger than it is now (5 inches) and a Oscar (currently about 7 inches).
Anyway, they were in a 30 gallon tank under terrible conditions. We had
management change, and new manager did not want to initially buy a new
tank because
he did not like larger fish in general. Old management was going to get larger
tank after a couple of months. Needless to say, the Oscar out grew the tank.
The waste and food was at least 1/2 thick on bottom of tank. Lucky the fish
didn't die from toxic waste syndrome. I was trying my best to maintain them in
the small tank, but HLLE was already in development, and it took them nearly 4
months before buying a 55 gallon tank. I think manager was hoping the Oscar
died. Now the Oscar has numerous scars around head. However, they are looking
a lot better and he has a healthy appetite. He has been in his new tank now
about 1 1/2 months. Although the old scars look a lot better, I noticed a
couple of newer small ones working their way down one side. I thought one of
his
eyes were going to fall out with all the scaring around it. You answered my
questions, and I want to thank you for that very much. I have a few more
specific questions that I hope you don't mind answering for me. Oscars are
beautiful fish, and I want to do my best to keep this one healthy. Our manager
is
getting a 150 gallon salt tank that will be monitored by a fish store, so the
care of the Oscar has fell upon me. I don't want to take up anymore of your
time, so I will ask my questions. Thanks a lot!
1. You mentioned that I should give the Oscar "Metronidazole" where would I
find this at...a store or thru a vet?
< You can get it at some fish stores . If not you can get it on line at
Drsfostersmith.com.>
2. How much should I give the Oscar daily?
< Directions are on the package. Keep the tank clean and the medication will
work better.>
3. You also said to give it vitamins, What type of vitamins i.e. A, B, C, D,
multi, etc?
< A good multivitamin will cover all the bases. Use fresh food that still has
all its vitamin content. Old stale food usually has no vitamins left in it.>
4. Should I try and get liquid or solid vitamins?
< Soak pellets in liquid vitamins.>
5. I have eliminated goldfish as a food source. I now feed him a different
meal each day of the following items meal worms, beef hearts, frozen brine
shrimp, dry pellets, and frozen blood worms...Should I add or delete anything
from that diet?
< No beef heart and try some washed earthworms.>
6. You mentioned to lower my ph down to 7....Should I leave it there
permanently, or just a few months during treatment?
< Lowering the pH should be gradual and hopefully permanent.>
7. You mentioned something about giving him Tetra Cichlid Vital for
iodine...is that food product, or liquid water treatment?
< It is a liquid water treatment for cichlids.>
8. I was told elsewhere that I could use a product by Kent Marine that is a
concentrated Iodine that I believe is for a healthy reef life in salt tanks.
It comes in a liquid form. I believe 1 tablespoon per 50 gallons. Is this
similar to the Tetra Cichlid Vital?
< It may be but the tetra product is specifically for cichlids while the other
product is designed for reefs. Read the ingredients on each and compare.>
9. I did the water change...How often should I keep doing it?...and what
water percent each time?
< Depends on the nitrates. The lower the better. Clean the filter often and
vacuum the gravel. Keep the nitrates to a maximum of 25 ppm >
10. If I have a hard time getting the Oscar to ingest vitamins in dry food,
cause he eats the pellets less than the other mentioned foods...Can I remove
carbon filters and pour diluted vitamins in tank?
< Don't feed him for a couple of days before you try the pellets. If that
doesn't work then remove the carbon and add the vitamins to the water.>
11. I also went to a website by a Company called Aquatronics. They
specialize in fish related products. I have pasted a product they offer on
this
e-mail. It's called Hex-A-Mite 2. It is suppose to be fortified with vitamins.
Would this be worth my time and money to get?AA6 AQUA-AMAZON HEX-A-MIT II
The first nonantibiotic hole in the head treatment. Add one capsule to 2
ounces of prepared food. Feed twice daily for 1 week. Vitamin fortified with a
calcium additive. This product is also an effective disease preventative when
added to the aquarium water monthly. (Sold since 1992).
410 mg capsules are available in 10 capsule packages.
< I have not personally used this product but it sound like it is worth a try.>
12. My tank temp is currently around 78/80...I was told that I should slowly
turn it up to a higher degree, is this true?...if so, how high?. and for how
long? would the temp raise effect the dwarf catfish?
< You water temp is fine.>
14.Last, but not least, this is a algae question. The new tank is already
developing algae on the bottom, plastic plants, and a tad on the glass. I
cleaned it out yesterday during water change and added some algae kill. What is
the best way to keep a hand on algae. I have been told live plants, weekly
doses of algae kill, etc?
< Algae is the result of excessive nutrients combined with light. I prefer to
try and keep the nitrogenous wastes under control and deal with a little algae
on the glass and plants.>
Thanks for taking your time to read all of this. I am truly appreciative. I
know Oscars aren't high dollar fish like salt fish, but they still look
great when they are healthy. This fish looks healthy color wise on the sides
now,
and I would like to keep him that way if possible. I know there is nothing I
can do about his face. I had a pair of my own Oscars 25 years ago, and they
never had a problem. Hell, from about 5 inches on, they didn't even have a
heater in their tanks. Just heat from lights. They both lived around 6 to 8
years, and were large healthy fish. However, that was many years ago. I just
want to be able to help this one live as long and healthy as possible.
Hopefully, whoever replaces me here at some point won't have to deal
with treatment of
the Oscar because it will be healthy and well.
< Your hard work on treating this Oscar is to be commended. Others would have
simply tossed him and got another. At least this way you and others reading this
may be able to save another cichlid.-Chuck>
Thanks a lot for your time,
John
Re: Oscar with HLLE
Chuck,
This is another letter in regards to the Oscar I am taking care of at
work. Thanks for your help so far. Just a few more questions.
1. I found some liquid multi vitamin, but it is berry flavored for taste.
Can I still add this to his food, or should I get pill form and dissolve in
warm
water?< Neither, Go to
Drsfostersmith.com and get a bottle of Vita-Chem.>
2. Should I try to add Metronidazole, Cichlid Vital, ph Lower at the same
time or different days?<The Metronidazole and cichlid vital could be added now
and modify the pH with the water you replace doing the water changes.>
3. How long and often should I treat the Oscar with the above medication?
i.e.. once a week for a month, every other week for 2 months, etc...
<Follow the directions on the packages. The disease may be gone but the healing
will take time.>
4. I also have some multi-vitamin enriched Krill, Is it all right to feed
him that?< That would help.-Chuck>
Thank for your help,
John
Oscar with Hole in the Head
I take care of an Oscar at work. It was left too long in a 30 gallon tank
with terrible water conditions. It developed HLLE. Since then, I have moved it
to a 55 gallon tank (about 1 1/2 months ago). The sores/holes look a lot
better, but a couple of small new one have developed. The new tank has 0
ammonia...0 nitrite.....15/20 nitrate....about 8ph. I have read various
articles on
yours and other pages on HLLE, yours seems like the best. I have a few
questions
I would like to ask you if possible.
1. At our local fish store, they told me that HLLE is caused by a form of
worm. They sold me some product called PraziPro...it is meant to cure fish with
Flukes, tapeworms, etc...is this good for HLLE as well?
< No.>
2. You mentioned that iodine is good for HLLE, do you mean the type that
comes in a liquid form? If so, how many drops per serving?
< Tetra cichlid vital has iodine in it. Use at the recommended dose on the
bottle.>
3. You also mentioned about vitamins...How should this be administered, and
what particular vitamins should be used?
< The best way to administer vitamins is to take some fish pellets and soak the
pellets in the vitamins. When you feed the fish they will ingest the vitamins.
If you simply put them in the water then the carbon will simply remove them.>
4. What other suggestion would you make since I am rather new at this?
< Lots of water changes with r/o water, to at least the pH down to neautral(7).
Good quality food, and some live food too. Service the filter often and treat
with Metronidazole and vacuum the gravel every other water change.-Chuck>
Thank you very much,
John
HLLE, Oscars
If there is any way could you describe or send a picture of hole in the head or
both thanks
< Hole in the head sometimes starts out as a white pimple around the forehead
area. The pimple and puss disappear and a clear void is left behind. Eventually
the holes continue and progress to the point to where the eyes. skull or gills
become affected and the fish die.-Chuck>
Hole in Severum
hello please bear with me as I ask this question as I am new to this
ok I have a 55 gallon tank with a Severum in it that looks like an Oscar I have
a smaller version of him as well and two cat fish ones a shark like and the
other looks black velvet
and one jaguar cichlid now they have been awesome since January
recently like oh maybe month or 6 weeks ago I added the jaguar
now my problem
my bigger Severum has these little holes that look like pinholes behind his
right eye and on the left eye tonight I noticed a larger hole behind it
the one behind the left eye is probably 7 mm in diameter and the ones behind the
right eye are problem 1-2 mm and there's like 5-6 of them in a row like someone
poked him with a safety pin
now he's my baby and I'm new to the whole fish tank thing (I'm 34) love the
aquarium its my little place to watch another world and so far so good till this
can you please advise me on what this may be
the only thing new to my tank in the past 6-8 months are 2 things
one the new jaguar who is maybe 3 inches
and my BioWheel has kind of stopped spinning but I mess with it so it runs
probably 12 of the 24 hours a day still filters water it just the wheel that
doesn't turn
I feed the fish the normal medium sized pellet food and also treat them to
frozen brine shrimp 3-6 times a week and also add feeder fish regularly and they
eat em up
so please help and I hope I gave enough info
look forward to your response soon before anything goes awry
thanks
Dan
<Do a 30% water change and clean the filter. Take it all apart and rinse
everything off very thoroughly and reassemble it. It should be working fine with
the wheel continuously turning. Vacuum the gravel when you do your water change
to remove all the stuff that has accumulated there. The hole-in-the head disease
your fish has does not have a specific cure. There are many medications that say
they cure it but none so far have been found to be guaranteed. This condition is
associated with poor water quality or a vitamin deficiency. Regular weekly
maintenance and a varied diet should help. Try some washed earthworms instead of
the feeder goldfish.-Chuck>
Dan Gies
