GGrrrrrr...fish!

[LMarts]

I came down this am and what do I see in my 55 G? Why 4 dead Glofish and 1 dead Yo Yo, and small white spots on all 3 Mollies. GGGrrrrr!!!! I just did a water change on Sunday, cleaned the glass (not much on it, just a little smutz), cleaned 1 filter ( have 2 30-60 Bio wheel HOB), and trimmed back a few scraggly plants. Everything was great, crystal clear water, bright happy energetic fish. Then this. GGGrrrrr. Did a 50% water change, changed the filter pads, took the Mollies out and put them in the QT. So, the Mollies are in the 5 G QT with a heater, filter, and some salt. I put some Melafix and Pimafix in with them. Can anyone think of what else I should do? The white is on the white is on their mouths and body and fins...doesn't look like Ick though. Can't give a pic, my camera is broken. What about the main tank? Don't know what to do there. Can't see anything on the Glofish, but they are so bright. And then there is the Yo Yo..can't put most meds in with him, right? Arrgg, not a good day!!

 

[TabMorte]

Did you forget to put in water conditioner?
Did you call your company to find out if they're shocking the water with cholrine?

 

[LMarts]

No, I always remember the water conditioner.

 

[TabMorte]

You may still want to put a call into the water company and make sure they weren't 'shocking' your water which happens a lot around this time of year. Contamination of some kind is the only thing I can think of that can other wise healthy fish that fast.

Are the white spots on the mollies raised or indented? Are they fuzzy looking or flat?

 

[LMarts]

But it was on Sunday that I had last done the water change, and the fish were fine until I came down this am.

 

[LMarts]

Oh and they kind of looked slightly raised. Not fuzzy, fuzzy, but not just white scales either.

 

[TabMorte]

I've never kept loaches, I'm told they're sensitive to meds but I'm not sure which ones. Some one who knows them will need to weigh in there.

Sorry! SOund like you're doing the right then by seperating the ones with symptoms out.

 

[LMarts]

I'm sorry to be snappish...just very frustrated right now...doesn't help things that my 2 year old wants to "help". I've tested the water again, and the ammonia is now through the roof...WTH is going on? Everything was perfect on Sunday. So far the remaining Glofish and the Yo Yo seem to be doing fine. Moving all over and playing in the plants. The Yo Yo is even searching for food. The Mollies are still just hanging out, but they don't seem too stressed out.

 

[TabMorte]

You may have a dead fish in there that you haven't found yet. That would cause an ammonia spike.



And I understand the frusteration and the 'helpful' toddler.

If you have access to the water conditioner, Prime, it will help to neutralize some of the ammonia until you can get a handle on it. Water changes and lots of cleaning are in order sadly.

 

[LMarts]

I put in som Ammo Lock. I don't want to do another water change until at least tomorrow, right? I just did one a few hours ago.

 

[LMarts]

And , no there are no more dead fish in there at this time. I only had 10 Glofish (removed 4 dead ones, and have 6 left swimming), 2 Yo Yos..removed 1, and the 3 Mollies..which I put in QT.

 

[iapetus]

How fuzzy is not fuzzy, fuzzy?

Have you researched flexibacter columnaris? It's what I normally think of when I hear mollies + white fuzzy spots that aren't ich. There's a good article at Aquamaniacs (another forum and I don't think we're supposed to directly link to other fora).

The ammonia is an interesting clue. I don't know if it's directly related to the problem though; I wonder if it isn't just a result of the decay from the other fish.

Sorry I didn't come across this thread earlier.

 

[LMarts]

Well..to be technical...not fuzzy, fuzzy means that it isn't smooth, crystal like or fluffy fungusy like either. I read about Flexobacter, and it does seem like that, but I can't find any pictures of it. I already have Melafix and Pimafix in the water with the Mollies...do I need to change the water/add carbon to get that out before treating with the Maroxy twins?

 

[iapetus]

That's a good question. I dunno. But, if it is flexobacter, I'd think that the sooner you start them on Maracyn, the better. Perhaps a water change and then some Maracyn? But, I'd try to convince myself that it is flex first, if you can.

 

[LMarts]

I found a good site, with alot of info Flexibacter-Columnaris; The proper aquarium treatment vs. true fungus

 

[iapetus]

Thanks for posting that! There is a lot of useful information under the "Aquarium Information" link on that site! *thumbsups

 

[LMarts]

OK, GGGrrrrr again. I looked in my 20 G this afternoon, and there were 3 dead tetras on the filter intake. The Silver Dollars all have some fin fraying, and 1 of the small ones has a hazy over its eye!! The Gourami looks fine and happy. The Rafeal is stuck in a rock. WTF!!! Not a good day. Now what do I do?

 

[TabMorte]

*hugs LMarts* It sounds like you're having a really rough week.

I wish I knew what to tell you!

 

[iapetus]

LMarts, is there anything visibly wrong with the tetras? Were any of their fins frayed or anything?

Yeah, sounds like things aren't going very well. We're here for you!

 

[LMarts]

I wish I could say that I saw something with the tetras, but just that morning, they were acting fine. I found them late in the afternoon, so I have no idea how long they were on the intake. They looked like they had some scales coming off, but that was probably from the filter sucking on them for awhile. Gourami still looks and acts fine, Rafeal is still hiding in the tiny rock, but the 3 Silver Dollars look worse. The large one and one of the small ones both have a haze over their left eyes..kind of looks like a cataract, and all of them have more severe fin fraying today. I put in some Melafix and Pimafix when I first saw the issues, and just put in some triple sulfa powder. Carbon is out of the filter, airstone is going, temp is 78, water is all good....I am so tired of this already!!