Ugh! Sick fish..

[Fancypants]

I'm sure all of you knowledgable people out there have answered this type of question many times before, but I haven't the time to sift through threads for the info I need. I've got a couple of green tiger barbs with a rather large "white-ish" looking patch on one side just behind their fins (white-ish where there used to be colour). One in particular occasionally swims awkwardly upside down for a moment or two. What's up?? I am supposed to go away for the weekend!!

 

[TLH]

If you could get a photo it would be helpful.If it just looks as if the pigment has disappeared it could be Neon Tetra Disease(Plistaphora).If it's tufty it's fungus and if it's sort of grey it could be a slime fungus.It could also be Costia or Trichodina which are parasitic infestations.

 

[Fancypants]

Hmm... Well I recently introduced a number of tetras (gold) into the tank, so parhaps it could be the first disease you mentioned.

 

[MaryPa]

Did you quarentine the new fish before adding them to the tank?

 

[Fancypants]

No that's one thing I have never done. I do not add the LFS water into my tank, but I do not go so far as to quarantine them. But the tetras seem fine anyway. Just the tiger barbs are affected

 

[Lotus]

Take a look through the pics here to help you work out what it is: http://www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html

 

[TLH]

I do not add the LFS water into my tank, but I do not go so far as to quarantine them.

If you're adding the fish straight off you may aswell add the water aswell.
Ideally you will hang the bag in the tank to equalise the temperature and then slowly mix the tank water with the bag water so as to equalise PH levels slowly.
Chasing them about and stuff so as you avoid adding the water will just cause unnecessary stress.

 

[Fancypants]

What jumps out at me is the write up on Fish TB skin infection. The photos are condusive, and the symptoms seem to match... Cripes! It mentions frequent water changes.. anything else?

 

[Lotus]

You might want to have a look at this, too: http://www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm

It sounds like you need to start treating ASAP.