Sick SAE and others - please help

Vinlo · 08-31-2006, 02:16 AM

A few weeks ago one of my rainbows died, I didn't think much of it - chalked it up to old age. About 4 days later another one died. I pulled out a couple of Harlequin Rasboras because they didn't look too healthy. I went to to a WC this week and pulled out 2 more SAEs. Feeding the fish tonight I noticed one more of the SAE looking really bad. And a rasbora with a similar condition. I took a photo but can not seem to access anywhere (my ftps or anything) to post it.. so here is a description.

<edit> I got the photo going.. thanks Planted Tank!

I guess the description looks like the fish is rotting away on the body, the scales are all raw and white I can see some red in there too between a couple of scales. The fins look all in tact, so I have kind of thought no to fin rot. It also doesn't really look like ich, no white dots.. it just looks worn out or decaying (?).

I tested the water, ph6.6, nirite 0, ammonia 0, didn't check No3 or Po4 since I add them with the EI.

Any help is greatly appreciated, I have lost too many fish in too short of time to chalk it up to anything other some type of disease/illness.

adamjh · 08-31-2006, 05:20 AM

Definitely some kind of infection. I don't have enough experience to know whether it would be fungal or bacterial based on your info. Erythromycin might not be a bad place to start. But let's see what others here say.

TINNGG · 08-31-2006, 12:59 PM

What's in your tank? Any openings a fish might almost get caught in? Anything that might be showing aggression?

I noticed an "off" spot on one of my SAEs but since it acts otherwise healthy and is one of the largest ones in the tank, I suspect it either almost got stuck somewhere or got in a scuffle.

Vinlo · 08-31-2006, 01:27 PM

Not much to get stuck in. A heater and and inflow for the filter. Some drift wood, but it is completely covered with Java Fern/Bolbitis so I can't really tell if there are places to get stuck. No other fish in there that would fight it.

I wouldn't really think much of it, but this is the 5th large fish that has died in a month.

I'll try the Erythromycin. Can't hurt, right?

adamjh · 08-31-2006, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinlo

I'll try the Erythromycin. Can't hurt, right?

Well, it may kill off some beneficial bacteria . . . but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Vinlo · 08-31-2006, 07:29 PM

Should I follow up with anything afterwards? Aside from a water change?

adamjh · 08-31-2006, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinlo

Should I follow up with anything afterwards? Aside from a water change?

No, I would just follow the directions and then do a water change after the treatment timecourse.

Vinlo · 09-02-2006, 06:57 PM

Well, I am on the third day of treatment. The SAE in the picture is dead and now my water is starting to get pretty CLOUDY. Is this normal?

adamjh · 09-02-2006, 11:15 PM

How long is the treatment supposed to be?

Vinlo · 09-03-2006, 02:01 AM

5 days, so 2 more doses.

I checked my ammonia and nitrite levels, everything is check. I also scoured the net, just seems to be a side effect of the maracyn.

adamjh · 09-03-2006, 02:12 AM

Yeah, the cloudy water is probably just a side effect maracyn (haven't ever used it myself). I would give it a couple more days and then re-assess. How are your survivor fish looking? How about the platns?

Vinlo · 09-03-2006, 01:25 PM

The one fish that looked bad (and is still living), looked better yesterday. All the other fish seem more active, but maybe my mind is playing tricks on me.

Plants are doing great.

Thanks for all your help.

08-31-2006, 02:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
Vinlo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 710	Sick SAE and others - please help A few weeks ago one of my rainbows died, I didn't think much of it - chalked it up to old age. About 4 days later another one died. I pulled out a couple of Harlequin Rasboras because they didn't look too healthy. I went to to a WC this week and pulled out 2 more SAEs. Feeding the fish tonight I noticed one more of the SAE looking really bad. And a rasbora with a similar condition. I took a photo but can not seem to access anywhere (my ftps or anything) to post it.. so here is a description. <edit> I got the photo going.. thanks Planted Tank! I guess the description looks like the fish is rotting away on the body, the scales are all raw and white I can see some red in there too between a couple of scales. The fins look all in tact, so I have kind of thought no to fin rot. It also doesn't really look like ich, no white dots.. it just looks worn out or decaying (?). I tested the water, ph6.6, nirite 0, ammonia 0, didn't check No3 or Po4 since I add them with the EI. Any help is greatly appreciated, I have lost too many fish in too short of time to chalk it up to anything other some type of disease/illness. __________________ 30 Gallon Planted - 2-T8 ODNO, AC300, HP CO2, Fluorite/Gravel 55 Gallon Planted - 4-T8 ODNO, XP3, HP CO2, Fluorite

08-31-2006, 05:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
adamjh Just call me Adam (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 155	Definitely some kind of infection. I don't have enough experience to know whether it would be fungal or bacterial based on your info. Erythromycin might not be a bad place to start. But let's see what others here say. __________________ 75 gal: 4x55w PC, 2 inches Fluorite topped with 1 inch gravel, 20lb. pressurized CO2 with AquaMedic 1000 reactor, several plant species, cory cats, otos, SAEs, and large school of cardinal tetras Last edited by adamjh; 09-02-2006 at 11:16 PM.

08-31-2006, 12:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
TINNGG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NE Tennessee Posts: 493	What's in your tank? Any openings a fish might almost get caught in? Anything that might be showing aggression? I noticed an "off" spot on one of my SAEs but since it acts otherwise healthy and is one of the largest ones in the tank, I suspect it either almost got stuck somewhere or got in a scuffle. __________________ My mind is aglow with trancient nodes of thought, careening through a cosmic vapor of invention - Hedley Lamar

08-31-2006, 01:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
Vinlo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 710	Not much to get stuck in. A heater and and inflow for the filter. Some drift wood, but it is completely covered with Java Fern/Bolbitis so I can't really tell if there are places to get stuck. No other fish in there that would fight it. I wouldn't really think much of it, but this is the 5th large fish that has died in a month. I'll try the Erythromycin. Can't hurt, right? __________________ 30 Gallon Planted - 2-T8 ODNO, AC300, HP CO2, Fluorite/Gravel 55 Gallon Planted - 4-T8 ODNO, XP3, HP CO2, Fluorite

08-31-2006, 07:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
Vinlo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 710	Should I follow up with anything afterwards? Aside from a water change? __________________ 30 Gallon Planted - 2-T8 ODNO, AC300, HP CO2, Fluorite/Gravel 55 Gallon Planted - 4-T8 ODNO, XP3, HP CO2, Fluorite

09-02-2006, 06:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
Vinlo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 710	Well, I am on the third day of treatment. The SAE in the picture is dead and now my water is starting to get pretty CLOUDY. Is this normal? __________________ 30 Gallon Planted - 2-T8 ODNO, AC300, HP CO2, Fluorite/Gravel 55 Gallon Planted - 4-T8 ODNO, XP3, HP CO2, Fluorite

09-02-2006, 11:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
adamjh Just call me Adam (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 155	How long is the treatment supposed to be? __________________ 75 gal: 4x55w PC, 2 inches Fluorite topped with 1 inch gravel, 20lb. pressurized CO2 with AquaMedic 1000 reactor, several plant species, cory cats, otos, SAEs, and large school of cardinal tetras

09-03-2006, 02:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
Vinlo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 710	5 days, so 2 more doses. I checked my ammonia and nitrite levels, everything is check. I also scoured the net, just seems to be a side effect of the maracyn. __________________ 30 Gallon Planted - 2-T8 ODNO, AC300, HP CO2, Fluorite/Gravel 55 Gallon Planted - 4-T8 ODNO, XP3, HP CO2, Fluorite

09-03-2006, 02:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
adamjh Just call me Adam (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 155	Yeah, the cloudy water is probably just a side effect maracyn (haven't ever used it myself). I would give it a couple more days and then re-assess. How are your survivor fish looking? How about the platns? __________________ 75 gal: 4x55w PC, 2 inches Fluorite topped with 1 inch gravel, 20lb. pressurized CO2 with AquaMedic 1000 reactor, several plant species, cory cats, otos, SAEs, and large school of cardinal tetras

09-03-2006, 01:25 PM	#12 (permalink)
Vinlo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 710	The one fish that looked bad (and is still living), looked better yesterday. All the other fish seem more active, but maybe my mind is playing tricks on me. Plants are doing great. Thanks for all your help. __________________ 30 Gallon Planted - 2-T8 ODNO, AC300, HP CO2, Fluorite/Gravel 55 Gallon Planted - 4-T8 ODNO, XP3, HP CO2, Fluorite

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Advertisements
Get Rid of Advertisements