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Hi all

I am experiencing some unexplained deaths in the last couple of days. Last Saturday, I added 5 red eyed tetras and 3 platies to my existing community of 3 danios, 6 guppies, 2 swordtails and 3 platies. I did not quarantine them before hand. I also realize that I'm slightly overstocked for a 42G aquarium.

One of my new platies died on Thursday and another last night. They were sunset platies and it seemed to me that their gills were a little red. However, that could have been part of their colouring. I now have most of my older guppies that are breathing hard, seem to have swollen and red gills as well as all my platies and swordtails are demonstrating the same symptoms. Gill flukes perhaps?

My water parameters are:
ammonia 0
nitrIte 0
nitrAte barely 5
Water temp 26C

I perform 40 to 50% weekly water changes and vacuuming. I use Prime as my water conditioner and I add a little bit of Cycle after each water change. I just performed a 40% water change about 20 minutes ago and added 7 tablets of Maracyn-2.

Can anyone offer some insight to my problem please? THank you!


*Mitch*

This morning, 3 more guppies and 1 platy have died!!. My death toll since Thursday is now 6. It's got to be gill flukes. I have added another Maracyn-2 tablet. Can I expect my entire fish population to die from this? Any comments please???


*Mitch*

Gill flukes are difficult to diagnose as the symptoms have much in common with other diseases. Additionally, flukes are tiny and often can only be detected bu a gill sample and microscope.

Many aquarists routinely treat for gill flukes. The proper treatment is a 30 minute bath of potassium pemanganate or using fluke tabs. Maracyn or Maracyn-2 treat infections, not necessarily parasites. The course of medication is 5 days.





__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Thanks for replying Bob

What about Prazi-Pro? I've read that it's very effective in curing gill flukes.


*Mitch*

I would use the Prazi Pro before I would buy a sterilizer. Use it per the instructions...



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

I've ordered a small bottle of it. Thanks for all your help Bob.


*Mitch*

My entire tank is now dying. The meds I ordered will not make it here on time. I believe the culprits where the new platies and tetras I introduced a week ago. THe first to go where the new platies and now my entire livebearer population of guppies, swords and platies are dying. The danios and tetras are still hanging in. As previously stated the symptons were red, swollen gills, followed by gasping at the surface and some of the platies were doing "yawning" motions with their mouths. They also look as if they have been starved for a long period of time, although this wasting away look happens overnight. I have one danio now that appears to have 2 filaments coming from his mouth, almost like a catfish.

This was my very first aquarium and I loved each and everyone of my fish. I cannot tell you how disheartening this is. Apart from losing all my little guys, I am now faced with a complete teardown of the tank and starting all over, a process I'm not sure if I'm willing to do.


*Mitch*

Mitchee,

I am very sorry to read of the additional deaths.

It does appear that your fish have had some sort of parasitic infestation based on your statement about one of your danios of seeing

2 filaments coming from his mouth.

Since this was one of your original fish, I would think that the infestation preceded the addition of your new fish.

I would think that your initial deaths of the new fish were caused by stress and weakness as the fish were introduced to your aquarium. One or all of the fish may have carried a "bug" that they transmitted to your existing fish. The infection may have weakened the immune systems of the fish sufficiently for the parasites to overcome their hosts, your existing fish.

My only thoughts that might have helped you avoid this situation are that you might have treated your existing fish for parasites are a preventive measure and that you might have used a hospital tank to quarantine your new additions.

Neither of these comments are a criticism. I have never treated my fish for parasites although it is likely that they have the critters. I fully understand that many hobbyists do not have the luxury of keeping a hospital tank. The comments are provided only as "perfect world" comments.

Again, I recognize the pain that the deaths cause.



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Appreciate your comments Bob and I most certainly do not take anything as a negative criticism. I've learned a valuable lesson here. It's strange though that this original "cycling" danio of 8 months would infect all my fish now. Especially as the guppies,platies and swords were with him from almost the beginning too. Guess I'll never know.

I do have 2 questions for you though. If I do decide to start over, and I can assure you I will have a QT tank this time around, what types of meds should I pretreat my new additions with and how long would you recommend they stay in a QT tank?

Thanks so much!


*Mitch*

Personally , id go with sterazin,in conjunction with a good antiprotozoan, but there are many other meds that will suit. If this a larger species of parasite the breeding intervals can be from 2 weeks to 2 months, so I guess QT would have to be at least that long to ensure the treatment catches the next generation of parasites.

Thanks for your suggestions Longhairedgit! Unfortunately, I can't seem to find sterazin, however I was looking at perhaps Malachite Green or maybe some CopperSafe.


*Mitch*

Just to get this out there, danios do have small filaments which trail from their mouths. They are similar to catfish barbels; are these perhaps the things you saw on your danio? If that is the case, then the problem may not be parasites at all. I'm not much help when it comes to sick fish, but hopefully we can clarify and make sure there was no misdiagnosis. Treating the wrong problem can't help, especially at this stage.

Here is an image of what these barbels look like.

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

That's exactly what they look like sirbrooks! However, they are not always present. I tried to see if I could find them tonight and they're not there anymore!! I went out and bought a 10G tank tonight and I've transferred the remaining Tretras and Danios to that tank. I also had a 5G tank that I transferred the surviving guppies, platy and swordtail, another platy died this afternoon. Both tanks are being treated with Jungle's Parasite Guard as the Maracyn-2 wasn't doing anything. I'm hoping for the best, but expecting the worse.




*Mitch*

The whiskers can be tucked away against the head, and they become difficult to spot. This makes it look like they've disappeared, but they are still there.

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I'm wondering if there are diseases that are specific to livebearers only. Since I have moved my livebearers to one tank and my red eyed tetras and danios to a separate tank, only my livebearers are continuing to die off. The symptoms remain the same, red gills, followed by wasting away then death. I haven't lost any of my tetras or danios yet.

I'm currently treating the livebearer tank with Jungle's Internal Parasite Guard along with a 1/4 dose of Fluke Tabs.


*Mitch*