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Hi everyone this is my first time on here and I here that you all are very helpful. So I hope you can help... heres the problem... I have a 20gallon tank with 3 tiger barbs all a little more that an inch long and a rainbow shark thats around 4 inches long. Ive tried to do some reaserch on whats wrong but i never get a good answer nor did I get a way to treat them. Let just say right now my fish are extremly unhappy and i feel really bad!!!



Problems:

1. rainbow shark has a cloudy spot on its back were there doesnt seem to be scales just a cloudy spot.

2. all four fish rub there bodies on anything possible. Which as time goes by the intensity of the scatching is inrcreasing.

3. all fish especially my barbs hide from the light when ever its on.( atleast thats what i think there doing, cause when i think about it they dont come out from hidding from in the plants that much until its time to eat or sleep.) So i figured that id get a lower watt bulb, i had a 25 natural daylight that came with the tank but now its a 15 watt high intensity which the Petsmart lady suggested and gave to me.

4. which leads me to the barbs staying in the corner with fins clamped to the side.

5. my rainbow shark and 1 of my barbs cant stay straight, they tilt if they stay still.

6.My rainbow sharks colorations has lightened...not drastically but he used to be a darker green and now hes a lighter green type of color.

7. my tiger barbs have this shinyness to there scales which i think means there stressed.

8. i no that tiger barbs are known for nipping so maybe thats why they have rips and chunks missing out of there fins.

9. they (tiger barbs most of the time and shark every now and then) also breath rapidly which i no is bad, ive tried water changes and plants to add oxygen but no cigar.

10. one tiger barbs has raised scales towards the back fin

11. one tiger barb has some type of redness toward the top fin

12.lastly my rainbow shark sometimes sits on the bottom like hes stuned or dead with fins clamped sometimes and not sometimes.


I know it seems like alot and im a bad fish mom but im just mentioning every concen ive seen and read bits and peices about. I have know clue if it makes a difference that i got the fish (tiger barbs about a month ago) from petsmart and (rainbowshark about 6 months ago) from petco. I dont have a kit yet because of expensise. Im trying to get one as soon as possilbe though(no later than a week or so). You may not be able to help my but any leads in the right direction would be most appricited. I really dont want my fish to pass away especailly my shark cause ive had him so long.

Thanks SO SO SO SO SO much,

sharkmama

p.s. things that ive heard is something called Hypoxia, hyplesia, inappetinece, and lethargy but have not been told what they are or how to treat thim.

also i have a regular20gallon, aquaclear 20 and top fin 20 filter, with the temp. around 80 degrees.

Hi,
There are books about fish diseases that are inches thick!

Here is a link to various "common" fish diseases that might
help you resolve the problem(s).

http://www.pondenterprises.com/disease/diseases.html

Please note that the common denominators for nearly all of
them is stress and poor water quality.

To avoid disease in your main tank, have a QT tank
available and put ALL new fish in it for about a month
before transferring them to the main tank. And, be sure
to slowly acclimate the new fish the the new tank water.

Be sure to regularly (weekly) change out 10-20% of the
main tank's water and at the same time vacuum clean any
unplanted areas of the tank.

Hope this helps...

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Sounds like you have a few things going on, mainly an internal thing. Throw in some tetracycline and remove any carbon you may have while treating. Color loss is due to stress....

HTH




***************************************
Just one more tank........

Frank has given you some excellent advice on where to look for help.
Now what caused these problems?
If you dont have any test equipment I strongly suggest you take a good water sample to your local LFS.

A few questions, How often and what percentage do you change the water? Filtration type, size also cleaning program?
Airation do you have any at all?

For any stress related problems Melafix is always a good product.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
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I think that your fish may have skin slime disease , and possibly a touch of whitespot too. Check your local lfs for medications to treat these, and make sure the meds are compatible or an all in one solution. Remember to clean the tank before using them, and again after, possibly using carbon filtration to remove the meds after treatment.

Its possible that these diseases have been with the fish some time, but water conditions may be making compromising their immune systems, so make sure the ammonia levels are checked, (they should be zero), and that the tank is cycling normally, and that you do the neccessary water changes.

See what you can find at your lfs, and if you need some consultation on the brands you wih to use, we can help with that too. Basically the thing to do is get out there and get started on the treatments and modifications to your hygiene regimen , and not to sit in a state looking for too much advice before acting.Start with what we have told you and go to it. A good pet store owner might be able to guide you in the right direction once in the store. The quicker you start narrowing down the possibilities the better. Time is a factor, and you must do what you can.

Good luck.