xxdarnixx Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 ok ive bred some lovely blondes and my tanks have been healthy for ages now suddenly out of a tank of about 50+ fish 3 of my 7 blondes have died!!! and some others are showing symptoms,im so gutted as i was just getting some beautifull fish. here are symptoms : partial paralysis,it seems as if the lower end gets affected slightly redened gills breathing faster some seem to float and are unable to right themselves die after 24 hours of starting symptoms also seems to be attacking my blondes!!!! ph is fine just checking the rest now but has been fine for the last week as ive done constant checks after the first two died going to pet shop tommorow to see what they say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Hard to say, my first thoughts are toxins and/or lack of O2 but the acute onset and locomotor difficulties more likely suggest toxic fungi or bacterial sepsis. If it is something like columnaris bacteria, the treatment is SMZ-TMP (sulfa trimeth antibiotics). It is common, cheap and effective but you will need a prescription for it. In the mean time, I would rescue these fish by putting them in some clean, well oxygenated, warm water with an added antiseptic like acriflavine, Melafix or just salt if you have nothing else. Quick action and good supportive care can make all the difference sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k1w1y2k Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 If you add salt, use non iodised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxdarnixx Posted March 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 thanks,im setting up a hospital tank now will leave it to warm up and then add them,ive added salt (aquarium salt) untill i can get to the pet store tommorow willl take some water samples down too to see if they can find anything i have missed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Regular water changes will help. (daily) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Iodised salt is fine. The amounts aquarists use work out to part of a part per million. The toxicity of iodine on fish is unknown, so there is no scientific backing for not using it. Iodide is used as a disinfectant for trout eggs at a rate of 100ppm. Uniodised sea salt is naturally 0.2ppm. I would think a bigger concern would be the grain size of 'aquarium salt' meaning that 1tsp of that weighs less that 1tsp of normal salt. Long but compulsory article on the uses and myths of salt in the aquarium: http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/salt.shtml Sorry about your disease, Darni. I have seen fish go like that before and have no idea why. I have generally suspected to to be a massive stress thing, who who knows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 My only concern with using iodised salt is not the iodine but the added anti cakeing agent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Interesting you should say that kiwiplymouth as I too thought that was the reason you should not use the iodised salt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 The anticaking agents are perfectly safe but they do produce an unattractive sludge. However, in the amounts that you would use in a freshwater hospital tank, you would be unlikely to notice anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxdarnixx Posted March 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 ive found the culprit!!! went down to the petshop today to get meds and she said there have been heaps of aquriam owners comming in with fish showing 1st paralysis then dying and it is caused by phospherous,im kicking myself because i had the same prob this time last year and got it treated but this time symptoms where slightly different and so thought it was something else. i have now treated the tank with phospherous remover and so far the fish that have been affected are looking good i did lose my huuuuuuuuggggeeee blonde girl tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 As I said before, I would not be surprised if it were a toxin due to the acute onset of symptoms and the fact that multiple fish were affected but I question the phosphorus theory. Phosphorus comes in many forms but the type found in tanks (due to decomposing organic matter and such) is not toxic to fish even at pretty high levels - of course anything is toxic at a high enough level but if that much phosphorus is in your water I would think there would be a public health alert. Of course there could be fertiliser run off, were they referring to organophosphate poisoning? If so, the aquarium phosphate absorbers will not work well if at all. It might be worth searching out a better water source. Anyway, I am glad your fish are doing better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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