Kinbote Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 I got some cardinal tetras from Bird Barn Henderson today, and perhaps stupidly went to check the driftwood while the employee caught them since I was in a hurry. When I got them back home and into the tank, it was immediately obvious that one was pretty sick, constantly gasping and just drifting around on the current, eventually tumbling and spinning. The blue band that runs down the side didn't go all the way because the body was a yellowish colour starting from the tail and extending nearly halfway up the body. I took it out [so to speak] but I see that another one also has a smaller yellowish area starting from the tail and was starting to separate from the others. I have no idea about cardinal tetra diseases, although it sounds a bit like NTD. I'll call Bird Barn tomorrow, but what should I do in the mean time? Don't want them all dying. I've attached a fairly bad photo but it should give some impression of the yellow colouring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Bacterial by the looks of it. When water conditions are poor, the fish tend to rot away almost! Keep their water clean, and keep the water changes up. If things don't shape up, dose with furan. Instructions are on the packet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinbote Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 I think my water's pretty fine, and I don't want to infect the fish I already have. Think I should return the whole batch to Bird Barn or is it already too late, contamination wise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 The fish may have been fine when it was caught and the stress of getting it home was just too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 I don't think the fish would go downhill that fast it looks like it has been rotting away for a while.. I would talk to the birdbarn first and see what they will do to help you out, I am sure if you are reasonable they will sort it out. I would be pushing to return the affected fish and get a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinbote Posted January 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 The stress of travel might have made them worse, but they were definitely sick when they arrived. One was half yellow and floating around on the current, and another (in the photo) was quarter yellow. It's partly my fault for not paying enough attention to them in the Bird Barn's tank and not paying enough attention to the employee, but I assumed he'd be a better judge of fish health than me. I'd seen one near-dead fish in their tank but didn't worry much since it seems pretty common, but I think that was one of the ones they gave me. By this morning three were dead, and couple more looked like they had very fine, feathery, fungus-like growth. I took them all back to the shop and got store credit, and they said if my own fish showed any signs of sickness in the next couple of days to let them know and they'd deal with it, so I guess that's the best I can hope for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Very good outcome. That sort of disease does not develop in a matter of minutes, and I think the store acknowledged that very well. I love cardinals. I have 50 now. Getting numbers up to 100+ in a matter of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Thats a good response from the pet shop. Hopefully none of your fish will become infected. It does however show the need to keep fish newly purchased in a seperate tank for around 4 weeks. Unfortunately a lot of people do not have a spare tank or know about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinbote Posted January 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Thats a good response from the pet shop. Hopefully none of your fish will become infected. It does however show the need to keep fish newly purchased in a seperate tank for around 4 weeks. Unfortunately a lot of people do not have a spare tank or know about this. Yeah, it's good of them. Would have been better if they hadn't sold me sick fish in the first place, but that's partly my own fault for not watching enough. I have a quarantine tank but unfortunately it's what I'm keeping all (15 of) my fish in at the moment until the big tank's ready to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Good work birdbarn, it is a shame that they couldn't have spotted the sick fish early but at least they are standing by their fish and doing the right thing.. Stores are only as good as who supplies them sometimes and we tend to get some rubbish imported into NZ at times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinbote Posted January 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Good work birdbarn, it is a shame that they couldn't have spotted the sick fish early but at least they are standing by their fish and doing the right thing.. Stores are only as good as who supplies them sometimes and we tend to get some rubbish imported into NZ at times The employee who caught the fish for me was pretty, um, what's an innocuous sounding euphemism for stoned... :facepalm: As long as my current fish don't get sick I'll be happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinbote Posted January 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2011 Found one of my rosy tetras dead; stomach was yellow and slightly bloated, similar to the dying cardinals but not identical. I haven't had a lot of experience with dead fish; is the yellowing normal or does it suggest it had the same disease as the cardinals? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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