raneil

Hello all. I'm a newcomer here, having found this forum while searching for a solution to an infrequent, but recurring problem in my tank.

The Red Terror pictured below was purchased approximately two weeks ago. The dealer is reputable, and I've purchased many fish from him in the past -- usually with no problems. This fish appeared to be in perfect health; a fine specimen. Within a week, small white spots appeared between the scales. At first, they were no bigger than the head of a pin (like the one on the black stripe in these photos), but they quickly grew larger, pushing out his scales. These photos were taken just before I left for a 4-day vacation. When I returned, it was a mess. The spots had grown into a large vertical "sore" where the scales appeared to be rotting away. The fish has stopped eating, and is clearly in trouble. My experience with this in the past tells me he's as good as gone; but I'm not giving up hope just yet.

I'm told by the dealer that this is a parasite infestation. He's put the fish in a hospital tank, and begun treatment. He's not optimistic, given the advanced state of the infestation.

He is closed today, and now a small white spot (clearly the same thing) has appeared on another fish in the tank -- a pike cichlid that was also added to the tank at the same time, and also appears to be in excellent condition, otherwise.

I have seen this problem before, and CopperSafe (and one other anti-parasite medication that I don't recall) were completely ineffective. The fish were eventually "eaten alive" by this stuff -- it is nasty! I don't have access to a smaller tank to serve as a hospital tank, and medicating an entire 330-gallon tank (plus a half-full 40-gallon tank underneath serving as a filtration system) is EXPENSIVE! I don't mind spending a little money to fix the problem, but I can't afford to be wrong. This stuff spreads too quickly, and it is positively fatal.

All water quality readings appear normal, though the ph is a bit lower than normal (not much, though). Ammonia, nitrates/nitrites appear normal. No recent changes to the tank, aside from these new additions. Aside from these infrequent episodes that always seem to attack new additions to the tank, the tank appears very health -- and it has been for nearly 10 years.

I want to start medicating the rest of the tank immediately, but I'm not sure where to start -- and my dealer is closed today!

Suggestions, anyone?

mark razmandi

sounds like ich, but ich would not push out the scales...treat the whole tank with tetracycline, should solve the problem

raneil

Just thought I'd post a quick follow-up in case it may be of interest or help to someone else at some point.

I visited the dealer again yesterday. Surprisingly, the Red Terror appears to be responding quite well to the treatment, and the dealer is now rather optimistic that the fish will survive. He said he is treating it with some kind of very-high-potency prescription medication (a capful is used to treat a stock pond of 1 acre ) and antibiotics. The wound is still quite severe, and the fish is definitely not out of the woods yet, but there is undeniable improvement.

Meanwhile, the other fish in my tank at home seems to be improving as well. Until last night, all I had done there was add some aquarium salt to the tank. Two of the three small white spots on him had disappeared, and the third had not grown perceptibly. Still, I began treatment with Clout last night based upon my dealer's recommendation. No visible changes this morning, but it appears (at least for the moment) that we've managed to get this mess under control. Here's hoping....

ZeroSystem

Glad things seem to be getting better. That certainly sounds like some powerful medication the dealer is using! I've heard that Clout is also quite strong. I've heard someone once say that it'll either cure your fish or kill 'em! Sounds pretty extreme, and probably exaggerated to me though. Still I'd use it cautiously. I've personally only used the stuff a couple of times when I worked at a LFS. It worked well in curing the fish, but it did also stain the silicone and some of the fake decor a light blue.

mark razmandi

your best bet it raise temp and add salt