Opinions please

Mikeshonda750f · 03-17-2007, 10:45 PM

Hi everyone, I wont beat around the bush here. I have a 45 gallon freshwater tank. HAD 3 Angelfish, 2 cory Cats, 2 Irridescent's, 2 Banjo Cats, 2 Bloodfin tetras, a spotted raphel catfish, and a couple small tetras.

The tank was neglected over time, but the fish maintained well (im talking months without a partial water change).

2 Weeks ago, i noticed the right eye on my male angel was clouded over and swollen up. I figured they were fighting (beacuse they usually lay egges and fight over who protects them), and he became injured as such. Thismorning I noticed, the cloud was gone from his right eye and it looked halfway normal.. but his left eye was clouded over and he was blind and unable to eat. Another angel was spotted with this same problem but still had a good eye... the 3rd was ok.

I did a partial water change, left and came home a few hours later to discover the 3 angels laying dead at the bottom of the tank, and ALL the other fish covered with what looked exactly like ICH. (except the spotted raph)

Appearantly, whatever had overcome the tank quickly finished off everything but the spotted raphel catfish.

My biggest concern isnt really the fish dieing... i had the tank for years now... its part of owning them (loosing fish... even all of them... which has never happened to me) but WHAT killed them??

My concern draws back to my own health. After digging around in the tank getting all the crap emptied out of it, i realized a small cut on my had i got today at work... and after reading about FISH TB.. part of me is horrified at the though that i have contracted some sort of virus/infection.. yet another site i read said only marine fish carrying TB can transmit to humans.. not freshwater variteies such as mine.

What do you think? Should i sit here watching my hands and feet waiting for an outbreak.. or dismiss the idea of being infected and finish cleaning the mess i made?

thank you

gm333 · 03-17-2007, 10:59 PM

Generally signs of TB in fish are curvature of the spine. I had a dempsey and severum suffer from this disease. I didnt realize what it was till after having my hands, arms, in the tank. I didnt have any problems, but humans can sometimes contract the disease as well although it is rare. Here is a good article on fish TB and symptoms in humans who contract it. http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/...er_FishTB.html

Mikeshonda750f · 03-18-2007, 10:39 AM

Thanks for the info. I read something similar which is what made me grow concerned.

None of the fish had were deformed. Im wondering if it was just a horrible case of ICH, due to the very poor water quality which was ovbiously just getting worse.. and the 20%water change i made before work just spun things off by stirring up bactiera and causing the fish to become more stressed. I have read pop-eye is often a symptom in fish who have ich in poor water quality cases?