EBJD plague

[Exile]

Hi, my poor EBJDs have been stricken with some illusive illness.

It started when I bought some Syndonotis Petricolas....

They die one at a time. Every couple of days one will start breathing heavy and become much lighter in color, and the gills turn white. Within 24 hours it dies. This has been going on for weeks now... I've done a buncha water changes, checked the parameters, quit using the flake food in case it was tainted.
I've lost over half of my EBJDs which are about 2inches in length. Also lost 3 out of the 4 Syndo's, all 3 of which died within hours of eachother. The 4rth is fine, for now.
I have also been treating the tank with Melafix for the last 5 days. Just lost another EBJD despite it...
55gal

Please advise, I assume it's something internal...There are no physical symptoms prior to them showing lightness in color and white gills.

 

[Chicklette]

First what are your water parameters exactly? Ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/ph
How often do you clean the tank?
What size tank?
Is their any white stringy poop?
Any white dots on the fish? Ick
Any flashing? Rubbing on rocks
Are they eating?

 

[Andrewtfw]

Sounds like it is either gill flukes or protozoan. If it is protozoan, "quick cure" will work, but a uv sterilizer with qucik cure will work faster. If it is gill flukes, fluke tabs would be the med of choice. Either one of these parasites will suffocate your fish over time.

 

[NixMix]

Good luck getting this resolved quickly. Please keep us posted. Do you have any pics of the affected fish, dead or alive?

 

[Aquanero]

What is the temp in the tank? It sounds like they are suffocating. Try airating the tank with and air stone or if not available low the water level a couple of inchs so there is increased agatation at the surface.

 

[Exile]

Just did a WC today and added salt. No longer treating with melafix. The Nitrates were about 10ppm before i did the WC. They eat just fine until they become symptomatic. There's plenty of oxygen in the tank, I have a 6inch diameter air stone, not to mention a 350gph filter agitating the surface. Temp : 82'F
I bought some API General Cure anti-parasitic meds... I think I am going to give this a try...
Here are some recent pics...two different fish, 2nd pic is of the lightest one atm who may become the next victim.