EMERGENCY - Please help me diagnose my sick oscar!

[lenniwinks]

Hi, I recently treated my oscar tank for ick using a combination of malachite green, heat (about 30 degrees) and salt. Over the past two weeks I have gradually adjusted the water conditions back to normal by water changes and heater adjustments.

Since getting rid of all signs of ick my oscars have been dying at the rate of about one every second day. I'm fairly confident the ick is completely gone as I haven't seen the spots for at least three weeks now.

First, and one at a time, the oscars seem to be hard of breathing (breathing rapidly), sit on the bottom of the tank, and are not eating their food like usual. Then they poo a white stringy poo while lying on the bottom of the tank. Then they die. My two smallest albino white ones died first, now my largest 20cm oscar is sitting on the bottom, breathing heavily and pooing white stringy stuff.

The tank is 8x2x2ft (1000L) and is running two canister filters, sump system and some power heads. Maintained regularly and with various types of filtration media. Temperature is 24 degrees and water parameters are good. PH is a little high (7.5), but that's how its always been. I now have 3 oscars left (one is quite sick looking). The other two appear fine and are eating well, but have also done white stringy poos.

I would greatly appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance!
tom

 

[Aquanero]

Please post your water parameters. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and hardness if available. In the mean time do a 50% water change (after you test the water not before). Increase airation, either by adding some air stines of leaving the level a little lower than normal so return water splashes in the tank. Add 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons of water to help releave stress. It is important to post accurate water perameters, in numbers.

 

[rich4297]

What have you been feeding them?


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[Aquanero]

What have you been feeding them?


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Good question.

 

[Yoimbrian]

I am not familiar with oscars but in the goldfish world white stringy poo is constipation. For goldfish you feed them shelled peas and it clears it right up.


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[fish n chips]

bumpin
this up to see if you have solved ur prob,
would the malachite green kill ur bb if so do huge waterchanges

 

[petspoiler]

lenniwinks, white stringy poo usually indicates internal parasites in cichlids.
fish can have more than one problem at a time, and each issue weakens their ability to fight the other things.
Follow up on this with Aquanero/Tom.

 

[koltsixx]

Please post your water parameters. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and hardness if available. In the mean time do a 50% water change (after you test the water not before). Increase airation, either by adding some air stines of leaving the level a little lower than normal so return water splashes in the tank. Add 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons of water to help releave stress. It is important to post accurate water perameters, in numbers.

As Aquanero said it's definitely important to post your water parameters so we can help you.

lenniwinks, white stringy poo usually indicates internal parasites in cichlids.
fish can have more than one problem at a time, and each issue weakens their ability to fight the other things.
Follow up on this with Aquanero/Tom.

I also agree with petspoiler as far as stringy poo being a sign of internal parasites and that there seems to be more than one problem presently for your O as you mentioned labored breathing. In my experience usually stringy poop and not eating are signs of internal parasites but not usually accompanied by labored breathing. For the internal parasites I've had good success using Epsom salts but as said to give your O the best chance please include your water parameters in your next post so we can better help you.

 

[Mistal]

If you had your temps at 30*c and you used salt as well, did you use an air stone to oxygenate the water?
The amount of dissolved oxygen that the water can hold depends on the temperature and salinity of the water. Cold water can hold more dissolved oxygen than warm water and fresh water can hold more dissolved oxygen than salt water. So the warmer and saltier the water, the less dissolved oxygen there can be.
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