HELP ME I NEED EXPERT HELP BACTERIAL INFESTATION

[calgaryflames]

I recently intorduced some ill fish into my tanks.I have a collection of rays thats worth $20,000.

the cichlids that melted down had white fungal looking stuff coming out of the nose holes and what looked like swore gills.3 died with in hours of me noticing it.i suspect its a bacterial or fungal attack its happining quick.one of my henlei rays was upside down almost dead today.i revived her by putting her in a bucket with a high salinity level and air stones for 5 minutes now she has come back to life but looks rough.i cannot see and sort of fungus on any rays but noticing heavy breathing.I have done some large water changes like 60% cleaned out some of the filters and removed most of the sand.

please anybody with advice on how to fix this quickly come forward and help me.I think it maybe Columnaris due to what i seen in the cichlids.one of the cichlids had holes open wounds and fungus hanging off him also eyes became foggy.Again i cant see anything on the rays but have started salt treatment of 3 lbs per 100 gallons or should i do more!!!!

 

[CLDarnell]

Wow, I can imagine how you're feeling!

You mentioned the rays are gasping...have you increased surface agitation or added bubblers?

 

[jeffers]

also have you posted this in the cichlid section with pics here and there for positive id of the possible fungal outbreak so you dont get the wrong treatment. pics really help in these situations.

also call the seller of the cichlids and see if they have already figured out what has infested their tanks as im sure its going rampant there also.

 

[labago]

Wow thats dangerous if its the white patches on the body. That killed two of my armatus in two days. I used melafix and aquarium salt and a big water change to start. Hopefully that helps.

 

[Kanta]

Clout the tank sir. Its like killing it with fire

 

[calgaryflames]

is clout ray safe

 

[calgaryflames]

i forgot to mention that i cannot see any signs of fungus or bacterial infections visible.should i be looking for something particular.I did read one of skynochs thread about the rays twitching very irradicly ,mine are doing this like they have to dislodge something or something is irritating them internaly.

i dont know if i got this thing pin pointed out yet.in one of my tanks their are about 500 snook fry about 1/2"-3/4" and they all seem perfect like nothing is wrong.they are living in the sump.than upstairs i have a just cichlid tank with 15 small fish all under 2" and they were probably the most exposed to the ill looking fish and they are all perfect still.I did remove that group and isolated them in a rubbermaid.My larger rays are freaking out breathing hard and just dont seem normal.they did eat today but not alot.

 

[calgaryflames]

please help somebody will melafix and pimafix help if indeed it is a internal bacterial infection.i did dose my pup tank with salt melafix and pimafix today,than sterilazed the tank and everything in it except the filter media.i removed all substrate an dgoing to keep temp around 75

 

[scott s]

75F seems a little cold, I'd bump it up to low-mid. 80's. I believe pima/melafix treats external only.

 

[Lupin]

please help somebody will melafix and pimafix help if indeed it is a internal bacterial infection.i did dose my pup tank with salt melafix and pimafix today,than sterilazed the tank and everything in it except the filter media.i removed all substrate an dgoing to keep temp around 75

Unfortunately, neither herbal products will help with internal and external bacterial infections. They will help for minor injuries but that's it. I have never really believed in these products being the answer for infections and injuries. Between salt and these "snake oil" products, I'd choose salt.

You mentioned your fish are gasping. Both herbal products will contribute to their suffocation in the end. Get rid of those treatments already before you end up suffocating them.

Further info can be found here regarding Melafix.
http://thegab.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=22413&p=297921&hilit=melafix#p297921

From your description, it looks nothing like fungal infection to me. Something else would have attacked them. Bacterial infections are secondary to parasitic. My first impression was your cichlids were attacked by parasites before bacterial set in.