My fish seemed to develop this white coating on their bodies, it doesn't look like cotton it looks more like excessive slime coat, it is also on their fins and their fins looked ripped at the edges. In the past a water change fixed the problem, but this time around it just stays around, I've already had one of my biggest FH die because of this. I did a 20% water change, dosed the tank with salt and melafix yesterday and didn't see much of a change this morning, so this morning I gave the fishes a bath in a concentrated solution Melafix,salt,and maracyn plus and transfered them back into the tank, after this most of the white was gone and they begin to swim around a little more. However when I just went to check on them, the white has spread back all over their body and their just lying at the bottom of the tank.
Need help treating something
- Thread starter AKlass
- Start date
Can you please provide information about the following:
-Tank size
-Tank inhabitants (including sizes)
-Filtration
-Water parameters
-Regular tank maintenance (frequency of water changes and % of water changed each time)
-Is there any evidence of white spot?
-When was the last time you added a fish to your tank, and do you quarantine new fish?
It sounds like your fish have sliminess of the skin, which can be caused by flukes or protozoan parasites. After providing information about your aquarium we can try to develop an appropriate treatment plan.
-Tank size
-Tank inhabitants (including sizes)
-Filtration
-Water parameters
-Regular tank maintenance (frequency of water changes and % of water changed each time)
-Is there any evidence of white spot?
-When was the last time you added a fish to your tank, and do you quarantine new fish?
It sounds like your fish have sliminess of the skin, which can be caused by flukes or protozoan parasites. After providing information about your aquarium we can try to develop an appropriate treatment plan.
calioutlaw1a;4907409; said:
Tank is 6 20 gallons tied to 1 sump so essentially a 120gallon. Inhabitants are 1 pleco(1ft), 1 female red devil(6 in), and now, 3 flowerhorns (8in,6in,10in). Filtration is through a sump of pot scrubbers.
Not so sure about water parameters(don't have any test supplies on me)
Water is changed every week, taking out 15 gallons and putting in 20-25 gallons to account for evaporation. No there is no white spot, I'm 100% sure this is not Ich.
I quarantine new fish, and the last time I added fish was the pleco in September.
The fact that this has been a recurring problem indicates that the underlying cause has not been found and dealt with. You say water changes helped in the past, suggesting this may be a water quality issue.
Purchase a liquid test kit (e.g. API master test kit) and let us know where your parameters stand. A 12.5% water change weekly is not enough with the large fish you have in your tanks. Your fish are also too large for the tanks they are in, which may be adding further stress.
The treatments you have used are targeting bacteria, while sliminess of the skin is most commonly caused by protozoa and flukes, generally secondary to poor condition of the fish.
For now, you need to do the following:
-If possible, test your water immediately and do a large 50%+ water change (test water prior to water change so you can see the true values).
-Purchase Seachem Paraguard and begin treatment. I recommend this because there may be a secondary bacterial infection causing fin rot, and it is best not to have to mix medications. Paraguard is also less stressful on fish, will help prevent secondary infections, and will clean and protect open wounds
-Maintain pristine water parameters throughout treatment. This means 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and <20 nitrate, and temp at about a constant 80F. The sump should be providing plenty of aeration. Test your water daily and perform daily water changes if necessary to keep perfect water conditions.
-If you find that your water parameters are the issue, make changes so that you don't have to deal with diseases like this nearly as often. This means larger weekly water changes, larger tanks if possible, and checking water parameters regularly to insure that what you are doing is working.
Purchase a liquid test kit (e.g. API master test kit) and let us know where your parameters stand. A 12.5% water change weekly is not enough with the large fish you have in your tanks. Your fish are also too large for the tanks they are in, which may be adding further stress.
The treatments you have used are targeting bacteria, while sliminess of the skin is most commonly caused by protozoa and flukes, generally secondary to poor condition of the fish.
For now, you need to do the following:
-If possible, test your water immediately and do a large 50%+ water change (test water prior to water change so you can see the true values).
-Purchase Seachem Paraguard and begin treatment. I recommend this because there may be a secondary bacterial infection causing fin rot, and it is best not to have to mix medications. Paraguard is also less stressful on fish, will help prevent secondary infections, and will clean and protect open wounds
-Maintain pristine water parameters throughout treatment. This means 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and <20 nitrate, and temp at about a constant 80F. The sump should be providing plenty of aeration. Test your water daily and perform daily water changes if necessary to keep perfect water conditions.
-If you find that your water parameters are the issue, make changes so that you don't have to deal with diseases like this nearly as often. This means larger weekly water changes, larger tanks if possible, and checking water parameters regularly to insure that what you are doing is working.