Outbreak

[IceGunner]

Hi all,

I hate that my first post here is to report on my bichir health issues but sadly that is the case. I'm not exactly new to this forum as I have been visiting and reading MFK whenever I have the time plus I have been keeping bichirs on and off over the past 10 years but have never encountered an outbreak quite like this before.

Tank 75g - 1 RTG, 5 Ctenepomas, 1 Del, 2 Palmas, 1 Sen, 1 Ornate, 1 Telgusi, 1 Palmas Palmas, 1 ansorgii

Couple of days ago my ornate suddenly showed red spots along the area around his neck/lungs, initially I thought he was attacked by my RTG aro. I had to leave on a short trip so I did not have time to monitor or react. When I returned, the ornate's head was covered with some sort of thick muclus and his lips were red, that was when I isolated him with salt treatment, but alas the diease seemed to have spread to my telgusi, ansorgii, palmas. Thru reading of the forums, I decided on a salt plus raised temperature treatment before water change for 1 day. It worked as the ansorgii and other bichirs all recovered after the water change from the thick muclus substance. But my beloved telgusi passed away during the water change. :<

Now 1 day after the water change, all bichirs are fine except for 2, the palmas and palmas palmas. (3 if you count the ornate still isolated.)

The palmas is showing signs of the same diease as the ornate, redness on its neck/lung area and alittle red on its eyes. Also isolated.

The palmas palmas has red spots growing out of its back. Its behaviour seems fine tho it seems more active than normal.

The ornate looks to be recovering well after the salt treatment.

Tank has no proper lightning to take pictures.

The telgusii which passed has a thick muclus covering its body and its fins were suffering from fin rot. :<

I was thinking of getting API Stress Coat to help but do I need to get medication? Not a fan of medication unless absolutely necessary. Please need some advice.

ps: With all thats going on, my RTG aro and 5 ctenopomas are all fine, eating, behaving normally.

 

[JamesF]

Kinda sounds like water quality issues, especially with it clearing up right after a water change. What are your water parameters like?
BTW, your tank is way too small for the fish you have. You need more space and more water for them.

 

[anarekist]

try changing the water everyday, when your fish are sick you gota keep the water conditions pristine.

 

[IceGunner]

Thank you both. Will update with water parameters once I have the chance. Thanks again.

 

[probassfisher010]

Looks like ammonia burn. I bet your filtration/waterchanges are not handling the bio load.

 

[DariusAmurdarja]

looks more like parasite for me

 

[cullens089]

Doesnt the gills usually get a reddish color from ammonia burn? Hopefully they all pull thru

Sent from your moms bed using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[probassfisher010]

Isn't that one of his symptoms? Reddening around the neck and gill area? Severe ammonia burns also can cause abrasion like marks on the body and can cause fin rot


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[tokyogasmask]

I put my money on a bacterial infection.

 

[IceGunner]

Thanks guys, whatever it was, its gone now. All in good health save for the ornate but he looks to be recovering as well. I think its got something to do with ammonia but I can't provide the readings for that as that water is long gone.

I think the main cause is like my filtration system needed a good overhaul + washing. I took everything apart, scrubbed all the slug/slime off, took out the extra layers of wool which was trapping extra dirty water and now everything is fine. I use the overhead filter system and this incident thought me not to squeeze in extra layers of media as they only serve to trap unclean water. Thanks again.