Diagnose Bala Shark Illness

[Nikki Casali]

Thanks for the last help with my clown loaches.

In the aftermath of the velvet/ich outbreak, I now have a serious
problems with my 7" and 2" bala sharks.

I filtered out the velvet/ich medication after the last signs
disappeared on my bala shark.

Straight after that the large bala picked up some fungal growth, like a
film, covering the top of its head, eyes and fins. At this point in time
the bala's gills were moving very quickly, and still are. I gave the
bala a methylene blue dip for 10 seconds. I can't believe I caught him.
The fungal growth immediately disappeared.

Yesterday I gave some anti bacterial medication because I could see
something white attacking and wearing away its fins.

Today the bala is covered in tiny air bubble like spots. This is
affecting its head, eyes, gills, the edges of the dorsal fins and the
outer edges of the pectorals.

I have never seen this before. I don't know if this is a special
bacterial or fungus infection, ich or velvet again. Previously only a
handful of velvet spots were seen.

These are today's photos:
http://www.ncasali.demon.co.uk/BalaIllness/

The parameters of the water quality appear to be very good at the
moment. Ammonia and nitrite were 0 yesterday. I did have a serious flow
problem with my filter which I have now fixed which may have contributed
to the latest problems.

Would anyone hazard a guess as to the new problem my bala has picked up?
What emergency treatment or dip can I give this poor fish now?

Anything appeciated!

Nikki

[Nikki Casali]

My aquarium shop has now seen the photos. They think it's something like
velvet. This is what the clown loaches died from. They have recommended
a 10 minute 1ml methylene blue dip in a 5 gallon bucket. This will strip
the parasites off the body.

I will medicate the aquarium with a product called Esha 2000 and Esha
Exit together. This basically treats most fish diseases in one shot.

I will let you know how the silver sharks get on.

Nikki

Nikki Casali wrote:

> Thanks for the last help with my clown loaches.
>
> In the aftermath of the velvet/ich outbreak, I now have a serious
> problems with my 7" and 2" bala sharks.
>
> I filtered out the velvet/ich medication after the last signs
> disappeared on my bala shark.
>
> Straight after that the large bala picked up some fungal growth, like a
> film, covering the top of its head, eyes and fins. At this point in time
> the bala's gills were moving very quickly, and still are. I gave the
> bala a methylene blue dip for 10 seconds. I can't believe I caught him.
> The fungal growth immediately disappeared.
>
> Yesterday I gave some anti bacterial medication because I could see
> something white attacking and wearing away its fins.
>
> Today the bala is covered in tiny air bubble like spots. This is
> affecting its head, eyes, gills, the edges of the dorsal fins and the
> outer edges of the pectorals.
>
> I have never seen this before. I don't know if this is a special
> bacterial or fungus infection, ich or velvet again. Previously only a
> handful of velvet spots were seen.
>
> These are today's photos:
> http://www.ncasali.demon.co.uk/BalaIllness/
>
> The parameters of the water quality appear to be very good at the
> moment. Ammonia and nitrite were 0 yesterday. I did have a serious flow
> problem with my filter which I have now fixed which may have contributed
> to the latest problems.
>
> Would anyone hazard a guess as to the new problem my bala has picked up?
> What emergency treatment or dip can I give this poor fish now?
>
> Anything appeciated!
>
> Nikki
>

[nuchumYussel]

Nikki Casali > wrote in message >...
> Thanks for the last help with my clown loaches.
>
> In the aftermath of the velvet/ich outbreak, I now have a serious
> problems with my 7" and 2" bala sharks.
>
> I filtered out the velvet/ich medication after the last signs
> disappeared on my bala shark.
>
> Straight after that the large bala picked up some fungal growth, like a
> film, covering the top of its head, eyes and fins. At this point in time
> the bala's gills were moving very quickly, and still are. I gave the
> bala a methylene blue dip for 10 seconds. I can't believe I caught him.
> The fungal growth immediately disappeared.
>
> Yesterday I gave some anti bacterial medication because I could see
> something white attacking and wearing away its fins.
>
> Today the bala is covered in tiny air bubble like spots. This is
> affecting its head, eyes, gills, the edges of the dorsal fins and the
> outer edges of the pectorals.
>
> I have never seen this before. I don't know if this is a special
> bacterial or fungus infection, ich or velvet again. Previously only a
> handful of velvet spots were seen.
>
> These are today's photos:
> http://www.ncasali.demon.co.uk/BalaIllness/
>
> The parameters of the water quality appear to be very good at the
> moment. Ammonia and nitrite were 0 yesterday. I did have a serious flow
> problem with my filter which I have now fixed which may have contributed
> to the latest problems.
>
> Would anyone hazard a guess as to the new problem my bala has picked up?
> What emergency treatment or dip can I give this poor fish now?
>
> Anything appeciated!
>
> Nikki


I have to say that this case would be a reoccurance of the ich
outbreak But until you are absoloutley sure, I would put in a dose of
melafix.

When I had an ich outbreak about a year ago the ich looked exactly
like that "air bubbles" that are on your fish. I treated with Quick
Cure for around a week. I have had no ich problems since. I did not
isolate the fish and treat, but my reasoning for this is that all the
fish had ich. I would adise on treating for 3 or 4 day AFTER the ich
symptoms disappear to insure that they are gone.

In addition to treating with the medications, I would also raise the
tank temperature to around 85 degrees.

Good Luck,
Evan Davis

[Nikki Casali]

nuchumYussel wrote:
> Nikki Casali > wrote in message >...
>
>>Thanks for the last help with my clown loaches.
>>
>>In the aftermath of the velvet/ich outbreak, I now have a serious
>>problems with my 7" and 2" bala sharks.
>>
>>I filtered out the velvet/ich medication after the last signs
>>disappeared on my bala shark.
>>
>>Straight after that the large bala picked up some fungal growth, like a
>>film, covering the top of its head, eyes and fins. At this point in time
>>the bala's gills were moving very quickly, and still are. I gave the
>>bala a methylene blue dip for 10 seconds. I can't believe I caught him.
>>The fungal growth immediately disappeared.
>>
>>Yesterday I gave some anti bacterial medication because I could see
>>something white attacking and wearing away its fins.
>>
>>Today the bala is covered in tiny air bubble like spots. This is
>>affecting its head, eyes, gills, the edges of the dorsal fins and the
>>outer edges of the pectorals.
>>
>>I have never seen this before. I don't know if this is a special
>>bacterial or fungus infection, ich or velvet again. Previously only a
>>handful of velvet spots were seen.
>>
>>These are today's photos:
>>http://www.ncasali.demon.co.uk/BalaIllness/
>>
>>The parameters of the water quality appear to be very good at the
>>moment. Ammonia and nitrite were 0 yesterday. I did have a serious flow
>>problem with my filter which I have now fixed which may have contributed
>> to the latest problems.
>>
>>Would anyone hazard a guess as to the new problem my bala has picked up?
>> What emergency treatment or dip can I give this poor fish now?
>>
>>Anything appeciated!
>>
>>Nikki
>
>
>
> I have to say that this case would be a reoccurance of the ich
> outbreak But until you are absoloutley sure, I would put in a dose of
> melafix.
>
> When I had an ich outbreak about a year ago the ich looked exactly
> like that "air bubbles" that are on your fish. I treated with Quick
> Cure for around a week. I have had no ich problems since. I did not
> isolate the fish and treat, but my reasoning for this is that all the
> fish had ich. I would adise on treating for 3 or 4 day AFTER the ich
> symptoms disappear to insure that they are gone.
>
> In addition to treating with the medications, I would also raise the
> tank temperature to around 85 degrees.
>

I am using "Esha Exit" medication which is supposed to cure both velvet
and ich. Very handy if they cannot be distinguished. On the bottle it
says that it will rid both types of parasites from the body, including
the free swimming ones. This is contrary to what I have read which
states that no medication can kill these parasites once they are
anchored to the fish. We shall see.

I wish there was an archive on the internet showing photos of fish
diseases in their many different manifestations. If I can take pin sharp
photos, others must be capable too. We need some sort of wikipedia of
fish diseases where everyone can contribute.

Nikki

[Nikki Casali]

Nikki Casali wrote:
>
>
> nuchumYussel wrote:
>
>> Nikki Casali > wrote in message
>> >...
>>
>>> Thanks for the last help with my clown loaches.
>>>
>>> In the aftermath of the velvet/ich outbreak, I now have a serious
>>> problems with my 7" and 2" bala sharks.
>>>
>>> I filtered out the velvet/ich medication after the last signs
>>> disappeared on my bala shark.
>>>
>>> Straight after that the large bala picked up some fungal growth, like
>>> a film, covering the top of its head, eyes and fins. At this point in
>>> time the bala's gills were moving very quickly, and still are. I gave
>>> the bala a methylene blue dip for 10 seconds. I can't believe I
>>> caught him. The fungal growth immediately disappeared.
>>>
>>> Yesterday I gave some anti bacterial medication because I could see
>>> something white attacking and wearing away its fins.
>>>
>>> Today the bala is covered in tiny air bubble like spots. This is
>>> affecting its head, eyes, gills, the edges of the dorsal fins and the
>>> outer edges of the pectorals.
>>>
>>> I have never seen this before. I don't know if this is a special
>>> bacterial or fungus infection, ich or velvet again. Previously only a
>>> handful of velvet spots were seen.
>>>
>>> These are today's photos:
>>> http://www.ncasali.demon.co.uk/BalaIllness/
>>>
>>> The parameters of the water quality appear to be very good at the
>>> moment. Ammonia and nitrite were 0 yesterday. I did have a serious
>>> flow problem with my filter which I have now fixed which may have
>>> contributed to the latest problems.
>>>
>>> Would anyone hazard a guess as to the new problem my bala has picked
>>> up? What emergency treatment or dip can I give this poor fish now?
>>>
>>> Anything appeciated!
>>>
>>> Nikki
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I have to say that this case would be a reoccurance of the ich
>> outbreak But until you are absoloutley sure, I would put in a dose of
>> melafix.
>>
>> When I had an ich outbreak about a year ago the ich looked exactly
>> like that "air bubbles" that are on your fish. I treated with Quick
>> Cure for around a week. I have had no ich problems since. I did not
>> isolate the fish and treat, but my reasoning for this is that all the
>> fish had ich. I would adise on treating for 3 or 4 day AFTER the ich
>> symptoms disappear to insure that they are gone.
>>
>> In addition to treating with the medications, I would also raise the
>> tank temperature to around 85 degrees.
>>
>
> I am using "Esha Exit" medication which is supposed to cure both velvet
> and ich. Very handy if they cannot be distinguished. On the bottle it
> says that it will rid both types of parasites from the body, including
> the free swimming ones. This is contrary to what I have read which
> states that no medication can kill these parasites once they are
> anchored to the fish. We shall see.
>
> I wish there was an archive on the internet showing photos of fish
> diseases in their many different manifestations. If I can take pin sharp
> photos, others must be capable too. We need some sort of wikipedia of
> fish diseases where everyone can contribute.
>
The silver shark died. I did a methylene blue bath and was amazed that
it seemed to strip off many of the spots, but the fish was too ill to
recover.

I looked at some of the mucous under the microscope. I found cells
resembling ich, but these ones are much smaller. The cells had thousands
of short filament hairs on the outside surface all wriggling. I don't
know if oodinium has these too?

I zoomed in at 400x and a single cell/parasite only covered 1/4 of the
view through the objective.

Nikki