Harlequin Rasbora sick

[ghh]

Have a harlequin rasboras in a school with three other harlequins and 6
rasbora espeii. the sick one is about 2 1/2 years old. Tanks
parameters are fine (as are the other 25 fish (cardinal tetras & zebra
loaches). Same tank-mates for roughly the past year.

Symptoms:
fish is pale
swimming alone
Blood red spot where caudal fin joins body
smaller blood red spot about 1/2 way along tail right above the
trademark black triangle.

I haven't run across anything like this in the past. Any ideas?

Reg

[Elaine T]

ghh wrote:
> Have a harlequin rasboras in a school with three other harlequins and 6
> rasbora espeii. the sick one is about 2 1/2 years old. Tanks
> parameters are fine (as are the other 25 fish (cardinal tetras & zebra
> loaches). Same tank-mates for roughly the past year.
>
> Symptoms:
> fish is pale
> swimming alone
> Blood red spot where caudal fin joins body
> smaller blood red spot about 1/2 way along tail right above the
> trademark black triangle.
>
> I haven't run across anything like this in the past. Any ideas?
>
> Reg

Usually red lesions combined with lethargy are a sign of bacterial
infection. Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Vibrio or if you're really unlucky,
fish TB. Wear gloves!

Put the fish in a hospital tank and treat with food soaked in kanamycin
slurry or as a bath if the fish is not eating. If kanamycin doesn't
bring an improvement in 3 days, I'd try Maracyn two next. Aerate well,
and dose with Pimafix or methylene blue to help prevent fungus on the
lesions.

If you end up adding an antibiotic or methylene blue to the water, it
will kill your biofilter and you'll have to manage ammonia with water
changes and zeolites or ammonia neutralizer. If you find an antibiotic
that works, treat for a full 10 days.

Of course, make sure the display tank is scrupulously clean so that your
other fish have the good water and tank conditions they need to stay
healthy.

Good luck!

--
__ Elaine T __
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