On Fri, 07 Apr 2006 01:08:36 GMT, Altum
wrote:

Black Shuck wrote:
On Thu, 06 Apr 2006 23:53:14 +0100, Black Shuck
wrote:

Having some serious problems with fish deaths at the moment, and
really running out of ideas on how to stop the deaths.

Problems started a couple of weeks ago, when I had a couple of golden
mollys die the same day. My immediate reaction was to do a partial
water change, (30%ish), and cleaned the pump filter using tank water
(I never use untreated tap water).

As a precaution, I have been putting a general purpose antibiotic,
Myxazin for the last week, and after each partial water change, I
have added some cycle (Nutrafin)

Anyway, since then, the fish have been going on a regularish basis.
By the end of last week, another 3 mollies had gone. I did a Nitrite
test, and it looked pretty reasonable (0.3 or thereabous). Since
then, I have lost all 5 neon tetras.

Yesterday, I did another partial water change (30%), and put some
cycle in.

None of the deaths, I have seen the run-up, but today, I found one of
the fish (tangarine tetra) having trouble keeping balance, swimming
all over the place, finally resting in the plants. A poke would send
it off into a untrolled frenzy. I took the fish out, and put it in a
seperate tank. A few hours later, another one exhibited the same
problem, I moved that to a seperate tank also. Both fish have now
met their maker...

Anyone have any other suggestions. Uptil the fish die, they all seem
healty enough, eating and swimming fine, with none of the obvious
symptoms..

Need help before the remaining 8 or so established fish go the same
way as the others... Whats interesting, is that these fish seem to
be dying in order of "newness", followed by type.


Well since the last post, another has gone. I have taken the very
radical step of moving all the still healthy looking fish to a
temporary tank (well large plastic 40L box), with 50% of the water from
the old and 50% treated tap water. put the heater and exiting pump
filter from the tank in there with it.

This was suggested by a fish keeper mate at work, as the last ditch
emergency course of action, which I feel I have gotten to. Will clean
the main tank ASAP, replace the gravel with sand (was going to do this
eventually anyway, and re-introduce the fish (if they are still alive
by then).

Any tips, comments, advice greatly apreciated.

Are there any external symptoms at all? Look for reddening at the mouth
or fin bases, thickened slimecoat, ulcers, white patches, spots or
sores. Take a flashlight once it's dark and look for the telltale tiny
dusting of velvet on the backs of the fish. (Although Myxazin should
have killed velvet...)

Flavobacterium can cause wipeouts like you're describing with few or no
external signs. Velvet can too, if you miss the sometimes subtle
symptoms. Can you get antibiotic food where you live? Salt might be
good to use instead of Myxazin, since it doesn't seem to be working.
You could try PimaFix too.

According to Pimafix literature, it appears like it was designed to
work best in tandem with Melafix. They're really not too clear on
this, but I would use both together.

-- Mister Gardener