Trying to identfy a parasite.
Posted: 22 Aug 2014, 21:36
Hi, I recently was given a bunch of plecos, super red, calico and L144's. They started dying right away and since I could see nothing on the dead ones, I assumed it was aggression. And moved some to some of my other tanks. There I noticed a calico had bumps the same color as the red part of his skin. As I looked closer I determined it was not natural and moved them back to the quarantine tank. The plecs continued to die and at this point I have one L144 left showing no symptoms. However about 3 - 4 days after I had moved the plecs into my other tanks, some fish in those tanks are showing whitish spots - one or 2 or so.
I have 3 pictures of a plec with the problem I'll try to post. Ok. How do I post pictures here?
Now on to your requested information list:
1. Water parameters
a) Temperature range. Normal 72-82 (Houston is HOT and tanks do not have individual heaters)
b) pH. Unknown 7 ish but drops quickly
c) GH. Unknown Houston water is generally hard
d) KH Unknown
e)Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, levels. Unknown
f) Water change frequency Once or twice a week - 90%
(Most LFS's will check your water and give a list of readings).
2. Tank set up
a) Size. 10gal
b) Substrate. none
c) Filtration. box, no carbon
d) Furnishings. caves, plants in containers
e) Other tank mates. guppies, swordtail babies, golden long fin cory
f) How long has it been set-up? quarantine tank - 2 weeks, other's 1 year or more
g) When was the last new fish added? Fish were the plecs - 1 week ago
h) Foods used and frequency? Flakes/pellets 2 times a day
3. Symptoms / Problem description Fish dying. Live fish have yellow/orange/golden irregular spots on the body. Different sizes as well as different roundish shapes.
4. Action taken (if any) Temp has been raised to 84+ degrees, 2 small tanks are treated with salt at 2 tablespoons+ per gallon, 3 ten gallon tanks are treated with API general cure. I started this on Thursday, 8/21/14
5. Medications used (if any) Salt, API General Cure
I have 3 pictures of a plec with the problem I'll try to post. Ok. How do I post pictures here?
Now on to your requested information list:
1. Water parameters
a) Temperature range. Normal 72-82 (Houston is HOT and tanks do not have individual heaters)
b) pH. Unknown 7 ish but drops quickly
c) GH. Unknown Houston water is generally hard
d) KH Unknown
e)Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, levels. Unknown
f) Water change frequency Once or twice a week - 90%
(Most LFS's will check your water and give a list of readings).
2. Tank set up
a) Size. 10gal
b) Substrate. none
c) Filtration. box, no carbon
d) Furnishings. caves, plants in containers
e) Other tank mates. guppies, swordtail babies, golden long fin cory
f) How long has it been set-up? quarantine tank - 2 weeks, other's 1 year or more
g) When was the last new fish added? Fish were the plecs - 1 week ago
h) Foods used and frequency? Flakes/pellets 2 times a day
3. Symptoms / Problem description Fish dying. Live fish have yellow/orange/golden irregular spots on the body. Different sizes as well as different roundish shapes.
4. Action taken (if any) Temp has been raised to 84+ degrees, 2 small tanks are treated with salt at 2 tablespoons+ per gallon, 3 ten gallon tanks are treated with API general cure. I started this on Thursday, 8/21/14
5. Medications used (if any) Salt, API General Cure