M&J Fabulously Fish Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 I need help identifying what is wrong with my cichlids, they have developed red sores and are dying lost 4 so far with a few i can see following. i have done a 50% water change, and a 20% water change a day later all seemed to be going fine today so i didn't buy anything then 5pm shops closed then they all start dying again. i have talken photo's of one of the living fish and one of the dead fish. test reads ammonia, nitrate, ph, nitrite? Can someone tell me what i need to do to save the fish? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 I cant actually match those colours to the actual tests. Is it high range pH? You need to label them. Or just put the results for each test up. Could be ammonia, nitrite or pH contributing. But it does look like a nasty bacterial infection. Added any new fish to the tank lately (including feeders)? What meds do you have on hand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M&J Fabulously Fish Posted November 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 one new fish a week ago and she is one of the sick ones, low ph range, and no meds had a few but gave them to a friend a couple of weeks ago and just havent baught more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M&J Fabulously Fish Posted November 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 we have white spot treatment thats all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M&J Fabulously Fish Posted November 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 its call protozin water treatment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 So the test tube on the far right is pH? Or is it nitrite? Thinking ammonia or low ph. But without knowing which tube is which....... ya dont make it easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M&J Fabulously Fish Posted November 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 did a high range ph test also it looks about 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M&J Fabulously Fish Posted November 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 ammonia (bottom), nitrate, ph, nitrite(top) it is this order Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 OK my guess is about ammonia 1ppm nitrite 0.1ppm nitrate 20ppm ph 7 Sound about right? Any idea why ammonia is high? Have anything to raise pH? protozin is likely not going to be much help unless its a parasite under their scales. Pretty unlikely. I'm thinking maybe an external bacterial infection that has managed to do some damage....... low pH may be lowering their immune system a bit. Gotta be careful raising pH though, if the ammonia is as high as 1ppm, it will become more toxic at higher pH. Theres a good chance its been caused by the dead fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goneself Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 Why cant you get the results of the tests? No chart? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M&J Fabulously Fish Posted November 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 what would you suggest to cure the infection as i would say 10 fish are currently infected 2 im thinking about removing and 4 already lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 Why cant you get the results of the tests? No chart? https://www.google.com.au/search?q=api+test+kit+colors&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=O8R0UpXHMoTPkgX1g4HgDw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1902&bih=891 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M&J Fabulously Fish Posted November 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 yeah the chart i have went missing i use the internet to get an idea but still couldn't identify the kind of infection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 what would you suggest to cure the infection as i would say 10 fish are currently infected 2 im thinking about removing and 4 already lost. Myxazin would be my first choice. Plenty of treatments for bacterial diseases, so if you cant get that......... look for things sold to treat finrot ect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M&J Fabulously Fish Posted November 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 Thank you for your advise i will get something tomorrow, do you think all the fish in the tank are infected or will it only be the ones showing signs ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 At this stage you need to treat the tank. Do try to remove any fish that are too far gone to make it. Why is the pH so low? Are you using rainwater? If you can water change using tapwater (dechlorinate first) it should lower ammonia levels and raise pH. Its something you can do now, until you get meds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M&J Fabulously Fish Posted November 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 no we use tap water but for some reason the ph seems to have dropped lately in all tanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 Definitely add some crushed coral, or shell grit, or limestone like holey rock or even some marble......... that will hold your pH stable in future. These are beautiful well cared for, well conditioned fish........ without meds though you could lose them all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozmo Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 Jeez you're patient Donny. Good on ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M&J Fabulously Fish Posted November 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 yes the tank has coral base it also has holey rock, and has since it was set up a couple of years ago, so not sure how else to keep the ph up other then buying something, hoped not to do that tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goneself Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 The rock and coral should be pushing your ph up...try testing the water you use for changes, it may well be low ph which will stress the hell out of the fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M&J Fabulously Fish Posted November 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 yeah the local tap water in my area has changed in the last few weeks and was once a high PH and it now seems to be lower then normal. may only have the option to used something to increase it which i really didn't want to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilpierre Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 I'd use Pro Bio from techie ... just my 2 cents. I have used it on fish with similar symptoms and it worked a treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sephiroth Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Could this be the case of overfeeding and not enough water changes? Little ammonia, low PH (or maybe fluctuatiing PH), Conditioned fish (more food = more waste), not enough water changes ( water will deteriorate), Large rocks means pockets of detritus which does not get cleaned = Stress. Which can drop their immune system and knock them around, it can and will usually lead to secondary infections such as this. Just a theory? Cheers, Seph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Whats the pH of water straight from the tap? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
