Diagnosis of problem

B

baobao

In Memoriam
I urgently need help in diagnosing the disease afflicting my main display system.

I think it's ich, but am not sure. I lowered the specific gravity to 1.0085, the fish got better.

Then yesterday, I see little tiny white dots on fish again, fish breathing heavy, gasping for air through mouth, and ocassionally swimming near surface.

Maybe the specific gravity accidentlally went up to 1.010. But could the ich live at 1.010? That's why I'm wondering whether maybe the problem is velvet or Brooklynella? I think it's unlikely velvet simply because I've heard that velvet usually wipes out tank quickly. I also am unsure whether problem is Brook because I haven't seen a lot of slime on fish.



Please help.
 
bump... help?
again, problem is I don't know whether problem afflciting tank is velvet or ich.
The fish are gasping for air, lethargic, but not scratching. The parasite does not kill indiscriminately or some of the fish have developed immunity to it. The afflicted fish have tiny white dots on body and fins, which leads to my ambiguity on whether problem is ich or velvet.
If the problem were velvet, wouldn't all of my tank crash extremely quickly and all fish die indiscriminately? After all, velvet is much more virulent. That's why I think and hope problem is not velvet. On the other hand, the hypo is not working - i know it's supposed to take several days, but I'm keep salinity at below 14 ppt.
At this point, I am trying to keep logical about treatment, but I feel inclined to raise salinity over weekend and start medicating with cupramine. Please advise!!!
 
You have to be the judge here...if the Hypo is not working then yes it could be velvet.. Copper treats both but it does not treat Brook.....are these the same fish you were treating a while back?
 
No. Anyone experienced with velvet care to chime in? I really would like more input before I pull the trigger and start medicating copper to a 100 gallon tank.
 
Did you put these fish in the same system the other sick fish where in? How long did you leave the system fallow? did you ever determine what was wrong with your other fish? How long have you been treating these fish? Have you tried dropping the salinity to 11ppt? Are you watching the PH AND Ammonia levels?

Velvet invades the gills first..erratic swimming, heavy breathing are other symptoms of this disease. Velvet appears do be a 'dusting' of spots that can be white, gold or grey and sometimes only visible when the fish turns into the light a certain way..often by the time the spots are visible, it is too late.

Can you get a picture of the fish?
You seem to not like my first answer but if your fish are as bad as you say, you need to act fast . Its hard to make a diagnosis of someone else's fish online. Did you read the links that were provided? good info there, should help you make a diagnosis
 
Kim, thanks for your responses. I'm a little puzzled because the symptoms associated with ich and velvet are very similar. One thing I have not noticed is erratic swimming. Heavy breathing is definitely evident. What seems most peculiar is that some fish seem to be ok - I was under the impression that velvet usually attacks all fish at once. Perhaps the culprit is ich, since I can see some tiny dots, but ich is not supposed to act this quickly. I'll try to get some pics.
 
Your saying that ich isnt supposed to act this quickly, but ich may havebeen there longer than you thought. If you missed the first white spots and it dropped off into the substrate it could have already multiplied. Im not trying to confuse you more, just a possibility.

Work on those pics.
 
very doubtful it is velvet. the fish will look like a glazed donut and by the time you notice it is usually too late.
 
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