Sudden Loss Last week and a weak floaty fish today.

[CaseyE 29]

Ok guys, I lost a fish last week, got listless overnight, I guessed constipation so I tried a qt and an epsom salt bath and started a fast, but he or she died on day two. Zero poop in that time. Now, exactly 7 days later, I woke to have a 2nd fish, seemed fine last night, stuck to filter intake. I pulled him off and he floated upside down. Had to go to work, so I placed him a floating colander in the tank. He has pooped, long stringy and kinda mucusy. He has been kind of a surface skimmer, but that didn't seem like an oxygen problem. I have two air wands and plenty of surface movement. We have had a heat wave, so the tank temp got up into the 80's a few days in a row but cooled off during the cooler nights. Maybe the inside of his gills are redder than normal today? Maybe his slime coat is slightly more than usual? Now he's upright and seems a bit stronger than he was this morning. The other three seem fine, but i'm panicky after my loss, and this new incident-both of which seem sudden. I have a fair amount of meds on hand, trying to decide if I should Qt this guy and what to do with that or treat the whole tank, but I lack experience and am not sure for what. Their fins seem fine, they seem active, are eating. No sores or redness or anything like that. A few scales lost here and there. Long stringy poops are the only thing I'm seeing that might be off in my limited experience. Also, the tank vs. tap Ph difference is new, but I admit to not having tested the tap for quite awhile until today. I will be so grateful for any suggestions or guidance. Test Results for the Following: * Ammonia Level(Tank) 0 * Nitrite Level(Tank) 0 * Nitrate level(Tank) 0 * Ammonia Level(Tap) 1ppm * Nitrite Level(Tap) 0 * Nitrate level(Tap) 0 * Ph Level, Tank 7.8 * Ph Level, Tap 8.4 ! Other Required Info: * Brand of test-kit used an whether strips or drops? API drops * Water temperature? 73f higher than normal, it's been a hot week. * Tank size (how many gals.) and how long has it been running? 75g, almost a year. * What is the name and "size of the filter"?Aqua Clear 110, and Eheim Canister 3e * How often do you change the water and how much? 40-60% ish weekly on Fridays

* How many days ago was the last water change and how much did you change? 50% 4 days ago * How many fish in the tank and their size? 4 fancies, 3 @ about 4" and one @ 7" * What kind of water additives or conditioners? Prime * What do you feed your fish and how often? Rotate Repashy, Hikari sinking, American Aquarium Herbivore, NLS, shelled peas, broccoli, seaweed. twice a day, sometimes 3 * Any new fish added to the tank? This fish is the most recent, 3 months ago. * Any medications added to the tank? No * List entire medication/treatment history for fish and tank.Please include salt, Prazi, PP, etc and the approximate time and duration of treatment. Salt when adding new fish, after a qt round of ichx, Em, and general cure. 1 bi-annual round of Prazi about 6 weeks ago, preventative * Any unusual findings on the fish such as "grains of salt," bloody streaks, frayed fins or fungus? No * Any unusual behavior like staying at the bottom, not eating, etc.? Sudden loss last week, This week another fish stuck to filter, floaty this am, surface skimming, generally weak.

[shakaho 6,312]

Do you always have 1ppm ammonia in your tap water?  

Try this procedure for the stringy poop:

For a 3% solution of Magnesium sulphate (epsom salt), add 1 level tablespoon (15 grams) magnesium sulphate to 500 milliliters of distilled water. Stir, and it's good to go. 

Use an eye dropper or pipette to add to pellet food (or any other food that will readily absorb it), and stop dripping water once the pellets become saturated. Use only enough water to saturate the food, with no excess water, so that the water soluble vitamins in the food remain intact. Feed twice a day, for 3-5 days. (I went with 5 days) 

[CaseyE 29]

Do you always have 1ppm ammonia in your tap water?  
Try this procedure for the stringy poop:
For a 3% solution of Magnesium sulphate (epsom salt), add 1 level tablespoon (15 grams) magnesium sulphate to 500 milliliters of distilled water. Stir, and it's good to go. 

Use an eye dropper or pipette to add to pellet food (or any other food that will readily absorb it), and stop dripping water once the pellets become saturated. Use only enough water to saturate the food, with no excess water, so that the water soluble vitamins in the food remain intact. Feed twice a day, for 3-5 days. (I went with 5 days) 

Thank you, I will do that. This am the weak fish seems to have a white filmy slime coat. Will move to qt tonight. Maybe salt & heat?


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[CaseyE 29]

Tap water usually has some ammonia, .5 up to 1


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[shakaho 6,312]

Check the ammonia level in the tank after a water change and again two hours later.  Tell us the results.  Prime will protect the fish from ammonia for at least one day after you use it.  

[DawnMichele 6,045]

So sorry for your loss.

[CaseyE 29]

Check the ammonia level in the tank after a water change and again two hours later.  Tell us the results.  Prime will protect the fish from ammonia for at least one day after you use it.  

New symptom. Very red around the base of the pectoral fins and belly. He's in a qt with furan 2. Should I heat it? Salt? I started hex shield food yesterday.

Ammonia @ wc .5 ppm
After 2 hrs .25 ppm


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[shakaho 6,312]

Just the furan 2, please.  I don't know why you would heat.  If you want to use salt for the slime coat, use dips.

[DawnMichele 6,045]

How is everything going Casey?

[CaseyE 29]

He got better, was great for a few weeks, but then died suddenly.

 

[shakaho 6,312]

So sorry to hear about the fish loss.  Unfortunately, temporary improvement followed by sudden death happens fairly often with sick fish.

[DawnMichele 6,045]

6 hours ago, CaseyE said:

He got better, was great for a few weeks, but then died suddenly.

 

IM so sorry for your loss.

[koko 14,341]

For some reason. When I hear of a fish with Red fins (pectorals) and then red belly the fish gets better then gets worse. I still haven't figured this one out. I had a fish like this and I seen another member with Wakins too have this.  

[CaseyE 29]

I was so proud of myself when he got better, lol. And then...sad trombone. Hearing about others having similar experience does make me feel a little less like a dumb dumb, so thanks for that!


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[koko 14,341]

26 minutes ago, CaseyE said:

I was so proud of myself when he got better, lol. And then...sad trombone. Hearing about others having similar experience does make me feel a little less like a dumb dumb, so thanks for that!


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Your never a Dumb Dumb  We are always learning no shame in that