keeping tropical and cold water fish.

Gingham_Ribbon

Whitespot can also be brought out by chilling. If the temperature dropped a fair bit on the journey back from the shop, that could have caused it.

Turning the temperature up can speed up the cycle of the parasite, but I wouldn't turn up the temperature while I was treating to be honest. (Sorry to disagree with froglet's sensible advice!) The reason is that the dosing is given based on its usual cycle. If you speed up the cycle, you'll potentially be dosing on the wrong days.

I got an outbreak once after a heater cut out when I was on holiday. It took quite drastic measures to shift it, but I do think the first step is to treat as per instructions and wait and see.

Also, don't do water changes within 12 hours of treating, as that will reduce the amount of medication in the water.

Finally, if you have carbon in your filter you'll need to remove it prior to treatment as it sucks out the medication before it has time to take effect.

covlass

Thank you

I have removed the carbon filter and put it in a bag with just enough water from the tank to keep it wet.

the treatments just says treat twice day one then day four, so should I do another lot on day 8 ? Then do a water change day 12 may be.

I have kept on top of the water checking on a regular basis, and cleaning gravel, & water changes so I hope it is nothing I have done : (

Gingham_Ribbon

It's nothing you've done! It's a very common problem.

If you've already treated with the carbon filter in, I'd start the treatment again as it probably won't have worked.

You can let the carbon filter dry out. The bacteria will die on it anyway. The rest of your filter will do the job until you have finished the treatment.

...I'm suddenly panicking...you do have other media in your filter? eg sponge?

covlass

i took the carbon filter out prior to treatment, there is also 2 other sponge type filters in there and then some things that look like little white tubes, if that make sense:cool:

Gingham_Ribbon

covlass wrote: »

i took the carbon filter out prior to treatment, there is also 2 other sponge type filters in there and then some things that look like little white tubes, if that make sense:cool:

Spot on! There will be lots of bacteria on both the sponge and the 'tubes' (porcelain maybe?) They have quite a high surface to volume ratio so are a good place for them to live.

Gingham_Ribbon

I forgot to say, you actually need to let the carbon filter dry out. The whitespot will live on it while it is moist. Drying it out for at least 24 hours should kill it.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

white spot is just another factor of fish buying you dont know they have it untill it breaks out. you may also wish to call the LFS and tell them, as so they can treat their stock/prevent anyone else's tanks getting it from same stocker.

carbon is only good for 4 weeks then becomes less effective, i would replace with poly polishing pads or vanilla foam.

got a new setup will have to post photo but busy at mo.

covlass

Not posted for a while, manage to sort out white spot with no problem so I now know how to cope with that one !
Since dec I have a got a few more fish all of which settled in nicely yesterday disaster struck. One of my Cichlids became ill he/she showed no strange behavior prior just all of a sudden became very lifeless almost, at bottom of tank one minute then would swim fine the would just sink to the bottom. By the evening it was almost one one side and its scales were all sticking out, eyes looked fine, slightly fatter than normal but only very slightly. This morning he/she had died : (
Could this have been DROPSY ?? I am unsure as looking at photos with fish that have DROPSY they all look very swollen, it was the only thing I could find that shows a symptom of the scales sticking out.

Is there anything I should do today, or is it a case of just keeping a close eye on the other fish. I do feel sad as its mate kept sitting next to him/her last night.

Water is fine do regular checks, water changes, hoover gravel so I know it wasn't a water issue

atrixblue.-MFR-.

covlass wrote: »

Not posted for a while, manage to sort out white spot with no problem so I now know how to cope with that one !
Since dec I have a got a few more fish all of which settled in nicely yesterday disaster struck. One of my Cichlids became ill he/she showed no strange behavior prior just all of a sudden became very lifeless almost, at bottom of tank one minute then would swim fine the would just sink to the bottom. By the evening it was almost one one side and its scales were all sticking out, eyes looked fine, slightly fatter than normal but only very slightly. This morning he/she had died : (
Could this have been DROPSY ?? I am unsure as looking at photos with fish that have DROPSY they all look very swollen, it was the only thing I could find that shows a symptom of the scales sticking out.

Is there anything I should do today, or is it a case of just keeping a close eye on the other fish. I do feel sad as its mate kept sitting next to him/her last night.

Water is fine do regular checks, water changes, hoover gravel so I know it wasn't a water issue

it could very well of been if your fish was unwell or stressed to start with (new enviroment and trying to spawn with mate) that it simply became overcome with early stages of dropsy.

xxvickixx

Hi. I have just read this thread from start to finish and I think I am more confused and unsure than I was to start with!

I have been thinking about getting a couple of fish for my DS who is three, he would do the feeding under supervision and I would do the rest but ultimately they will be his first pets.

I have been speaking to Pets at Home which now understand was probably not the best place to go to for advice!

What I was thinking of is a couple of the fancy goldfish (black if that makes a difference?) and a smallish tank (second hand probably).

I want the fish to be happy and thrive, money is quite tight so I would be looking to get some figures as to maintainance, probable medication expenses, running costs etc, and also some tips on start up and getting the water ready,or point me in the direction of a step by step guide.

I haven't made my mind up yet - just wanted to run it by the experienced fish people first!

Thanks
Vicki