Sick Fish

NormSD · 05/16/2013, 07:15 PM

Hello i'm new to the hobby and my first set of fish i put in my tank well the 3 stripe damsels to be exact seem to have been sick. Since i had no fish in my tank yet i put them all in the tank together after 2 1/2 weeks one of the damsels had part of it's fin missing, then it died a few days after so we thought it was picked on by the other damsels and stress killed it. Week 3 i noticed that the biggest damsel had a light colored spot on his head so i removed him and put him into a quarantine tank he died 3 days later not eating the whole time aswell. Now at week 4 the other 2 damsels are showing same light spot on head going to remove them tonight was wondering if i should get my 2 clowns and gobby out and medicate the bunch?

smtank · 05/16/2013, 07:26 PM

Is your tank experiencing a cycle? Can you post Ammonia/Nitrite and Nitrate levels if this is a newly set up system.

Unless you have a fully cycled QT and know specifically what disease or pathogen you're dealing with I would not move anymore fish.

Post an image of the fish if possible please.

NormSD · 05/16/2013, 07:47 PM

The tank is cycled now Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20-40, been checking them daily till everything leveled off after putting in the new fish ammonia and nitrite hit 0.25-0.5 so i added prime water conditioner with my daily ro/di water. Sorry can't get a good picture of the fish they move around and hide in there holes to much but the spot on the head seems to be kinda pinkish and from the head to the dorsal fin the damsels are faded white the clowns and gobby all seem to be fine so far

hollister · 05/16/2013, 08:10 PM

Whats used for water flow?

smtank · 05/16/2013, 08:14 PM

Inclined to think this is a classic case of new tank syndrome. While basic test kits are essential it's not possible to test for everything that goes into a cycle and determining the tank is ready to stock.

I would continue to test water parameters, do the appropriate water changes and most importantly do not add more live stock until the tank is at least a month older even if all your current fish die.

NormSD · 05/16/2013, 10:58 PM

This may be new tank syndrome but if it is not and a virus or parasite kills my fish what all should i do before adding new fish again i have several coral and a few snails and crabs?. PS. I didn't take the fish out and i will continue to do 20% water change every few days.

shifty51008 · 05/17/2013, 12:22 AM

If it was a contagious virus or some thing else leave the tank fishless for 8-10 weeks and that should kill it off.

05/16/2013, 07:15 PM	#1
NormSD Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 16	Sick Fish Hello i'm new to the hobby and my first set of fish i put in my tank well the 3 stripe damsels to be exact seem to have been sick. Since i had no fish in my tank yet i put them all in the tank together after 2 1/2 weeks one of the damsels had part of it's fin missing, then it died a few days after so we thought it was picked on by the other damsels and stress killed it. Week 3 i noticed that the biggest damsel had a light colored spot on his head so i removed him and put him into a quarantine tank he died 3 days later not eating the whole time aswell. Now at week 4 the other 2 damsels are showing same light spot on head going to remove them tonight was wondering if i should get my 2 clowns and gobby out and medicate the bunch?

05/17/2013, 12:22 AM	#7
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	If it was a contagious virus or some thing else leave the tank fishless for 8-10 weeks and that should kill it off. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

05/16/2013, 07:26 PM	#2
smtank Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,204	Is your tank experiencing a cycle? Can you post Ammonia/Nitrite and Nitrate levels if this is a newly set up system. Unless you have a fully cycled QT and know specifically what disease or pathogen you're dealing with I would not move anymore fish. Post an image of the fish if possible please.

05/16/2013, 07:47 PM	#3
NormSD Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 16	The tank is cycled now Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20-40, been checking them daily till everything leveled off after putting in the new fish ammonia and nitrite hit 0.25-0.5 so i added prime water conditioner with my daily ro/di water. Sorry can't get a good picture of the fish they move around and hide in there holes to much but the spot on the head seems to be kinda pinkish and from the head to the dorsal fin the damsels are faded white the clowns and gobby all seem to be fine so far

05/16/2013, 08:10 PM	#4
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	Whats used for water flow?

05/16/2013, 08:14 PM	#5
smtank Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,204	Inclined to think this is a classic case of new tank syndrome. While basic test kits are essential it's not possible to test for everything that goes into a cycle and determining the tank is ready to stock. I would continue to test water parameters, do the appropriate water changes and most importantly do not add more live stock until the tank is at least a month older even if all your current fish die.

05/16/2013, 10:58 PM	#6
NormSD Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 16	This may be new tank syndrome but if it is not and a virus or parasite kills my fish what all should i do before adding new fish again i have several coral and a few snails and crabs?. PS. I didn't take the fish out and i will continue to do 20% water change every few days.