Treat now or wait????

[hellsbells]

Hi there,

I did something stupid last night and could kick myself.

I gave a friend 2 of my 3-4cm bristlenoses last friday. They were ok all week along with her other fish, but she rang in a state last night - one had died and she bought the other back to me as she thought it might be something in her tank wrong. He seemed ok and I put him in my tank. When I got a good look at him an hour later he had yellow dots on his belly and around the neck/head. I took him out immediately and put him in a bucket with a turned down heater and 1 drop of WS3 I found. Put 3 drops in the tank!!!!!!(4ft) in a panic. He died early this morning.

Having trawled the internet all morning I dont know if its white spot or velvet. Have been given eSha Exit anti whitespot by LFS which will treat both. Do I treat at half dose now or watch and wait????? The main problem is I have a dozen or so 2 week old babies in the tank and dont want to harm them. Could the tank be infected in the hour he was in there???

 

[scatz]

there is a chance that none of the spores (if it is white spot) escaped into the tank, so i wouldn't panic yet, but keep a very close eye on all the fish and treat at the very first sign, you def want to kill it off asap. For now though, i would increase the water temperature a few degrees and increase the air if possible (extra airstone or increase the disturbance of the waters surface)
The rise in temperature will speed up the life cycle of the white spot

 

[hellsbells]

Hi Scatz,

Just upped the thermostat to 26-7c and put an airstone ring in, bubbling away. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for replying, was worried what treatment would be best as some seemed to be harmful to scaleless fish and/or tetras.

 

[jacobraven]

Most use a half dose for scaleless fish takes a bit longer but keeps the fish comfortable

 

[D-MAC]

To use meds or not is your call...But if you keep the water in tip-top condition and feed the fish correctly they will fight off most problems as they will have a healthy immune system...Keep a close eye on things and I'm sure that in a day or two that if a problem is there, it will become apparent...Hopefully you got it out in time :thumbup:

 

[hellsbells]

Hi all again,

All seems well but still too early to know for sure.

Was wondering what is best way to clean/sterilise objects that go in tanks etc. Have never used anything but clean water to rinse anything new that goes into the tank or that has been out of it for a while.

The bucket and heater I used for the sick plec I filled up with water and put a sterilising tablet (the type to sterilise babys bottles) in it and put the heater, net etc in it for half hour. Is this too harsh or is it ok to use this if rinsed well after?

Got some new bogwood soaking but obviously that is in another bucket and just with water.

Thanks
Helen

 

[scatz]

i wouldn't use any chemicals to sterilise anything that is going into the tank.
for bogwood, simply boil it for a few minutes, that'll kill off anything nasty living in it

 

[zeebo]

hi Helen,
all great advice from the members here , and i agree with scatz ,no chemicals if going in tank, not worth the risk. And members also gave you good advice about 1/2 dose med of this type for scaleless fish. All sound advice.

Also, if it is ich, it can't live without a host past 2 weeks , so boiling things that can be boiled would take care of that ,and anything you can't boil , let sit out and dry out for the 2 or more weeks. Inexpensive items i would toss out and replace, net, thermometer, etc. just not worth the risk.

It may be a good idea to keep in contact with your friend to see if she has more losses or symptoms for you to be aware of. Try to stay calm (prob not that easy for you atm) just keep your eyes on things and keep everything from this tank away from other tanks until this is resloved. Continue posting questions if you need to and members will surely advise.

Members, if i am mistaken about the 2 week waiting period, please correct me here.
hope this helps, and good luck. keep us updated

Georgie

 

[zeebo]

oh, ps, i have never treated for ich or velvet,and am unfamiliar with the meds you are considering, but you would want to be sure they don't kill your good biomedia in your filters if at all possible. Other members could better tell you about the safe and not safe ones. good luck.
Georgie

 

[D-MAC]

oh, ps, i have never treated for ich or velvet,and am unfamiliar with the meds you are considering, but you would want to be sure they don't kill your good biomedia in your filters if at all possible. Other members could better tell you about the safe and not safe ones. good luck.
Georgie

Mostly all over the counter white spot cures are safe with bio media apart from meth blue.