Hi I lost a fish this morning after it had begun to work its mouth repaetedly, swimming lethagically and not eating. Now another is showing the same symptom of gasping. I did a 20% water change last night. my tank is 21 uk gals with 2 fish and 3 african dwarf frogs I moved 2months ago but reussed much of the tank water and the bacteria in the stones were still living so I don't think its needed a new tank cycle. I put in a white spot treatment (WS3) as one frog had some ulcers and 1 fish white spot. The next day I added melafix. Should I discontinue melafix for a day or two and do another water change? Did the fish die from medication overload or is gasping for breath sign of another illness?
I checked water quality and ph and all are fine. Regards Paul

Another thing is. The ill fish for some time has had a raised red bobble at the top of one gill area and this lookks like its darkened in colour and spread. Red on a golden coulored fish. Could it have gill flukes? would melafix cure this?

Hi Paul,We will definately need you to answer all the questions up above in red in order to fully try to understand just what may be going on with your tank. Post soon

Could you post your actual tests please and ph as well?
Is there enough oxygen in the tank either through an airstone or the filter rippling the water at the top?
The bubble sounds bacterial and we need you to fill in the red box above as well.

Hi Sandy I will put in what I can
Ammonia 0
PH 7.2
Nitrate 0
21 Uk gals tank
Running 6 weeks since move but old water and gravel used
20% weekly water change
3 x African DwarfFrogs 2 x 1.5 inch fish
Standwater for water changes 24hs + add Aqua plus water conditioner
Added WS3 whitespot treatment 48 hrs age and Melafix 24hrs ago
Feed live daphnia, frozen brine shrimp Tetra pro and tetra Gold japan pellets alternately and occassional peas
Behaviour Gasping for breath, breathing at surface, erratic listless swimming, lack of interest in food (before death)
living fish has had a bobble and red coulour for some time next to one gill

Excessive mouth working and not eating are both related to having a sore throat, or sore gills, I think. The mouth could be moving more to assist with breathing, so the gills themselves don't have to move as much.

Your fish has a red bobble, like a blister? and your frog has ulcers. It sounds like you have some type of bacterial infection in your tank.

I don't know that white spot treatment will be effective against bacterial infection, depends on the ingredients, and Melafix isn't strong enough to cut it I'm afraid.

I suggest doing at least a 50% water change and medicating with a stronger antibacterial medication. If you are in the US the Marcyn products should be OK, if you are in the UK go for Myxazin by Waterlife.

I think you should move the frogs to another tank as they may not like the meds.

Hi thanks for advice. I think my living fish is OK and maybe I was panicking. I have moved the ill frog to a smaller tank to treat with Melafix. I blame myself for the death by maybe adding a second treatment too soon to the water. Aquatic frogs seem to be very tolerant to fish treatments and they have worked fine curing 'baloon frog' which I guess is the same as dropsy c u Paul