Need some help. Picked up some new goldies, 1 fantail, 2 calico ryukin and 1 pleco from LFS. Quarantining them in 20 gallon before I add them to the 95 gallon. Last week when I got them they looked fine, by day 2 the fantail was scraping against the gravel, took him back to the store to exchange for another fantail, I got the pleco that day too. All doing fine until 3 days ago. White spots apearing on the ryukins, thought it was ick, treated for it, but turns out it is a fungus/bacterial infection. Fantail unaffected, 2 ryukins affected bad, not eating, sitting onteh bottom. Put fungus and parasite clear into tank, along with ick formula. These meds have a tendency to clog the crappy whisper filters, it did, not alot of o2 was being processed and the fish were gasping. I did like a 75% water change last night and only used Melafix. 1 ryukin is doing better, no spots , but the other ryukin is sitting on the bottom, does not swim alot, has his tail being eaten away and a fungus/fuzzy spot on his side, also 1 eye is a bit cloudy. He is spitting out the food too, but he wants to try to eat. All the fish are about an inch long. I put 5 tabelspoons of salt in today too. How much salt, how often and do I also need to do water changes every other day so the high levels of salt don't kill the fish? Please let me know I want this guy to get better, I would like to add them to the tank in a few weeks if all is well. If the 1 ryukin does not show signs of improvement I may take him back in a few days, but I want to see if the salt and Melafix, trying to also get pimifix too, can help them, since it is this fungus/tailrotting thing. Thanks, Flashlightfrank



Test Results for the Following:
Ammonia Level? 0
Nitrite Level? 0
Nitrate level? 0
Ph Level, (If possible,KH and GH and chloramines)? 7.1
Ph Level out of the Tap?
Tank size (How many Gals) and How long has it been running? 20 gal, been running 3 months
What is the name and size of the filter/s? whisper 30
How often do you change the water and how much? 1x/week, about 30%
How many fish in the tank and their size? 4 small sixed
What kind of water additives or conditioners? Prime
Any medications added to the tank? Melafix, just added salt too
Add any new fish to the tank? see above
What do you feed your fish? flakes, pellets
Any unusual findings on the fish such as "grains of salt", see description above
bloody streaks, frayed fins or fungus?
Any unusual behavior like staying
at the bottom, not eating, ect..?

Hi and welcome to kokos. I'm sorry you have trouble flashlight. It sounds like the 1st fish has infected your tank.One more Q-What decorations do you have in the tank?
i ask because fungal growth can also happen as a reaction to some chemical or substance in the tank, bamboo, traces of soap etc-this has happened B4 in one of my tanks. Presuming thats not the case, fungal problems often heal up with salt alone and the percentage for salt medicating is 3 teaspoons to the gallon although a little less is fine because the fish are very small.

The scratching on the gravel indicates parasites which they've all been exposed to by the first fish you returned. if the other fish are not scratching I would suggest starting with the salting the tank treatment.only. I would be worried about your putting ick formula and fungal treatment and parasite clear into the tank-this is too much medicine...I suggest a complete 100% de-chlorinated water change in a clean QT rubbermaid (in an attempt to leave the parasites etc behind)and then slowly add the salt. You can add one teaspoon to the gallon safely, and then slowly up the salt to 3%. take care measuring the rock salt (no additive salt only-do not use table salt)and make sure its dissolved before adding. Please post back. Others here will help you-everyone wants to help you here

Thanks!! The only ornanment in the tank is a bridge. No soap has been added to the tank. I will do another big water change. I stopped with the ick formula, since that is not what is going on. The 1 fantail and ryukin are eating, swimming and acting normal. The pleco, well is a pleco, does not move around alot, except at night, seems to be doing o.k. The other ryukin is still hanging out on the bottom, he is the one not eating, has the fungus and tailrot. I salted a fish some time ago and almost killed it, that is why I ask how often do I need to change the water now, even with salting every day? The other qestion is why does salt work with fungus/bacterial infections?? Thanks, flashlightfrank

Yes, salt can be tricky. Wasn't sure how much you knew -but if you've done salt you know that. I think the trick is the gradual adding and to watch with water changes that you are replacing the same ammount of salt you took out with the water change.

I have salted fairly rapidly to 1% with no probs-its after that you need to be slower I believe. There are threads somewhere about salt, I am sorry I don't have links but if you browse this forum-you'll find more on salt.

Water changes So for example you do a 3 gallon water change then U have to replace 9 teaspoons salt (if you've done a .3% salt medication- Tank doesn't need upping as it stays in the remaining water. You still do regular water changes (esp with a sick fish)I'd do a 30% w/c every 2 days presuming you've started a qt with new water. The salt is extremely effective if you get the dose right. I have lost fish to meds and saved fish time and again with salt! Really.It works by giving the fish a protective coat. The bacteria cannot cling onto a salty body I guess. Just be careful to get the dose right. No more than 3 teaspoons to the gallon. Keep an eye on the pH and temp when doing frequent w/c's a s fluctuations will stress a sick fish big time.

Good luck. Keep us posted

OK. Just found a link forsalting (courtesy chico-thanks). To get the tank to 0.3% salt level try doing to o.1% at 12 hour intervals 3 times.

www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...?showtopic=8382

Thanks so much for the salt remedy info. One of the ryunkins died late last night, it was the real sick one. The other 2 fish and pleco seem to be doing o.k. Althought the fantail and other ryunkin are spitting out the food, could have something to do with me soaking the food in the tank water, which still had the potent melafix in there. Going to try sticking to the salt remedy for now. Will keep you all posted as to what is going on. Thanks, flashlightfrank

1 more thing, that salt link did not work, says it does not exist anymore?

I'm so sorry one fish died . Hopefully you can save the others.

Hopefully these work too-
Salt medication link:www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=8382
Ranchugirl's great info. Don't think you need to do individual salt baths as all the fish are infected so you treat the whole tank.

and med dosagewww.goldfishinfo.com/salt.htm
edit:sorry appears the second link is down too...first link says it all I think.