Whitespot or Flukes?
#1
Posted 03 June 2007 - 10:57 AM
My Tigerfish is scratching itself on the sand and wood (feeder barbs also scratching) the irritation seems to be close to its gills at first i suspected flukes after keeping a close eye on the fish ive noticed that the baby oscar in the tank has some small white spots on its fins.
Ive checked water parameters and they seem to be fine the oscar and tiger fish are new to the tank. I have recently done a water change
and going to start a white spot treatment.
Could i be super unlucky and have both?
Any advice?
Cheers
#2
Posted 03 June 2007 - 11:26 AM
#3
Posted 03 June 2007 - 08:48 PM
#4
Posted 03 June 2007 - 09:52 PM
Hope i dont have to start treating for flukes fingers crossed.
#5
Posted 03 June 2007 - 11:45 PM
#6
Posted 04 June 2007 - 07:53 AM
#7
Posted 04 June 2007 - 11:59 AM
#8
Posted 04 June 2007 - 12:49 PM
#9
Posted 04 June 2007 - 01:09 PM
Sounds like whitespot Monsta - treat with salt and heat (heat only would suffice) and maintain treatment for two weeks to be sure its all gone. Remember increased water temp = decreased oxygen in water and allow accordingly for this.
#10
Posted 04 June 2007 - 01:31 PM
#11
Posted 04 June 2007 - 01:47 PM
If you have your tank near natural sun light and it is heavly stocked you might get slightly green water from too much direct sunlight, a uv will help with that too. People who have taken my advice on getting a uv sterilizer cannot beleive how clean and clear their tank water and glass is when they thought it was clean and clear before the uv.
Once you have tried them you'll know what i mean ! There is even more benefits but what more do you need? Clean, happy, healthy tanks and if you happen to get white spot or flukes there is no worries with a UV.
I see so many people giving advice to people who have been unlucky and have got white spot, they say put salt in, turn up temp, do this do that and their fish die, when i say leave the temp as is and use a uv light you will not stress the fish out, you will not cause deaths due to high temps and or salt, you will not take all the oxygen out of the water. If you realy want to use a 1/4 or half dose of white spot remover and your fish will not be dieing as you watch helplessly !. IMO turning the temp up makes white spot reproduce faster so it attacks the fish harder and faster causing stress and death. I do understand white spot treatment only works in certain parts of the life cycle so thats why the bottle says turn up the temp but IME thats even worse !.
I do alot of long distance traveling with fish and i always run the risk of getting white spot but i know i have UV's to back me up so there is no stress.
My advice would be, get the slightly larger UV then recommended, for the size of your tank, casue this helps with the treatment of white spot and flukes, not just algae!
Cheers Shane
#12
Posted 04 June 2007 - 03:31 PM
Raising your temp is just to speed up its life cycle so you can kill it with either meds, salt or with the uv sterilizer, White spot can only be treated when it is in the free swimming stage.
The uv sterilizer sounds pretty interesting and beneficial in the long run think i'll look into it.
Thanks for the advice guys
#13
Posted 04 June 2007 - 03:49 PM
long term its good i wouldnt use it once then sell it i would leave them on for aslong as you have tanks ill post some befor and after shots with a uv befor shots will be with external canister 10x an hour filtration and after shots with 10x an hour with a 36 watt uv on a 3 foot tank and bigger tanks
#14
Posted 04 June 2007 - 05:11 PM
Thats what forums are for - people give information and the recipient makes an informed choice from that info and other research.
I have never used UV and have no problems but I am anal about my water and my tank maintenance is stringent with larger than normal water changes.
White spot is preventable with good tank hygiene.
#15
Posted 04 June 2007 - 05:31 PM
#16
Posted 04 June 2007 - 08:26 PM
Monstafish, you are correct in the lifecycle of the parasite that causes whitespot and understanding this gives you the means to kill it. Heat does both increase the methabolism of the fish and weakens the parasite as it does not like the warmer water.
UV sterilisers can be an effective tool in quarantining and algae control in ponds or tanks exposed to sunlight. The UV light kills every living organism both good and bad. Bulbs also need to be replaced regularly to remain effective. They also do not need to be on all the time.
As was also stated you are free to investigate all the options and make up your mind to what suits your situation best.
Good luck in what ever way you go.
Tony
#17
Posted 04 June 2007 - 09:09 PM
And it just so happens it can help with problems in tanks such as white spot.
I use them for algee i found they work well for white spot aswell i would recomend any one to used them ! for clean tanks, glass and less work maintaining and to help treat tanks if you ever happen to get white spot.
I would leave them on all the time so it stay on top of algee problem so it doesnt come and go i found even after a few days a well filtered tank does not tank long to have algee come back.
Uv light are good for healthy clean tanks and any thing that improves water condition and tank cleanliness for our fish can not be an over kill in my mind.
Uv light is natural and is a lot better for fish then harsh chemicals unnatural temperatures, salt and excess stress on the fish.
This is all in my opinion, make up your own mind, but i know which is best for my fish, thank you
cheers shane
#18
Posted 07 June 2007 - 12:24 AM
The tigerfish swims crazily around the tank and then stops in one corner sought of paddling in one spot or in front of the filter outlet its fins are not clear but cloudy there are also redness on parts of its body around the fins which could be from scratching.
When do you think its safe to move on to the next treatment? I'm fearing that i could have both Flukes and Whitespot in my tank.
:? :?:
#19
Posted 08 June 2007 - 07:09 PM
Its been i think 5 days now tiger fish is still scratching the crap out of itself mostly on one side of its gills, the oscar is looking very happy healing well from his whitespot.
I'm now going to rule out whitespot or velvet for the tigerfish. I have done a water change put in some stress coat, added salt and placed carbon into my filter, after a few days i'm going to try sterazin another waterlife product and attempt to treat my fish for flukes.
Anyone got any opinions?
#20
Posted 08 June 2007 - 09:03 PM
Can you see white spots?
Are the fish gasping for air?
What do your ammonia and nitrites read as?
Do the gills move rapidly?
Dont treaqt for flukes just yet - add the salt as you said (1TBSP to 10G) and up the heat to 30 C.
If it does turn out to be gill flukes as well (pretty unlucky to get both) then remove carbon from filter when medicating.
Addit: Carbon is only really good for a few days to two weeks and should only be used for removing meds. It actually can mask poor water quality and there is talk of it actually being a cause for HITH (personally I wouldnt use it).
Pete
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