Fin Rot?

el Mattador

My tank's cycle just finished and the water readings were perfect. So yesterday I went to the store and got 3 new fish and a couple more live plants. Last night I noticed one of my guppies was dead. When I looked at him, everything looked normal, so I tested the water again and it was still at 7.8 ph, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 5 nitrate. I just figured maybe he was old. I noticed this morning that one of my other guppies tail was split, and then looking at some of the others, I noticed other fishes tails either splitting or frayed looking. I just took out the Guppy, I could tell he was about to go any minute, but I don't want any of the others to die. I just did about a 25-30% water change. What else can I do?

el Mattador

Also, I just fed them, and the small blue danio whose fin is split is not eating. Please if anyone has any idea what to do, post ASAP.

Twistersmom

I would add melafix, or some other antibacterial medication into the water. The split fins may be infected.

el Mattador

Ok, I went to the store today and got some melafix. I'll add that over the next week and then do a water change and see how things go.

iamntbatman

I've had a lot of success treating fin rot with a combination of Melafix and Pimafix. It's safe to use both medications at once. The Pimafix is the "active ingredient" for treating the infection, while the Melafix helps heal the damaged fins.

el Mattador

It seems like I've been having problems with fin rot and I can't seem to get rid of it. I will have 1 fish who is looking sick, then it will die and I'll take him out and a few days later another will have the symptoms. The Guppy who died today had perfect fins, but the 2 or 3 before him had tail fins that were split or disinigrating. I went to the store a couple weeks ago and got some Melafix and put the right amount in my tank, and I would add more every couple days. Since this didn't seem to be doing the trick I bought some Pimafix also and used a combination of the 2, but it still doesn't seem to be working. I just tested the water and it was fine, 0 ammonia, 0 Nitrite, 5 Nitrate. The water is a little cloudy (probably due to the medicine I've been putting in, and I'm about to do a 25% water change. I haven't had any charcoal filter in there for a couple weeks because the medicine says to take it out.

I'm wondering if I should do the water change and put in the filter and see what happens or if I should keep the filter out and maybe just use more medicine. Has anyone else had a problem like this? Any ideas what I should do?

Kim

From my experience, melafix doesn't work. I know some people have great luck with it, but it hasn't EVER worked for me. It did gunk up my water too. I have had great luck with Fungus Clear (treats both fungal and bacterial infections) by Jungle Labs. I have used it many times with success and quick recovery times.

el Mattador

I'm not sure what else to try - I've done 2 cycles of the melafix, one by itself, then one with pimafix also. I tried using the tabs, and everything seemed well for a few days after the water change, but now I see some different fish with fins slowly disappearing. Any other ideas of what I can do????

Lupin

What test kit did you use?

1077

Are you cetain that you are dealing with fin rot? Some male guppys especially fancy guppys will nip the fins of other fancy tails.Did you quarantine new fish you added after tank cycled?
Is it possible to post picture of affected fish?
Were it me (and it aint) I would do 50 percent water change and put charcoal filters back in and leave them. When you removed them you no doubt also removed the beneficial bacteria that had just developed. Stop dumping meds in the tank and let it be.If fish survive ,,fine ,if not resist the urge to add chemicals. Purchase Small fish like guppys ,or bloodfin tetras, or pristilla tetras five or six ,,thats all. Let these five or six fish reside in the tank for ten to fourteen days with NO more additions. Purchase these fish from somewhere other than where you have been getting fish. Feed these five or six SMALL fish once a day for the fourteen days. Then maybe purchase no more than TWO more small fish maybe, cory's (more can be added later.) leave these fish in the tank for ten to fourteen days and continue to feed once a day SMALL amount. Do test the water after a couple weeks with API freswater master kit. And let us know where you are at. DON"T remove or clean the filters during this time and feed as instructed SMALL amounts and you will be on your way to re-establishing the beneficial bacteria that was destroyed when you removed the filters to dump meds in. Your tank ,if parameters posted were correct had just finished the nitrogen cycle and was in my view,,, too newly matured to remove the filters thus placing your fish in danger of ammonia,and or nitrites.