DESCRIPTION OF ILLNESS
I have 5 Glowlight Tetras. One is sick. On 1/19/08, I noticed a swelling on her underbelly the size of a small pea. I moved her from 20-gallon community tank to 5-gallon hospital tank. Shortly thereafter, I noticed loose skin hanging from her underbelly and the swelling was gone (see attached photos). I started Melafix treatment (2 ML per day).
The next morning (yesterday), the loose skin had detached. I then noticed a dark colored sac the size of a small pea on the bottom of the tank. I tried to remove it with a net, but accidentally broke it apart to find what appeared to be undigested bloodworms inside. Yuk! The filter eventually sucked up this debris.
She remained quiet for the first day but started swimming around and seemed to be playing in the air bubbles last night after the second Melafix treatment. She's quiet this morning.
TANK PARAMETERS
COMMUNITY 20 GAL TANK—Nitrate: 30, Nitrite: 0, GH: 150, Chlorine: 0, KH: 80, pH: 6.8
HOSPITAL 5 GAL TANK—Nitrate: 10, Nitrite: 0, GH: 150, Chlorine: 0, KH: 120, pH: 7.2
TANK HISTORY
20 GAL TANK was set up in May of 2005
5 GAL TANK was set up in June of 2005
FILTRATION
Both tanks have Millennium 1000 filters. 85 GPH.
FISH
COMMUNITY 20 GAL TANK—4 Glowlight Tetras (about 1-1/4" long), 2 Bronze Corries (about 1-3/4" long)
HOSPITAL 5 GAL TANK—1 Glowlight Tetra (about 1-1/4" long)
TANK MAINTENANCE
COMMUNITY 20 GAL TANK—Last 5 GAL PWC/gravel vacuuming was on 1/6/09. I do this approximately every 2 to 3 weeks. Tank is due for this now.
HOSPITAL 5 GAL TANK—Last 2.5 GAL PWC/gravel vacuuming was on 10/9/08 after solitary occupant (a snail) died. After the snail's death, haven't done regular water changes since the tank has been unoccupied until now.
AFFLICTED FISH'S BACKGROUND
Added 2 baby Glowlights in August of 2008 and 2 more baby Glowlights in September of 2008. Not sure which batch she came from. Purchased from local tropical fish store both times.
TANK CHANGES/ADDITIONS
Haven't done anything differently with either tank.
FEEDING
I feed frozen food, alternating bloodworms and brine shrimp, feeding them every other day. I have made no feeding changes.
One thing I did notice is that one of the Glowlights (probably the sick one) had been stuffing itself so much during feeding time that its belly would become more distended than the others. Perhaps it may have compacted itself with so much food that it couldn't digest it even the day after being fed?
QUESTIONS
1) Possible diagnosis?
2) What could have been that membrane sac at the bottom of the tank?
3) How/what/when to feed?
4) Could food fall out of her belly if the rupture hasn't healed yet? (I can't tell how big the rupture was or if an opening is still there.)
5) Continuing Melafix treatment recommended?
I have 5 Glowlight Tetras. One is sick. On 1/19/08, I noticed a swelling on her underbelly the size of a small pea. I moved her from 20-gallon community tank to 5-gallon hospital tank. Shortly thereafter, I noticed loose skin hanging from her underbelly and the swelling was gone (see attached photos). I started Melafix treatment (2 ML per day).
The next morning (yesterday), the loose skin had detached. I then noticed a dark colored sac the size of a small pea on the bottom of the tank. I tried to remove it with a net, but accidentally broke it apart to find what appeared to be undigested bloodworms inside. Yuk! The filter eventually sucked up this debris.
She remained quiet for the first day but started swimming around and seemed to be playing in the air bubbles last night after the second Melafix treatment. She's quiet this morning.
TANK PARAMETERS
COMMUNITY 20 GAL TANK—Nitrate: 30, Nitrite: 0, GH: 150, Chlorine: 0, KH: 80, pH: 6.8
HOSPITAL 5 GAL TANK—Nitrate: 10, Nitrite: 0, GH: 150, Chlorine: 0, KH: 120, pH: 7.2
TANK HISTORY
20 GAL TANK was set up in May of 2005
5 GAL TANK was set up in June of 2005
FILTRATION
Both tanks have Millennium 1000 filters. 85 GPH.
FISH
COMMUNITY 20 GAL TANK—4 Glowlight Tetras (about 1-1/4" long), 2 Bronze Corries (about 1-3/4" long)
HOSPITAL 5 GAL TANK—1 Glowlight Tetra (about 1-1/4" long)
TANK MAINTENANCE
COMMUNITY 20 GAL TANK—Last 5 GAL PWC/gravel vacuuming was on 1/6/09. I do this approximately every 2 to 3 weeks. Tank is due for this now.
HOSPITAL 5 GAL TANK—Last 2.5 GAL PWC/gravel vacuuming was on 10/9/08 after solitary occupant (a snail) died. After the snail's death, haven't done regular water changes since the tank has been unoccupied until now.
AFFLICTED FISH'S BACKGROUND
Added 2 baby Glowlights in August of 2008 and 2 more baby Glowlights in September of 2008. Not sure which batch she came from. Purchased from local tropical fish store both times.
TANK CHANGES/ADDITIONS
Haven't done anything differently with either tank.
FEEDING
I feed frozen food, alternating bloodworms and brine shrimp, feeding them every other day. I have made no feeding changes.
One thing I did notice is that one of the Glowlights (probably the sick one) had been stuffing itself so much during feeding time that its belly would become more distended than the others. Perhaps it may have compacted itself with so much food that it couldn't digest it even the day after being fed?
QUESTIONS
1) Possible diagnosis?
2) What could have been that membrane sac at the bottom of the tank?
3) How/what/when to feed?
4) Could food fall out of her belly if the rupture hasn't healed yet? (I can't tell how big the rupture was or if an opening is still there.)
5) Continuing Melafix treatment recommended?