I'm hoping someone can confirm or suggest another diagnosis on some corys, someone I know on another forum has been having problems with her new albino corys. I came to the conclusion that it may be Hemorhagic Septicemia because the picture she provided showed some redness on the gills / body and some swelling(see pic below, I've circled the areas).
1. Water parameters
a) Temerature range. - unknown, think she keeps it aroun 24 / 25C
b) pH. - 7.2
c) GH. - unknown
d) KH - unknown
e)Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, leavels. ammonia / nitrite 0, nitrate below 5
f) Water change frequency - 25 / 30% weekly
2. Tank set up
a) Size. - 120L
b) Substrate. - sand 4 cm deep, I think she was going to remove some to make it around 2cm instead
c) Filtration. - standard internal juwel filter
d) Furnishings.- unknown
e) Other tank mates. - 5 golden mountain minnows, 2 sunset wagtail platys, 5 platy fry, 3 flame tetras
f) How long has it been set-up? - a few months I think
3. Symptoms / Problem description - quoting what she posted on the other forum;
As some of you might be aware I've had a few problems recently with my albino cory cats. I bought 3 about a week ago (ish) from a lfs (not the best one around but not the worst either). They were all full grown but looked pretty healthy (I'm not a cory expert though).
Anyways, a few days ago I found one floating upside down 2 days later another one died, and then tonight a third died. I'm not quite sure what's going on. All my corys are full grown so I can't tell whether the ones that died were the newest to the tank
At the same time as buying the corys, I also bought another flame tetra (which had been kept in the same tank at the lfs). The tetra appears to be thriving and is actively swimming about with the others. I bought 3 about a week ago, 1 a few days before that and the other two have been in my tank for a number of weeks. I originally bought 3 but had 1 die the same day I bought it so don't think that was my fault.
After being asked what their bellies looked like;These have all been stable for a long time apart from a slight nitrite spike about 3 weeks ago when it went upto 0.1 but was corrected within 24 hours by a water change. The corys were added after this, but just thought I'd mention it.
They weren't plump but definitely not concave either, that was something that concerned me so I did have a good look but there was nothing that indicated anything abnormal their barbels looked nice and healthy too
The fish that died this afternoon was trying to swim but could only manage it on it's side. It didn't have enough energy to right itself and then it flopped back onto the sand, made a few attempts at swimming again and then died, does that point towards dropsy?
One of the corys when I found it dead was almost stuck to the filter imput at the top of the tank, the suction was holding it there. When I got it out I could see what looked like a bruise on its head and also abdomen. As none of the others had had this symptom I thought it was caused by the filter suction which is why I didn't mention it (I'm so sorry I didn't though ) I guess that directly points towards haemorhagic septicemia
4. Action taken (if any) - water changes
5. Medications used (if any) - none
She is going to try and get a general tonic today but she needs a diagnosis really to treat correctly, any ideas? Also she is based in the UK like me so if anyone can advise UK meds. Thanks
