What in the world...?!

**foxkitten** · 02-24-2012, 12:06 PM

We haven't a clue what we are looking at!

Our rosy red minnow has "something".

We have looked up ick, thinking that was a possibility, but it doesn't look like salt on the skin...it looks like an air bubble under the skin - actually inside the tail (not fin).

Her tank setup includes: 55g with 2-3" Koi (temporary); 1 Black Moor; 1-1.5" baby Trinidad Pleco (temporary); 2-Mystery snails (black/blue), and 6 Rosy Red minnows (all under 2.5").

Any idea what this is?
Thank you for your time and info.!

**imma24** · 02-24-2012, 12:15 PM

Questions:
How large is your tank
When is the last time you changed the water in the tank and how often do you normally do this?
Do you test your water parameters and if so, what were your last readings? Whenever a fish is showing signs of illness, we always want to know if you are taking care of the water in the tank
Is your tank cycled? Are you familiar with this term?

**Honey Badger 1** · 02-24-2012, 01:13 PM

Sounds like gas bubble disease which happens with over-saturation of oxygen in the water.

http://www.algone.com/aquarium-artic...-fish-diseases

**foxkitten** · 02-24-2012, 01:45 PM

Again...

Her tank setup includes: 55g with 2-3" Koi (temporary); 1 Black Moor; 1-1.5" baby Trinidad Pleco (temporary); 2-Mystery snails (black/blue), and 6 Rosy Red minnows (all under 2.5").

Temp: 70F

30% water change weekly due to just siphoning waste and food from substrate

Parameters: pH-7.5; ammonia-0; nitrites-<0.3 We've been able to keep these perfectly consistent; I believe due to the weekly siphoning as well as having a 60g pump at one end and a 10g pump at the other. These have kept the tank amazingly clear even with the messy fish we have.

We do have the water level one inch from the top, which creates nice waves in the water...no bubbles. We were thinking of getting air pump/stone to create more O2 exchange because I'm not exactly satisfied with the CO2 reading at 4...though I've read and have been told that the water movement with this close of a reading was fine for these fish.

If this is too much O2 then wouldn't the others, or at least the smaller Rosys be showing the same symptoms?

We've had this particular fish for one week now (purchased last Thursday at noon) and had noticed the bubble that evening, upon returning from work. No other symptoms at all, nor in or on any other fish. Was going to put it in quarantine, but if the tank is affected then I would just treat the whole tank...I won't squish all these fish into the 10g Q.

**foxkitten** · 02-24-2012, 01:58 PM

Also, as a note for too much oxygen...

There are no live plants and the tank is in the opposite side of the room, 13' away from windows and vents.

**Honey Badger 1** · 02-24-2012, 02:09 PM

Could be lymphocytes of some sort but they look like a bump and often are described as white bumps. Your original description was air bubble, so that points to air bubble disease. I'm not looking at the fish so it's a bit difficult to be certain.

http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/kurkjian/index.php

**foxkitten** · 02-24-2012, 02:29 PM

I know any diagnosis is difficult without actually seeing it...I would take a picture and upload it, but I haven't had any luck with getting this forums pics upload to work.

Yes, it is definitely a bubble under the skin.

Could have been there when we purchased her though we didn't notice, with all the activity of getting ready for work...just went through the motions of acclimating/releasing before heading out. (We know, not smart...on quick looking, we liked her movement, color, no spots of ick that we could tell, no damaged fins, no popped eyes...so we accepted her and the others)

Should I just exchange her...or is this something that will eventually work its way out? The link didn't give that info.

**Honey Badger 1** · 02-24-2012, 02:40 PM

Well, I've never dealt with it myself, but everything I have read says to add aeration to the tank.
I read four different sources with the below link being the most reputable.

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/disease.html

**foxkitten** · 02-24-2012, 04:53 PM

Thank you for all the links...

We have learned so much with the information from these as well as the Stickys available for each of the different fish and the different forums.

**Scrup** · 02-24-2012, 05:15 PM

Hopefully it is not contagious. Next time I advise quarantining fish before adding them in with others.
Were they sold to you as feeders?

Most feeders are so overbred and inbred that they are very prone to having problems. Keep an eye on it and watch the other fish for symptoms.