Sick corys, please help.

[Supercorygirl]

I order some fish and they arrived yesterday, set them up in a 12G with sand substrate, live plants, 30G sponge filter and 4" air bar. The fish were wild caught from Brazil, 20 eques (which I believe to be melantonaenia now), 10 Arcuatus, all are juveniles to almost adults. The tank was cycled with tank water from a healthy tank and a well seeded sponge filter from another healthy tank. I added some melafix to help destress. Currently have lost 8 Corys from the 30, the odd thing is the dead ones all have red blotches on their bodies. I watch one die, it swims in a death roll before swimming upside down dragging its dorsal through the sand before collapsing on its side and looks like its having a seizure almost (pectorals are vibrating and its gasping). I did a 30% WC and added some kanaplex. I talked to the person i purchased them from and he said they were treated wit 7 day Api general cure. Would really like a second opinion as I think possibly bacterial but ....

[Tony C]

I order some fish and they arrived yesterday, set them up in a 12G with sand substrate, live plants, 30G sponge filter and 4" air bar. The fish were wild caught from Brazil, 20 eques (which I believe to be melantonaenia now), 10 Arcuatus, all are juveniles to almost adults. The tank was cycled with tank water from a healthy tank and a well seeded sponge filter from another healthy tank. I added some melafix to help destress. Currently have lost 8 Corys from the 30, the odd thing is the dead ones all have red blotches on their bodies. I watch one die, it swims in a death roll before swimming upside down dragging its dorsal through the sand before collapsing on its side and looks like its having a seizure almost (pectorals are vibrating and its gasping). I did a 30% WC and added some kanaplex. I talked to the person i purchased them from and he said they were treated wit 7 day Api general cure. Would really like a second opinion as I think possibly bacterial but ....

Looks like hemorrhagic septicemia, an internal bacterial infection typically brought on by stress and/or poor water quality. I've never had any success with treatment, better to prevent it by maintaining perfect water quality during the acclimation period. 30 fish in a 12 gallon tank is way overcrowded, and I doubt your filter could keep up with the sudden ammonia spike even if it was from an established tank. Your best bet is to split them up into smaller groups and perform daily water changes. I typically quarantine 4-6 Corys in a 10 gallon tank and change 50% of the water each day.

[Coryman]

At the first sign of the "Red Blotch" My advise is to make a 75% or larger water change, and then add a full dose of API's Melafix and a fairly strong air stone. If things have not improved, make a second 50% water-change after two days and repeat the melafix dose. With this treatment I can 95% guarantee success.

Ian

[Supercorygirl]

Thank you for the advice going to give it a try, yes I realize too many for a 10G but it was my order and a friend's and she doesn't have a quarrentine so best option was my 10G which was only meant for my 10. Fingers crossed and am passing along the advice to others

[bunnyrabbit]

Sometimes I have used a large rubbermaid as a quarantine tank, but you won't be able to see the fish easily. Sorry to hear about your losses.