MInnowMan18899 MInnowMan18899
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  • Posted on: 17/4/2024 15:47
White Cloud Minnow Blackened Tail, White lump, fast breathing #1
Hi Aquarists! I've had some white clouds for about a year in a low-tech pseudo-walstad tank. I started with two who happened to multiply; I now have seven. The largest one has been taken ill for almost a week now, and he has the following symptoms:

Tail appears irregularly bent near the leading edge of the anal fin.
Blackened rear half of body from dorsal fin to caudal fin.
Buoyancy - floats upward tail-first.
I noticed that some scales appeared to be lifting up slightly near the site of the bend.
Round white lump on dorsal fin
Hyperventilating

The above symptoms are listed in the approximate order that I noticed them, as they developed over several days until today.

I've seen a few different sources which all seem to have different ideas as to what it may be. Please advise. Image below. He is currently in a small holding container to protect his family in case it's communicable.

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MInnowMan18899 MInnowMan18899
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  • Posted on: 17/4/2024 15:48
Re: White Cloud Minnow Blackened Tail, White lump, fast breathing #2
Additional image for reference:

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fcmf fcmf
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  • Posted on: 18/4/2024 13:12
Re: White Cloud Minnow Blackened Tail, White lump, fast breathing #3
Thanks very much for the helpful description and accompanying photos.

I don't think this is one that is easy to diagnose and/or it is beyond my experience.
I have had these types of scenarios before but have always had several ongoing theories as to what they might be.
For example, in your case, it looks as though there might be a growth or even ?fracture/injury at the leading age of the anal fin (may have occurred in the frenzy for food or sparring with another fish, or may be an internal growth), which might very well account for the blackening and buoyancy going awry. The lifting scales, if localised to the site of the bend, are more likely because of it rather than dropsy which tends to be all over. The round white lump on the dorsal fin might be another growth, or it might be that something internal is causing all of this, and the hyperventilation a consequence of the stress on the fish.

When I have situations such as this, I usually have the dilemma over whether to isolate in a hospital tank (if I think it's communicable) and chance a treatment such as eSHa 2000 in case it's an internal bacterial infection, or keep monitoring the situation and hoping that more regular water changes and some sort of 'tonic' that doesn't affect the other fish might help (personally, I like Melafix in such situations, but I know others don't). Some of my fish have been ok with isolation, others get more stressed and I've returned them to the main tank before dosing the medication.
In your case, fortunately this holding container suggests that yours is ok with isolation, so you could put it in a hospital tank with filter (containing filter media from the current filter) to treat. Another option (and *especially* if you don't have an additional tank with filter which the fish would need) is a small breeding box for use in the main tank which enables closer monitoring of it and might be less stressful for it if not being cascaded around the tank or investigated/poked at by curious tankmates - either a collapsible/stowable 'mesh incubator' or an 'acrylic isolation box' (which I would think would be ideal for your situation).

Hope this helps somewhat.

[NB. Ensure that water quality is optimum at all times too - 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites (and <20 nitrates if at all possible, or no more than 20 above whatever your tap water reading is).]
MInnowMan18899 MInnowMan18899
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  • Posted on: 23/4/2024 7:15
Re: White Cloud Minnow Blackened Tail, White lump, fast breathing #4
Hi fcmf, thanks for all your advice. Unfortunately the poor patient went belly up today. I've also tested the water, and lo and behold, ammonia and nitrites levels are above optimal. I had returned him to the main tank a few days ago, which I think could've been a bad choice as the others were pecking at his fins this morning. I think it is likely the original cause of injury could've been sparring, as another (presumable) male in the tank had been displaying its fins, and onset was quite sudden. Do you have any suggestions for preventing sparring in the future? I'll also work on rebalancing the cycle moving forward.

For the past few days he had been hiding in this rock to help keep himself down - so cute but somewhat sad :')

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fcmf fcmf
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  • Posted on: 25/4/2024 9:02
Re: White Cloud Minnow Blackened Tail, White lump, fast breathing #5
Aw, sorry to read this. I completely agree with the 'cute but sad' scenario in the photo.
Yes, keep working on ensuring water quality is optimum at all times. Even removing and replacing (with dechlorinator, of course) a few jugfuls of water each day can help towards that. These articles might also be helpful:
https://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles ... ammonia-nitrite-spike.htm
https://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles ... rates-in-the-aquarium.htm
In terms of preventing sparring, I tend to ensure that there are plenty of plants to break "lines of sight" (live or silk plants), so that each fish can have its own resting spot without constantly having others in full view and the temptation to start sparring. I also find that, if I witness sparring, I can usually interrupt it by engaging with the tank inhabitants - they tend to get distracted when I approach the tank (likely assume they're going to be fed) and then forget the sparring.