Red Cap and Red Fantails

Question
Hi James,

I hope you may be able to help me.  I have recently started a cold water aquarium initially with 2 Red fantails and a Blue Fantail.  Prior to intrducing the fish I set up the tank 7 days before and treated the water.  Within a day of introducing the fish, the blue fantail had died he had seemed to be quite sick when we left the pet shop.  I removed him from the tank and took him back to the pet shop and exchanged him for a Red Cap fantail.
All seemed well and the top fin on all 3 fish was upright.  about 2 days later I observed little white spots on the tail fins and now a further 5 days later has spread to the Red fantails.  They all look a bit ropey and dozy.  Do you have any idea what is wrong with them and if there is any medication I should introduce to the tank.

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can give.

Regards
Jonathan

Answer
hello,

it sounds alot like your fish hav ich(white spot disease).  Please, go to you local aquarium/pet shop and:
1.  Inform them that there is a good chance that the tank you bought your blue fantail from has ich/white spot (they will know what you mean).
2.  Ask them, for a chemical treatment for white spot.  Either a multi-cure solution (recommended) or something containing machalite green or formulin.
3.  Treat the entire tank.  Do not move them to a hospital tank!

Do this as soon as possible as your fish will die if you don't :(

I hope I helped :),
James