Siamese FIghting Fish

Question
I have recently had to restock my son's tank and we got two female siamese fighting fish, a bulldog, and two bronse bottom feeders. The last couple of days my tank has started to go cloudy and my siamese seem to have developed tiny white spots all over them, one more than the other i found that one hiding up in tunnel where the water is pumped down into the tank. Please i really do not want to lose anymore fish could there be something wrong with the tank i have? or the water? I am quite new at this and everyone keeps saying different things. the cloudiness of the water could be i am over feeding them but what about the white spots.

Answer
Hi Lindsay,
It may be that your aquarium hasn't been cycled. If you need help on this please read this article. It explains it quite simply-

http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

The cloudy is likely due to the tank not being cycled. The cloudiness is a bacterial bloom of a different species of bacteria that explode in their numbers when nutrient levels are high or suddenly in great abundance. The bacteria's numbers explode and cloud the water.

The best thing to do first is see if you can test your water. You can test your water at home or you can bring a sample to your petstore. Make sure you know the readings of the ammonia,nitrite, and nitrate.

Instead of letting anymore time pass till you can get your water tested. I would do an immediate 50% water change using your gravel vacuum.. Likely there are levels of ammonia present. Always make sure the new water is treated with a good water conditioner and the temperature is equal or just a bit warmer than the tank's. It doesn't hurt your fish to do large water changes like this and it can save their life if the water is really bad.Doing water changes also -won't- cause the cycling process to stop.

Many sources will say not to change more than 10 or 20% of the water or you will harm your fish. This is not true. And I have found out that it is completely safe when working with my own aquariums and dealing with water quality problems. As long as the new water is treated with water conditioner and is equal in temp to the tank it will be fine.

As for the betta with the white spots. Unfortunately this sounds just like ICK. Also called white spot disease. This is a parasite that is VERY common with fish. Especially new fish. It attacks fish that have weakened immune system due to stress from handling, moving to a new tank, and particularly poor water conditions or chilling of the water.

Treating White spot disease is very easy. However, it must be caught in time. A simple medication like "Quick Cure" (found at wal-mart) combined with aquarium salt, raised temperature-82-84F, extra aeration, and daily water changes are all that is needed.

I noticed that you have two bronze cory catfish and a Bulldog Pleco? Is that right? Well, these fish will be much more sensitive to medications than your average fish. So you must be careful whenever you have to treat your tank. Always make sure all the occupants can handle the treatment.

~With Quick cure, you should halve the dose for your catfish and pleco.

This is what I'd do-
*Do a 50% water change
*Gradually raise the temp to 83-85F
*Add half a dose of Quick cure
*Make sure your filter is running at its best (aeration)
*Add an airstone if possible.
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*Every day, change 50% of the water and add a new half-dose of quick cure.

The fish will likely behave stressed. They will probably breath heavier and they may hide or have clamped fins. This is a natural reaction to the medication and all. If they seem really bad off, use your best judgement...change their water.

*Its important to disregard the instructions on the bottle. Although this may seem bad. But its important with ick to treat for at least 14 days to make sure every last ick parasite is gone. Also, most medications don't recommend dosing everyday nor any water changes.
~But its important and the medication is more effective if the water is clean. Dissolved organic matter deactivates the ingredients in meds. And the medication naturally breaks down in the water in just a short time anyway. Water changes also relieves stress on the fish~

Best of luck and I hope this helps!
Karen~