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Lionheads

23 16:22:26

Question
I just bought three lionhead fish a week ago, I found out later that tanks need to be cycled but it's too late now so i'm cycling the tank while the fish are in.  I used water conditionar, added active bacteria, added electrolytes, and I do frequent water checks.  Two of my fish are sick they show white lint like spots on their face, my white one shows rash like patches on her body.  Using the internet I diagnosed them myself to have fungal infections so I'm using Primafix i'm on the 5th day of treatment and some days it gets better, some days they develop other spots but what concerns me is their behaviour.  There are times when they swim rapidly sometimes against the pebbles as if they're itchy or something is bothering them.  I looked up their behaviour and there were suggestions that it could be a nervous system disorder but I don't think it's that.  They eat well, I feed them very little to avoid debris in the water, the water is still cloudy but I have to wait for the 7th day of treatment to do a partial water change.  
So I guess my question is, are my lionheads ok? Do I need to remove the rocks in my tank? Are they itching themselves?  Is there anything I can do to improve their condition?

Thank you for your help

Answer
Hi Diana;

In spite of what the medication label says, you need to make some partial water changes if the fish are to survive. Waste toxins are poisoning them. That's why they seem to be having nervous system problems and skin problems. They may not need medication at all. Toxins burning their skin can cause the same symptoms as infection. Change 50% of the water right away and test the water for the presence of ammonia and nitrites. If either or both are in the 'danger zone' change 25% every day that they are too high. The test kit charts should tell you what level that is. Here is a link to my article about the break-in and what to do for them;

http://www.xanga.com/Expert_Fish_Help

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins