can fish parasites infect my turts?

[Shaun Flynn]

Hello all, I have five cichlids in my tank with my 3 terrapins that are 6-7 months old. I have noticed two of the fish scraping their sides against the gravel, one is discolored, and three have had a loss of appetite. after doing some research I have found that either Ich or Velvet is most likely affecting my fish. Can these parasites also infect my turtles? If so, are the treatments different for turtles as opposed to the fish or can one medication treat the tank and all of its inhabitants? Can anyone recommend a medication to use? Thanks in advance for your help. Shaun

[Michelle E. McGuffin]

Shaun, Sorry to hear your fish are ill. Not fun. If possible a large water change and filter clean up is likely in order. Fish make great water quality control beacons and are usually the first to show stress and/or illness. What kind of cichlids are they? African or American? The American cichlids don’t need as hard of water as most African species. Softer water could potentially stress out the African guys as there is less calcium carbonate etc in the water to help buffer it and prevent it from becoming too acidic (which commonly occurs in a heavily inhabited tank). Aim for hard water of a pH greater than or equal to 8, GH 7 and a KH of 10-12 if you have African species. I’d dump in a bunch of salt after the big water change and filter clean up. http://www.americancichlids.com/disease.htm The salt won’t hurt the diamondbacks at all but may be too much for more sensitive species you may have mixed in there (fish and/or turtles). It may be best for all involved if the sick fish were treated alone with no other turtles/fish… especially if meds are used. I wouldn’t think the parasites would infect your turtles but who knows. The fish could use a healing time out I’m sure anyways. Ensure your water is warm enough… 26-27’C (79-81’F) you can bring it down a bit after they are healed up but I wouldn’t go any lower than 24’C (75’F) for everyday maintenance. As far as meds… I would assume what is ok for a fish would be ok for a turtle but do we really know what is ok for a fish? Seems many fish die when medicated… is it the disease or the med? Here is a site on treatment of parasites: http://boeing_dude.tripod.com/id50.htm And one on illnesses in general: http://aquariumhobbyist.com/artoffishkeeping/disease.html I’ve used successfully used Maracide in the past with my fish… turns your water a lovely green. Apparently they have changed the formula so it isn’t as safe for scaleless fishes (cichlids have scales so not much of a worry… but what about turtles if they are still with the fish – probably best to leave them out of the treatment regardless?) http://www.loaches.com/maracide.html I usually used some sort of antibacterial/antibiotic at the same time to prevent secondary bacterial infections. Mardel has some tablets I’ve used in the past or Melafix would likely even work well. Any antibiotic/bacterial you use will mess with the good flora you have going on in your tank (filters, turtle/fish guts etc)… and could cause more toxicity issues. I feel pretty safe with the melafix and pimafix for toxicity and I do give them some probiotics to help reseed their guts and the filters after all are healed. Copper safe seems to have good reviews as a paracide. http://www.loaches.com/copper2.html Best of luck with the parasites. Michelle —–Original Message—– From: Shaun Flynn [mailto:dacaptain78@…] Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 11:28 AM To: diamondbackterrapins@yahoogroups.com Subject: [diamondbackterrapins] can fish parasites infect my turts? Hello all, I have five cichlids in my tank with my 3 terrapins that are 6-7 months old. I have noticed two of the fish scraping their sides against the gravel, one is discolored, and three have had a loss of appetite. after doing some research I have found that either Ich or Velvet is most likely affecting my fish. Can these parasites also infect my turtles? If so, are the treatments different for turtles as opposed to the fish or can one medication treat the tank and all of its inhabitants? Can anyone recommend a medication to use? Thanks in advance for your help. Shaun — No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.6.4 – Release Date: 3/7/2005

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