Copperband Not Eating

[christyf5]

Red skin coloration is usually a sign of a (systemic) bacterial infection in which the red area is "hemorrhaging/inflammation".

[Jaws]

Is there any trick to adding the mussels. I've got the extra mussels in a colander (sp?) in the sump to keep them alive. Is there any harm in that? I just dropped one into the main display and the copperband has been picking at it ever since.

[Gools]

I just put them in hot water till they open up, then crack them open alittle, so they don't close up when put in the tank.

[i have crabs]

ive had fish wich bacterial problems before and they get a reddish blotch around the face and where the tail joins the body if he will start eating get some selcon or a vitamin additive for its food,
they have small mouths and have a hard time eating if the food is too big.

[Jaws]

Originally Posted by christyf5

Red skin coloration is usually a sign of a (systemic) bacterial infection in which the red area is "hemorrhaging/inflammation".

Does it usually develop in one day and does the fish die that same day as well?

[christyf5]

No it usually develops over time. The fish doesn't always die. Sometimes with good feeding/medication you can get rid of the infection. It depends on how advanced it is though. And most of the time if you've already introduced the fish to a larger tank, the stress in catching it to treat it makes it worse.

[Jaws]

The first two copperband's I bought were ok for 2 or 3 days and then they each developed this redness in different areas. The same day I noticed the redness, the breathing increased rapidly and they died the same day. Maybe cyanide?

[michika]

garlic extract from the healthfood store works. Go for the organic if your going to go that route.

There is also a couple of seachem (?) products called Garlic, or Entice. Entice smells like that banana-flavored antibiotic that we've all had once or twice.