fin rot, hard breathing

[beebubbug]

have a couple of sick heckels with fin rot and labored breathing they are in sick tank know with salt and 86deg
water never used meds any suggestions?

[brewmaster15]

How much salt? Theres alot of causes for fin rot, Can you post some more detail on these fish?

thanks,
al

[beebubbug]

now their is 1 table spoon per 10 gal. temp is at 88 deg.
on one of them gills are swolen and almost entire body is black, the other one still has its color. can this be from bad black worms? other fish in show tank are still fine i dont know how this can happen to two fish . i have had these fish for about 5 months were very healthy.

[Carol_Roberts]

Fin rot usually is from a bacterial cause. Bacteria is in the tank at all times, but sometimes the levels skyrocket. First line of defense is always clean tank, clean filters, do more water changes - and add salt - more than 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons. Bump it up to 5 tablespppons per 10 gallons for now. IF bacterial lower your heat 2 degrees per day down to 84.

Is this tank barebottom?

Do the fins look like they are melting? If yes you may need a good gram negative antibiotic for fin rot.

Eating too many blackworms or blackworms that have gone bad will cause them to turn dark, beath hard and appear distressed. . . . so will many illnessses.