Need Help!

[smeesus]

My piranha seems to have a white film all over , I've been chaning his wanter 30% every week, I have some java moss in the 20 gal tank to hide in, but he still looks like a ghost with the white film. He is acting normally, eating normally, I just don't know what to do about getting that film off him, or if piranha's are suppose to have a while film as they get older...... please help

[tims]

your talking the fresh water bugger huh...
no the white film on him is not a good thing. thatusally means he is sick, it could be Velet or a type of fungus, but funguses usally appear as a single patch on one area..
there are meds you can add to the water to take care of this.
you might need to remove the carbon from the filter. and doa good tank claening after it.
is he still eating?

[bsauer]

Originally Posted by tims

your talking the fresh water bugger huh...
no the white film on him is not a good thing. thatusally means he is sick, it could be Velet or a type of fungus, but funguses usally appear as a single patch on one area..
there are meds you can add to the water to take care of this.
you might need to remove the carbon from the filter. and doa good tank claening after it.
is he still eating?

Yeah, it sounds like velvet to me, or some type of ich protozoan. It usually doesn't affect the eating habits until they are really sick...so it sounds like you have a fighting chance.
You should remove your carbon and any plants and treat the tank with copper sulfate...(might be listed under treatment for "ich", "slimy skin disease" or "velvet disease".
Try and find a picture first to make sure and then treat as quickly as possible before he gets too sick.

[smeesus]

thanks for the advice, I will get right on that.