Bloodworms Killing Fish?

Question

I have a 38 gallon, freshwater, tank. I've had this particular set-up for about 2 months, and the water seems stable. I perform weekly water changes, and my fish seemed healthy. I had :
1 upside-down catfish
1 Green Cory catfish
1 Oriental algae eater
1 Male betta
1 female betta
1 Pleco
2 otocinculus

However, my problem started within the past few days. I had previously fed my fish algae wafers and a rather generic betta food. I bought some bloodworms to supplement them. Within less than 48 hours, my pleco, bettas, upside-down catfish, and one otocinculus began losing their color, and their entire face to their gills were completely white. Only 6 hours after that, and they began having what looked like a white moss grow on them. None of the fish would swim, and my betta, Zander, wouldn't leave the top of the tank or really even move at all. He seemed to barely be alive. Only 4 hours later, all of the fish that lost their color died. What happened?

The bloodworms were freeze-dried. Also, I dont wear lotions, perfumes, or any makeup.
If it caused an intetsinal blockage, I don't understand why their scales would turn white and develope a white moss/algae..

I used the Tetra(brand) Bloodworms, so I figured it was alright. I hadn't had trouble with any other Tetra products..

Answer 1

It's not the bloodworms that caused this actually. Just like Soop said, it's more of a coincidence really. White puffy stuff is a fungus, but I really wouldn't use coppersafe for that. Not that you can't but not as my first line of defense really. I'd reccomend something along the lines of a broad scale anti fungal for a first treatment option, or maybe even Clout, see if that solves the problem first, and if it persists, then hit it with coppersafe. Coppersafe is actually copper sulfate, so there is one thing you need to know about this product. If you have a planted tank, you better get your plants out long before you use it. Coppersafe will pretty effectively wipe out all your plants. I can tell you that from personal experience using that prodcut. I agree the problem is a fungus, try a broad spectrum anti fungal treatment first though before any copper treatments.

Answer 2

Maybe the change in diet upset them. I know it can happen in mammals like dogs and cats, but I didn't know it could happen to fish, too...

If it was just one or two, I would say it was a hard particle in the can that killed them, but 5 fish all of a sudden is no coincidence.

The mold is really mysterious... maybe the can was infected at the factory? Try another can of it instead, only test it on some rosy feeders or something first.

Answer 3

I've also enccountered this within my own fish tank and bloodworms. The water in our tank went foggy and our fish got sick, luckily we only loss some neon tetras not the plecos. What we think happened was with the frozen bloodworms, someone might of left them out and then later put them in the freezer. This of course can therefore be sort of classifed as "fish food poisoning" we then later switched back to tropical fish flakes and our fish were fine...

Not sure if this could be the case for you but thats my experience. Goodluck with the pleco! :)

Answer 4

The only thing that would have caused the "white fuzz/moss" on your fish would be a fungal infection, which has nothing to do with bloodworms. It is purely cooincidental that the fungus appeared when you fed them bloodworms. When they are freeze dried, any harmufl pathogens are killed, so infection by ingestion is out of the question. Treat them with a fungal medication such as Coppersafe. Be sure to follow the instructions on the medication to the letter! Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Soop Nazi

Answer 5

I don't know why bloodworms would kill any of your fish. Were they frozen or freeze dried. If freeze dried did you pre soak them first? Freeze dried foods will expand and if the fish eat enough it could possibly cause an intestinal blockage. Never use tap water to soak them in. If they were frozen then there is no reason why they would kill your fish, unless they came in to contact with any lotions or soap on your hands.

Answer 6

its possible that the bloodworm was somehow contained the virus the killed your fish check in to see otherwise if your fish are very small bloodworm have tiny hooks on them that can sometimes get caught inside of them but i doubt that would of happened to all the fish and it wouldnt of created a white moss so i think that there was a diease in the blood worm in the future by brian shrimp for little fish and make sure u by a good and trusted brand

Answer 7

maybe you bouht bad blood worms?