Hi Debs (and everyone else),

Let me first say I totally sympathize with what's going on. Like Michele said, I just went through this. I apologize ahead of time for the ramble to follow....

First off, let me say this- Don't give up! Fish TB is more prevalent than most realize, but it's not everywhere, and it's nothing you did wrong! I know it may sound silly, but watching my fish go through it put me in such a depressed slump I was barely able to function. I felt helpless as my fish died... and it wasn't just a single tank... I believe I had seven at that point.

Fish TB is hard to diagnose. At first, I thought I'd just inbreed some mollies. I thought it was a birth defect and didn't think too much of it until I had a massive die off. I didn't realize I'd lost as many fish as I did... My tank was severely overstocked (over 150 fish in a 75 gallon tank), but it was cycled and apart from the "new tank syndrome" and pH drop, everything was perfect. By the end, I believe I had 12 fish.

What you've described is a possible symptom of Fish TB, but like Ash and Dr. Barb have said, it may also be something else. If you live in the US, shoot me a PM and I can get you the contact info of my vet, she can diagnose it for you... I actually still have fish in my freezer to give her... she has way too much fun doing necropsy's on them... if it IS Fish TB... maybe she, or another vet that treats fish (or wants to learn about them) can help you.

A few more symptoms I have found were severe wasting... their bellies were about the same thickness as a piece of paper... bloating... looked like they swallowed a marble and the curved spine- loss of color only happened days before a fish died. The fish of mine that was diagnosed was actually shaped like a backwards question mark (?) though, and she was just as spunky and active as you can imagine... booger jumped out of her holding tank more than once.

If it IS Fish TB, or even if you suspect it be VERY careful about your hands in the water. From the research I have done, as long as you wash with antibacterial soap for 30 seconds, and then spray your arms/hands with isopropyl alcohol, you'll be fine.

Now, about your tank. I use 70% on mine, and actually cracked one... but stupid me left it to soak... don't do that. lol It'll break your tank in about 10 minutes... what a delightful mess that was to clean up. Generally, I have a spray bottle with a premixed solution of 1:19 bleach and 70% isopropyl alcohol (two different bottles). First, I spray the bleach solution and let it set about 30 minutes, then run it under cold water until I can't smell the bleach anymore. Then I generally rinse about another 10 minutes. After that, I spray the alcohol. It's necessary to saturate the entire tank, and with a spray bottle, I find it easy as the mist goes into cracks and crevices I would miss if I were wiping it down with a cloth or towel. I do NOT let it sit though... I did that with one of my 2.5 gallon tanks and the bottom turned white. (It was a very small amount of alcohol though... what hadn't been poured out. I never did rinse it, I don't think.) It's been about 3 months since then, and it's still sitting empty under my big tank (which still isn't cleaned out... I can't bring myself to empty the gravel yet...). I have told Michele that I would test it to see what happens.... I need to anyway to see if I can use it again or not. All that rambling to say, I think 91% is too potent for acrylic... stick with 70% and rinse it as soon as you're done spraying and you should be ok.

Now, about the fish still alive... I wouldn't euthanize... that's just me. Unless you can find a firm diagnosis, as long as they appear healthy, leave them be. I feel hypocritical saying that, but I had personal reasons for what I did with my tank.

I am sorry I don't have any definitive answers, or perhaps may not have helped at all in this novella sized post, but know you aren't alone in all this... I'll be honest, it really sucks... but you'll get through it, learn a lot and maybe be able to turn around and help someone later.

Oh, and just so everyone knows... Fish TB is most often carried in tap water and some (perhaps lower quality) fish foods.

~Whitney (aka Kairi)