Allergic Reaction to Food?

[Tony]

Jim Peck was over last night and I was feeding the big tanks. Ran out of the large NLS, so went with another product that I picked up at the convention. I put in an average amount and my big haps in the 180 quickly dispatched it as typical.

Within a few minutes, many of the fish were scratching, most notably the F. rostratus and a few of the female peacocks.

Worst of all, the two largest male rostratus developed dark random blotches on their faces, throats and gill plates. It almost looked like the nerve damage you see on some fish that sustain head trauma.

I did a 70% +/- water change and added a bunch of Prime, salt and baking soda to try to make things more comfortable for them.

The scratching subsided and the blotches lightened, but were still present when I went to sleep a couple of hours later. I did not have time to check them this morning.

Of the other fish in the tank, no others were affected in the manner, nor were fish in the all-male 150. I changed water in the other tank to be sure.

Other pertinent factors - the water was relatively clean. Did a large water change last week. Temperature was normal. No new fish added for months.

Prior to feeding them, we watched them for a while and saw no strange behavior or makings on the big boys. I have to assume it had to do with the food....

Anyone ever heard of this happening before?

[Pete]

I had some Discus that were allergic (as far as I could make out) to Color Bits.

[davidhusker]

Never heard of anything like this. Hopefully its just a temporary thing for them.

[Heyguy74]

I guess its possible. What was the food? Is it possible that something was on your hands. Lotion etc.

[Tony]

I guess its possible. What was the food? Is it possible that something was on your hands. Lotion etc.

Nah, no lotion. Had had my hands in tanks for a few hours before that, doing maintenance.

I'd rather not say which manufacturer; suffice to say it is a major and respected one in the community. I don't want to turn this thread into a witch hunt and be responsible for losing a respectable company hard-earned business. The internet can be a vicious place.

[triscuit]

That's Bizarre. I suspect that there's a contaminant in the food, rather than an allergy, but either way I'd throw it out.

I suggest not feeding for a few days, add 1 TBS Epsom salt per 5 gallons, and get the stuff out of their system. Epsom works as a laxative on fish as well as people, and may have some other therapeutic effects in the gut (according to folks on the aca forum). If there is a contaminant, it's best to get it out asap...

[Tony]

That's a great idea, Mel. Thanks. :)

[fischfan13]

Tony, is it the same food that we both had on Sunday night?

[Tony]

Tony, is it the same food that we both had on Sunday night?

Fish tacos?

But yeah, I think we're talking the same stuff.

[fischfan13]

No problems here. I tried the flakes and pellets (small and large) with no issues.

[dogofwar]

Wow - never heard of a reaction like this before...

Matt

[fischfan13]

Since Tony and I have figured out that we have both fed our fish the same food that is in question, and that I have seen no problems at all I think it is only fair to mention the food in question...
Xtreme Big-Fella.

We both received the same food from the same case at the same exact time...

This will clear the air of people wanting to know what is was.

[emartin]

I haven't had problems with it either. While it isn't my favorite fish food, I do feed it a little every once in a while. Never had fish react that way to it though...all I ever had happen was a very foul odor would come from the tank I fed the food to and last a couple hours but I always figured that was just from the fish meal and the fact that my big haplochromines eat huge quantities of the stuff.

[dogofwar]

I've used a couple of big containers of the Xtreme Big Fella without issue...and like the Xtreme food a lot.

I've found the Xtreme to make the water / tank / room smell better than NLS (which I also use). Less garlic, probably :)

Have the symptoms subsided?

Matt

[finman57]

Okay, I did an experiment this morning at 8 am.

I opened a new container.

I gave it to

the Discus tank

another new world tank (no idea what the fish are)

a peacock tank

and my yellow labs.



Other than the labs having full mouths for so long because of the size of the food.... no reaction at all. Its been 45 minutes so far.
I will check back no an hour.

[finman57]

10:10. all is well.