Tetra bleeding internally???

Question

I switched my fish from my 20 gallon to a 55 gallon yesterday. There is a blood parrot cichlid, a pleco, and 3 black skirts. This morning I wake up and the pleco has white dots on his underbelly, and the black skirts whole front area (not face) is red, like its bleeding!

Why is this happening, does the pleco have ich, (the spots look like sand, there only on its underbelly)? What the heck is up with the tetra?

*I fed them frozen blood worms for the first time yesterday if that helps.

Answer 1

Black Skirts may fade in color, or turn darker, but red is extremely abnormal.  If these are the only fish displaying these symptoms, you're probably dealing with septicemia, which is a blood infection.  Using something like Maracyn TC, Maracyn 2, Furan 2, Triple Sulfa, Trisulfa, Metronidazole, Hexamit, Flagy, Kanaplex, or Terramycin would be ideal.  If using tetracycline or minocycline based products, keep the tank dark for the duration of the treatment, as these degrade with exposure to light.

Answer 2

maby you got a bleeding hart tetra

Answer 3

This is a unsual color for the tetra but i have found that mine often change colors in times of  stress. This may be what they are doing. On the bright side of things my black skirts have lived through quite alot. I have had them for over a year already, they have lived through 2 bouts of ick. For the pleco it may be ick, if you really think it is i would seperate him and keep an eye out and treat him at first  with a conditioning salt and raise the water temp. if it gets worse add ick medicine. Watch especially for the ick to spread.