Regular Member misssmountain Posted July 23, 2016 Regular Member Share Posted July 23, 2016 Hi all, My fish Nacho (confirmed female) is sick! I just lost another fish a couple of weeks ago from dropsy symptoms that came on suddenly. I put him in a QT with meds but it was too late. At my next water change, I noticed Nacho was pineconing also! I moved her to a 10g QT and this is what I have done so far: Wed 7/13 -- Moved to a QT tank with 1 tsp Epsom salt and 1 dose Metroplex, added PraziPro to the main tank Fri 7/15 -- WC for the QT, replaced 1 tsp Epsom and 1 dose Metroplex Sun 7/17 -- WC for the QT, since I hadn't seen any improvement I upped the Epsom salt to 2 tsp, added 1 dose of Metroplex, and 1 dose of Kanaplex Tues 7/19 -- same as above, again added Prazi to main tank Thurs 7/21 -- WC for the QT, scales are laying almost completely flat now, so I went back down to Epsom salt 1 tsp, 1 dose Metroplex, 1 dose Kanaplex Tomorrow will be my last dose of Kanaplex, and I will continue with Metro for a few more rounds after that. I may discontinue Epsom at this point too since the scales aren't really pineconing anymore. The only symptom she still has is fluid rings/sacks around her eyes. She's gotten them on and off for a long time, but this time they really don't seem to be going away. Anything else I can do? Test Results for the Following: * Ammonia Level(Tank) - 0 * Nitrite Level(Tank) - 0 * Nitrate level(Tank) - 10/15 * Ammonia Level(Tap) - 0.5 * Nitrite Level(Tap) - 0 * Nitrate level(Tap) - 5 * Ph Level, Tank (If possible, KH, GH and chloramines) - 8.0 * Ph Level, Tap (If possible, KH, GH and chloramines) - 8.2 Other Required Info: * Brand of test-kit used and whether strips or drops? API Test Kit, liquid drops * Water temperature? Tank is at 78 degrees right now -- it's hot in SoCal! * Tank size (how many gals.) and how long has it been running? - 60g, since December 2014 * What is the name and "size of the filter"(s)? Penguin HOB 200 filter, Rena Filstar Large canister * How often do you change the water and how much? - once a week, 80-90% * How many days ago was the last water change and how much did you change? I clean the tank every Tuesday or Wednesday, last change in the main tank was Tuesday, about 85% * How many fish in the tank and their size? 3 Orandas, one about 6", one about 5", one about 4" * What kind of water additives or conditioners? - Prime * What do you feed your fish and how often? I do a mix of sinking pellets (Hikari purple as base), frozen brine shrimp/bloodworms/emerald entree, NewEra gel food -- I feed a couple times a day, rotating between all of that * Any new fish added to the tank? - no * Any medications added to the tank? I added PraziPro after my last 2 water changes * List entire medication/treatment history for fish and tank. Please include salt, Prazi, PP, etc and the approximate time and duration of treatment. I haven't had to treat the tank for anything in a very long time * Any unusual findings on the fish such as "grains of salt," bloody streaks, frayed fins or fungus? pineconing (mostly gone now), fluid rings/sacks around eyes * Any unusual behavior like staying at the bottom, not eating, etc.? No, she is still eating and behaving normally 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helper Arctic Mama Posted July 23, 2016 Helper Share Posted July 23, 2016 (edited) Can you get us a picture or video of her body and eyes? Edited July 23, 2016 by Arctic Mama 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member misssmountain Posted July 23, 2016 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 23, 2016 Can you get us a picture or video of her body and eyes? Sure. Will take some tomorrow when I change the water in QT. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member misssmountain Posted July 23, 2016 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 23, 2016 Here are some pics...I guess her body does still look slightly pineconed 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helper Arctic Mama Posted July 23, 2016 Helper Share Posted July 23, 2016 Yeah, it does look like the dropsy is unresolved. Definitely continue Epsom and metro. If nacho is improving I'd extend it another seven days for a 21 day round, which is about as long as we can stretch it. If you'd consider it won oxytetracycline food might be enough to knock the infection causing the dropsy. You can order it from here and feed it concurrently with the metro: http://www.angelsplus.com/FlakeMedAntibiotic.htm It's the antibiotic II. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member misssmountain Posted July 25, 2016 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 25, 2016 Yeah, it does look like the dropsy is unresolved. Definitely continue Epsom and metro. If nacho is improving I'd extend it another seven days for a 21 day round, which is about as long as we can stretch it. If you'd consider it won oxytetracycline food might be enough to knock the infection causing the dropsy. You can order it from here and feed it concurrently with the metro: http://www.angelsplus.com/FlakeMedAntibiotic.htm It's the antibiotic II. Thanks. Yeah, I didn't realize she was still a bit pineconed until I took the pics Just to clarify, when I clean the QT today, I am doing the METRO for a total of 21 days, but discontinuing the KANA, as I have already done 4 doses/8 days worth. Is that correct? I will look at that food...shipping looks expensive But I'll see if I can squeeze in an order before payday. And looking ahead, what happens after 21 days if she's not better? What is your recommendation? Thanks again! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helper Arctic Mama Posted July 25, 2016 Helper Share Posted July 25, 2016 Correct - continue the kanaplex for the minimum amount of doses, which I believe is indeed eight days. Then you can discontinue it and do the 22 day metro round with the oxytetracycline added in whenever it arrives. The oxy powder is a little expensive but not bad and the food is cheap. The shipping is just usps priority mail, nothing too expensive even here in Alaska. But I did throw in some other items to meet the shipping order minimum. Well worth the cost since it is a hard medication to find locally though 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member misssmountain Posted July 26, 2016 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 26, 2016 Correct - continue the kanaplex for the minimum amount of doses, which I believe is indeed eight days. Then you can discontinue it and do the 22 day metro round with the oxytetracycline added in whenever it arrives. The oxy powder is a little expensive but not bad and the food is cheap. The shipping is just usps priority mail, nothing too expensive even here in Alaska. But I did throw in some other items to meet the shipping order minimum. Well worth the cost since it is a hard medication to find locally though Alrighty...I ordered a less expensive version of the flakes I found elsewhere. It looks comparable so hopefully it helps. Should be here Monday. I'm a little hesitant to order more stuff and spend money right now because I'm feeling unsure of my future with fish keeping. It's been great, and I've learned a lot, but anytime I have to medicate/QT it's just so stressful and sometimes hard to watch and I'm just not sure if I want to keep going with it. I'll keep the two I have as long as I can, and of course nacho if she pulls through, but for now I'm not sure if I want to really get anything new or continue with this beyond what I have right now. Anyway, that could all change tomorrow, but right now I'm just like...blah. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member misssmountain Posted August 3, 2016 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 3, 2016 Correct - continue the kanaplex for the minimum amount of doses, which I believe is indeed eight days. Then you can discontinue it and do the 22 day metro round with the oxytetracycline added in whenever it arrives. The oxy powder is a little expensive but not bad and the food is cheap. The shipping is just usps priority mail, nothing too expensive even here in Alaska. But I did throw in some other items to meet the shipping order minimum. Well worth the cost since it is a hard medication to find locally though Alright, I've finished the 3 weeks of metro. She's not pineconed anymore, but the scales are also not completely flat. She's eating the medicated food, but I've also noticed she isn't really active much. She'll perk up if I'm near the tank, but I just don't see her swimming around like she's 100%. I don't feel like she's knocking on death's door, but I also know she is not well. As it stands, currently I don't feel comfortable putting her back in the big tank. So, what to do? How should I move forward? I know it's a super personal decision and ultimately my choice, but just curious what anyone here would do? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helper Arctic Mama Posted August 4, 2016 Helper Share Posted August 4, 2016 Are you sure she has had enough of the medicated food? Can you link me to the one you ended up buying? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member misssmountain Posted August 4, 2016 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 4, 2016 Are you sure she has had enough of the medicated food? Can you link me to the one you ended up buying? I bought this one (the oxy one, not kanamycin): http://www.ebay.com/itm/151222230764?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=450261308184&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helper Arctic Mama Posted August 4, 2016 Helper Share Posted August 4, 2016 (edited) I can't read the feeding directions, what is the dose? 2% of body weight daily is standard but flake foods can make that harder to gauge. The reason I am asking is that if it was fed in sufficient quantity we can eliminate that treatment from use for awhile and assume it isn't going to help here, but if you under dosed it then we can do more days at the proper dose to see if it will still work. Make sense? Basically I need to the dose and duration of that treatment to know how to proceed, since I'm not familiar with the brand Edited August 4, 2016 by Arctic Mama 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member misssmountain Posted August 6, 2016 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 6, 2016 I can't read the feeding directions, what is the dose? 2% of body weight daily is standard but flake foods can make that harder to gauge. The reason I am asking is that if it was fed in sufficient quantity we can eliminate that treatment from use for awhile and assume it isn't going to help here, but if you under dosed it then we can do more days at the proper dose to see if it will still work. Make sense? Basically I need to the dose and duration of that treatment to know how to proceed, since I'm not familiar with the brand It doesn't seem to list a dose It does say to feed exclusively for 10 days, I don't know if that is helpful information? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helper Arctic Mama Posted August 6, 2016 Helper Share Posted August 6, 2016 Well that's stupid. They really need to specify, as underfeeding antibiotics means they're much less likely to be truly effective and actually cure the fish. Grr. Use these instructions: http://www.angelsplus.com/ArticleFeedingMedFoods.htm Extend the oxytetracycline round ten more days if you've been feeding it since Monday but in insufficient quantities compared to these instructions, okay? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member misssmountain Posted August 11, 2016 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 11, 2016 Well that's stupid. They really need to specify, as underfeeding antibiotics means they're much less likely to be truly effective and actually cure the fish. Grr. Use these instructions: http://www.angelsplus.com/ArticleFeedingMedFoods.htm Extend the oxytetracycline round ten more days if you've been feeding it since Monday but in insufficient quantities compared to these instructions, okay? I've been feeding this food exclusively and still see no improvement 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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