Guest stephc Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 I think my oranda Ash might have a problem with his eye. Test Results for the Following: Ammonia Level? Nitrite Level? Nitrate level? Ph Level, (If possible,KH and GH and chloramines)? Ph Level out of the Tap? Sorry don't have any of these at the mo, can get them later on, but test often and always pH 7.5, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0 and nitrate 10 Tank size (How many Gals) and How long has it been running? About 24 US gallons I think, 20 UK gallons. running with these fish for 6 months What is the name and size of the filter/s? Fluval 3Plus 185 Gal/h and Fluval 1Plus 30-50 Gal/h How often do you change the water and how much? About 80% every 3-4 weeks at the moment. I know I should probs do it more often but I simply don't have the time right now. When I do have time I change 30-50% weekly. How many fish in the tank and their size? 2 orandas, Ash is about 2.5inches and Bruce is about 3 inches What kind of water additives or conditioners? King British Safe Guard Any medications added to the tank? No Add any new fish to the tank? No What do you feed your fish? Flakes, frozen bloodworm,daphnia and brine shrimp, Hikari oranda gold Any unusual findings on the fish such as "grains of salt", bloody streaks, frayed fins or fungus? His left eye is sticking out more than his right one, and there is a kind of white line/lump just above it Any unusual behavior like staying at the bottom, not eating, ect..? Sitting on the bottom quite a lot, but eating fine I've always noticed his left eye more, maybe cause it's blue and his other is brown, but now it's sticking out and there is this white mark above it. I think it might be bigger than his other eye as well. I have pics but they aren't great. http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/maj...sh/DSC01468.jpg http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/maj...sh/DSC01465.jpg You can see the white mark in that one, but it's not quite as big as it looks in the pic. I will do a big water change tomorrow, and try and test the water either later tonight or tomorrow, but does anyone have any idea what it could be, and what I can do about it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Trinket Posted January 8, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted January 8, 2008 Yes. It's fluid build up behind the eye, sometimes called pop-eye. The root cause will be your missing those more rregular weekly water changes being busy. What happens is the bacteria levels (which you cannot see) in the water build up and the bacteria enters the fish and causes swelling. The area behind the eye is a common place for that bacteria and fluid to accumulate. This can take a long time to heal and can also be the start of farther problems. It is not a specific disease but a symptom of many that might follow. Hopefully you have noticed in time. You will have to do daily water changes for a week to get that bacterial level back within safety limits and a good rinsing off of your filter media too. Then, try to get back into a routine like twice weekly 30% w/cs. The trouble is goldies need regularity. These things often crop up when we slip from a routine. We all do it. I would hold off on any meds for a few days while you get your water on track. Water test kits would also be a priority to check there is no ammonia or nitrites or high nitrates in your water, all of which are always so dangerous to fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stephc Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Thanks. What about the other fish in there, is he in danger of getting the same thing? I changed almost all the water today and rinsed the filter media. Daily water changes will be a problem but I will try my best. How much should I change? Will 10% be enough? I have a water test kit but just haven't found the time to test the water yet. He hasn't been bottom sitting or anyhing since I change the water. What sort of meds will I need? Would salting be enough or will I need a specific medication? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stephc Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Ash's eye is looking different today. Less stuck out, and where it is stuck out is different to where it was the other day. Is this just fluid moving around or is it possible it isn't pop-eye? Finally found time to do water tests: Ph: 7.5 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 5 They are both a lot more active now I've changed their water. I did a 10% change today. Also as a side question, is there any reason why one of his eyes is brown and the other is blue? Or is it just a quirk like some humans have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member claire_uk Posted January 9, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted January 9, 2008 Hi, I will reply until a helper or mod can return to your thread to add more info. Changing most of the water in one day can disrupt your cycle, so try to test tomorrow as well to make sure that your levels for NitrIte, Ammonia and NitrAte are still within normal range. Did you rinse your filter media with tank water or tap water? If with tap water you will have killed the good bacteria. If levels are normal in the tank tomorrow, keep an eye on them and change the water accordingly. Once a week would be better for your fish, and if you test the water before a water change this will tell you how much to do. Try to have a read of the links in Pixiefish signature, they are interesting and contain useful information. If it is Pop eye caused by bacteria level build up then your other fish could get an infection, he may just have a higher immune system and isnt showing symptoms yet. Doing regular water changes will help. Looking at the pictures of the eyes for eye colour, is it that one eye is one big black pupil and the other has colour around it? Or is one blue colour and the other brown colour? I couldnt quite see from the pics sorry. I cant add anything else for now, im sure Pixiefish will be back on to check on your thread, please answer as many questions as possible so she can advise on a course of treatment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stephc Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 I've changed most of their water a few times now without disrupting the cycle. The tests today were 24 hours after the change, but I'll try and test again tomorrow. I rinsed the filters in the tank water, always do. Also made sure they were sat in a bucket of the tank water while they were out of the tank. Ash has always been the one to get things wrong with him, ever since I got them. I think Ash has had 4 things in 5-6 months while Bruce has had none. With his eyes, one is blue colour and one is brown colour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Trinket Posted January 10, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted January 10, 2008 Hello Steph. Is there any chance at all of a pic of Ashes eyes? You can host the pic at photobucketand either drag the IMG to paste here or copy the link. It would help a lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stephc Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Sure. Best I could get for now: http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/maj...sh/DSC01475.jpg http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/maj...sh/DSC01476.jpg http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/maj...sh/DSC01477.jpg ....compared to the other day ( http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/maj...sh/DSC01477.jpg ) his eye looks a lot less stuck out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Trinket Posted January 10, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted January 10, 2008 Mmm. It does still look like there is slight fluid build up. And he has that yellow tinge to his tail that I've seen fish get when theres something internal going on. Definitely battling some bacteria but hard to say which. I think I would get hold of some baktopurdirect -a UK med- to have at hand and ready to use if this gets any worse. Which eye is the blue one? The raised one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stephc Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 The blue one is the raised one yes. Is this the stuff: http://www.reptilica.co.uk/product_info.ph...baktopur_direct How many tablets should I get? Just a bit concerned about the price as I don't have a lot of money at the moment, will 8 be enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Trinket Posted January 10, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted January 10, 2008 Yes that's the one and yes 8 should be enough. It's an excellent medication. Not too harsh on the fish and one of the best you can find in the UK. You have my word. I'd get that & get started soon. Eyes can have a blueish tinge when theres fluid in behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stephc Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 I'm not sure it's really a tinge though, it's totally blue and has been since I got him 5-6 months ago. Could the problem have been there that long but only just be presenting as pop-eye now? I'll order some of the baktopur tomorrow morning and get that started as soon as it arrives. Anything I can do until then? Besides regular water changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Trinket Posted January 10, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted January 10, 2008 You can add a teaspoon of epsom salts if you have any to a cup of tank water and put that in. It has a diuretic effect and can help drain fluids although I don't know that it always helps. Maybe your fish just has always had different color eyes then Cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stephc Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 I only have aquarium salt, it's all the local pet store has. They are terrible for having anything more than the basic stuff. Used to have a local specialist fish store that was just down the road but they moved and it's a quite a way to travel now, wouldn't be able to get there until Sat at least. Will be a bit late by then but I might try and get over there anyway, see what they have. Never a wasted journey as get to see one of my old school mates who I don't see very often anymore. Thanks for the help so far btw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Pixiefish Posted January 10, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted January 10, 2008 Just as a side note - Baktopur Direct will wreck your cycle. So if you have a QT tank to treat in, along with some zeolite, it would be good. Also, you can get Epsom Salts at the chemist here in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stephc Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Yeah I read that on the product discription. I don't have a QT tank. Could I take the main filter out while treating and store it in a bucket of tank water, just have the small filter running? Or will this still ruin my cycle? and cause more problems because the main filter wouldn't be in there? I don't really have the time to do all the daily water changes that come with starting a new cylce. The nearest thing I could get to a QT tank is a 5 gallon-ish small tank with the small (30ish gal./h) filter, a small airpump but nothing else. Would that be ok? It's the setup that my last fish, Greggles, lived in for most of his life. I have a load of big plastic storage tubs layng around full of junk, would think they are 10-15 gallons at least, would one of those be better? Only trouble with those is I'm not sure I'd be able to look in it, they are black and by the time they are on the desk under my bed (only place for it) it's difficult to see in. Might be able to find something else to store it on as it's only temporary. Would something that large be ok with just the small filter though? And do I need/should I consider getting a heater of some kind? It's quite cold here at the moment, tank water is at 20C/68F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Trinket Posted January 11, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted January 11, 2008 Tank water at 20 is okay. Much lower and you may need a heater yes. Most important is to avoid fluctuations... How is he doing today? How is his behavior? I usually give my fish a few days after noticing symptoms just to check if good water doesn't perk them up and reduce swelling/symptoms...has that yellow in the tail regressed? Does the eye look any less prominent? The plastic tubs you have being black may leach plasticides so better stick with the small tank to be safe. Zeolite will help keep ammonia at bay and any filter is better than none. That is -unless Pixie comes back on and can recommend another treatment that wont affect the cycle. Shes in the UK too so knows what you have there. I wish you guys could get medicated food for example.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stephc Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 He's doing fine today. Swimming around a good amount but also spending some time sitting under the filter. The yellow is still there but I can hardly notice his eye sticking out anymore. I'm going to look for a clear plastic tub, and make sure it would be ok to keep him in for a while. I don't really want to take him out of a big 20 gallon tank and put him into a tiny 5 gallon one, but if I can't find a tub then I will put him in the small tank. I don't have Zeolite but I have other things that get rid of ammonia, Ammono-chips and Nitra-zorb. I'll look for a heater as well, they don't seem too expensive and as I always say, it's better to have something and not need it than to not have smething but need it. The temp doesn't fluctuate much, it gradually raises as the weather gets warmer, think the highest it's been on a warm day was about 27C. It's normally around 23-24. Water tests from today are the same as before. pH 7.5, ammonia 0, nitrIte 0 and nitrAte 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Pixiefish Posted January 11, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted January 11, 2008 Well, to my knowledge the Baktopur is our best option here. If you wanted to treat him in the tank, you could keep your main filter ticking over in a bucket of tank water which you could feed with fishfood to keep the bacteria alive - then use ammo-chip in the tank along with good aeration. Otherwise, Ryman's and Staples sell a range called 'really useful boxes' which are sized by volume. I use these for QT. http://www.reallyusefulproducts.co.uk/uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stephc Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Thanks. I'll try and get down the shops later and see if they have any. What size would you recommend? Also would you recommend and particular make of heater? I've looked at Fluval and Sera ones. I've read good and bad things about both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Pixiefish Posted January 12, 2008 Regular Member Share Posted January 12, 2008 I have a 42L, which is just over 11 US gals. There is also a 35L which is just under 10g. Not good on heaters myself as I've never researched which are better than others. Someone in 'Tanks and Equipment' will be able to give advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stephc Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Ash has dropsy. His scales are sticking out and his eyes are like sunk in. I'm still waiting for the baktopur, I wasn't worried cause his eye was ok. I've got a plastic tub (80ltr, although only has 40 in at the mo) but the temp is only at 17C so I was going to get a heater tonight and hope the stuff came tomoz. I've put some King British Bacteria Control in the tank, is there anything else I can do for him? Will it be ok to transfer him to the hospital tank when the baktopur finally does arrive even though he's had some treatment already? What about Bruce? He isn't showing any symptoms (although has a bit of yellow on him like Ash) should I transfer him as well just in case? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stephc Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Too late to edit, sorry. What signs should I look for, for him getting better/worse? How long should it take for his scales to get back to normal after treatment? I know it's probably different for every fish and medication, but is there like an average? Grr I so I wish I lived in the US, this would be easier, could even been avoided, with medicated food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stephc Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Anyone? Ash's eyes are a lot better today, one is almost back to normal, the other only sunk in a little a bit. He also looks less bloated, and while the pine-coning hasn't got better, it doesn't look like it has got worse either. He is still eating fine and showing an interest in food, and he is as actve as ever. Bruce is still fine (apart from the slight yellowness like Ash) I got a heater yesterday and it's been in the hospital tank for nearly 24 hours now, temp is at about 23C. Temp in main tank is about 21.5C....what should I do when I transfer him over? How different can the temps be? And if the current treatment is working (which it seems to be) should I still treat with the new stuff in the hospital tank? And one last thing, the bacteria that caused the dropsy, will that still be in the main tank? or should the treatment I'm using now kill it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stephc Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 No one? Please? I don't like to keep posting, and I don't want to seem rude, or break any rules or anything, but I feel like I'm being ignored, when I'm very worried about my fish and need advice. I didn't want to start a new thread in the 911 section as more than likely anyone who read that would read this too, but will that be the only way to get a reply? Again, I don't want to seem rude, but it's kind of frustrating being worried and having no one reply, especially as mods and helpers have been online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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