and this is why we quarantine....

chriscoli

chriscoli

Administrator
So just to follow up on how things are going....

I picked up some Jungle Water Clear Friday night. Was hungry and tired and had a really crazy week at work so I didn't realize till I got home that it was POND water clear. The Google suggests it's the same stuff, but I'm really doubting it. So, didn't use it. Also, the one fish with the spins was dead (not surprising). One down, five still alive. So, Instead of the PP, I did a regular salt dip. This really seemed to help, fish perked right up, bodies looked clean. I put them back into the tank. While admonishing myself for not reading up on the life cycle of these things a little better.

Last night, fish looking stressed again, and could see a few of the parasites back on their bodies. Then I smacked myself upside the head.....duh! There were some Ancistrus in the tank too.....they're probably harboring it as well.

So, today, all fish out and into a salt dip. A new one started to develop the spins, but the dip seems to have helped. I found a few more Ancistrus behind the mattenfilter, too....also into the dip they went. Not wanting to spend more time with this, the filter and tank are hosed down outside and I'll let them dry completely before setting up again. Fish are now in a bare tank and I'm watching to see how they do.
 
Frank Cowherd

Frank Cowherd

Global Moderators
Staff member
If you have emptied the tank to dry it out, I would suggest pouring in enough salt dip solution to coat all gravel and wood and rocks and caves. You can even use a dip with a much higher salt content for this and it will get rid of all possible parasites quickly. You should rub down the glass on the inside with a cloth soaked in the dip solution. Let the whole thing sit for maybe 30 minutes after you complete the wipe down and it will be ready to fill with water and put in fish. No need to rinse, just drain of all liquid dip that you can get out. The extra salt in a Rift Lake set up or even in a SA tanks set up will not make much difference in the final total salinity and the extra bit of salt could be a help to the slime coat of the fish.

Using salt to disinfect the tank, gravel and decorations is quick and easy and makes it so you do not need to dry the tank out. YOu can even do filters with salt , even sponge filters.

TO jump start the bioactivity in the salt treated tank use some filter squeezing from a tank that is in great shape. Now, with the new technology, you can buy the good bacteria in a bottle an use it. SO that is another option.
 
chriscoli

chriscoli

Administrator
Thanks, Frank. Fortunately it was a pretty simple tank to start with....easily replaced plants and just pool filter sand. The only casualty is the bio filter which, as you mentioned, is easily reseeded.

Which brings me back to my first comment.....thank goodness for quarantine tanks.
 
chriscoli

chriscoli

Administrator
Unfortunately I'm not sure it's over.....ones going back downhill, and another's flashing like crazy.....
 
Localzoo

Localzoo

Board of Directors
chriscoli said:
Unfortunately I'm not sure it's over.....ones going back downhill, and another's flashing like crazy.....
Click to expand...

Well as long as they are not spinning you have a chance.

And yes thank god for QT tanks

I read somewhere when I started in the hobby that even an old dried sponge still contained bacteria and could start a culture faster than a brand new one and that some bacteria for the nitrogen cycle are badssses (not the scientific word) and can live through drying, chlorine, starvation, and certain meds...so the filter might still be alive and kicking.



Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Tony

Tony

Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
Been away and getting caught up. Sorry to hear about this, Chris! I think I have a bottle of Prazi pro if you need it.

Frank Cowherd said:
If you have emptied the tank to dry it out, I would suggest pouring in enough salt dip solution to coat all gravel and wood and rocks and caves. You can even use a dip with a much higher salt content for this and it will get rid of all possible parasites quickly. You should rub down the glass on the inside with a cloth soaked in the dip solution. Let the whole thing sit for maybe 30 minutes after you complete the wipe down and it will be ready to fill with water and put in fish. No need to rinse, just drain of all liquid dip that you can get out. The extra salt in a Rift Lake set up or even in a SA tanks set up will not make much difference in the final total salinity and the extra bit of salt could be a help to the slime coat of the fish.

Using salt to disinfect the tank, gravel and decorations is quick and easy and makes it so you do not need to dry the tank out. YOu can even do filters with salt , even sponge filters.

TO jump start the bioactivity in the salt treated tank use some filter squeezing from a tank that is in great shape. Now, with the new technology, you can buy the good bacteria in a bottle an use it. SO that is another option.
Click to expand...

Just the kind of advice I was looking for, Frank. I have a 90 gallon that I'm considering fully nuking. Healthy, thriving catfish, but every cichlid I've put in there ends up dead over the last few months...
 
chriscoli

chriscoli

Administrator
Things have been going further downhill....most show some sort of bacterial infection now. Probably need to hit them with some antibiotics (ugh).

As I was watching them tonight I actually saw one have a seizure and then recover after about a minute-long episode. I am amazed at how quickly these fish have gone downhill!

I'm sure the seizures are a bad sign....but of what? Still the parasite, or secondary infection?
 
AquaStudent

AquaStudent

CCA Members
Sorry to hear things are going downhill.

This is still a very interesting thread. I hope you're able to turn these guys around.
 
Frank Cowherd

Frank Cowherd

Global Moderators
Staff member
Right after you get the parasites to drop off your fish is the danger time. There are open wounds from where the parasites were. In hindsight, that this a great time for Melafix and Pimafix. ANd also a bit of salt in the water.

Also when you treat a fish that has parasites they should never be put back in the same tank. There can be other parasites in that tank just waiting for a host. Hopefully you did put them in a different tank.

Wish I had said that earlier.
 
chriscoli

chriscoli

Administrator
Indeed, that's what I did this time around. Unfortunately I wasn't prepared with a second QT tank the first time through.
 
chriscoli

chriscoli

Administrator
Two lost, four survived. Bacterial infections subsided and no obvious signs of parasites on the outside of the fish. But I see one flashing a lot, so I suspect that it may still be present. I think these guys are going to be in quarantine for a good long time.
 
Localzoo

Localzoo

Board of Directors
Flashing might be irritation from leftover holes etc...I agree they might have to stay in QT for a few more weeks

Sucks about the 2 but what can you do?


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top