I work at a lfs and unfortunately most of the time we order GSP they come in with horrid (bacterial?) fin infections that leads to high mortality. The fins have white patches which look thick, sometimes globular. Gradually this deteriorates the fins and the fish become more and more lethargic, stop eating, sit on the bottom and die.
I usually give them Melefix when they first come in for a few days, which does nothing at all. The infection is far too advanced when they arrive.
I have tried Kanaplex with minimal success- while treating eight fish last time only one survived.
Any other suggestions?
I usually keep the SG around 1.008 do you think higher or lower might be best? I use Kent marine salt.
Temp 78F
They are usually in a species tank, especially when I move them to a hospital (20G bare bottom), currently with a Mono but I"ve never seen the Mono make a move at them.
Thanks!
Shipping infection
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
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Randomtabby
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Dadof4
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Re: Shipping infection
How many are you keeping in a tank and what is the water quality in that tank like?
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Re: Shipping infection
Kanaplex should help. I'd also keep adding the Melafix & also Pimafix. Of course, pristine water conditions are necessary for good fish health/strong immune system. Aquarium salt is the incorrect salt to use. You should use marine salt to make BW. It's nice to hear someone at a LFS cares!
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
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Randomtabby
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Re: Shipping infection
Yes Kent is marine salt that is what I am using. I might switch to Seachem "Brackish salt" when it is more available, as most of our customers want planted tanks at home and I'd like to match that for them.
Water quality is impeccable. pH 7.5, Am 0, NitrIte 0, NitrAte almost undetectable, P 0.
We usually order 10 or so fish at a time, sale tank is 25g and hospital is 20g. The fish are usually 1.5"-2" at arrival, give or take.
Sale tank has been cycled since December, and hospital tanks are flushed with hot water and dried between uses, and bacteria added when restarted.
Water quality is impeccable. pH 7.5, Am 0, NitrIte 0, NitrAte almost undetectable, P 0.
We usually order 10 or so fish at a time, sale tank is 25g and hospital is 20g. The fish are usually 1.5"-2" at arrival, give or take.
Sale tank has been cycled since December, and hospital tanks are flushed with hot water and dried between uses, and bacteria added when restarted.
Last edited by Randomtabby on Fri Jul 29, 2011 12:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Randomtabby
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Re: Shipping infection
I feed them everything I have available, something different every day. Mysis shrimp, spirulina brine, blood worms, snails if I can find them, silk worms, butter worms, wax worms, crickets. NO feeder fish, unless someone is using those behind my back.