Need assistance with Fahaka

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:06 am

Definately some kind of an infection. Try treating with Maracyn & Melafix. You'll have to add Bio-Spira after treatment. Keel up w/large water changes, to keep water pristine. There's no way he'll eat w/his mouth swollen like that, so stop offering foods, until it looks somewhat improved.

ALaake · Post by **ALaake** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:21 am

This is why I was skeptical about moving him to the 100 gallon tank. Now do I move him back to the 20 for medication and risk stressing him more? It will be pretty expensive to treat him in a 100 gallon tank.

Thank you very much for the advice.......

I have never gotten bio- spira before. Can I just clean up the filter after medicating and switch it with an established filter from another tank?

Do I use both the Maracyn and Mela fix at full strength when mixxing them together?

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:43 am

I'd keep in the 20g, remove all the plants & other animals into the 100g. Treat till healed in the 20g. When you're ready to move into the 100g, pour the B-S (100g worth) into the filters right before the transfer.

Yes, treat with full dosages of both meds.

ALaake · Post by **ALaake** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:51 am

Ok...few things to clarify......

The puffer is already in the 100 gallon. I moved him into there from the 20 after it was recommended earlier in this thread.

Now if I do move him back into the 20 for meds..... Assuming that he responds to the medication and does get better......is it possible for him to get infected again if the water in 100 gallon is NOT treated? And what do you recommend doing with the 100 gallons of water that is currently in the tank? I am assuming it is NOT salvageable and I need to start from scratch????

Also should I keep temp the same or should I raise it with the meds??? I imagine since it wasn't mentioned it is to remain the same but I just wanted to make sure.

Your help is MUCH APPRECIATED!!!!!!!!

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:57 pm

I would treat it in the 20g. You can keep the bacteria alive in the 100g by feeding it flake food & making sure the ammonia, nitrites & nitrates remain acceptable. Before putting the healthy fish back, do a 90% water change & clean the gravel thoroughly.

ALaake · Post by **ALaake** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:25 am

It has been 3 days since the milafix/Maracin treatment began.....It appears that he may have gotten worse over the last 3 days.

How long should it be before there is noticable improvements?

I have been checking water parameters daily and none seem to be out of range.......

Is there anything else I should be doing?

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:37 am

Are you doing large water changes? I wonder if something has cut/lodged in his mouth?

ALaake · Post by **ALaake** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:01 am

I have not done any water changes since I started treating him with the medication. Is this bad?

If his mouth was cut would it swell up on both sides? The lil guy just looks terrible. I'm worried that if it swells up more he may not be able to breath.

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:45 am

I would be trying to keep the water as pristine as possible. You can do a WC right before adding meds. You may have to go with something stronger. You're not feeding him, are you?

ALaake · Post by **ALaake** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:48 am

Nope...no food......I want to try to feed him some blood worms but you said "no food" He looks very skinny. He hasn't eaten in almost 2 weeks.

I will do a water change before meds today......how much do you think? 50%?

Here are some pics I JUST took.........

The only bit of good news is he is still happy to see me when I walk up to the tank.....He acts like he always has.... He acts hungry...LOL

Bred · Post by **Bred** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:28 pm

Poor guy....
That's a serious looking internal infection. I think you should be doing maximum-strength antibacterial baths at this point. What meds do you have available to you?

With an infection that severe I would have a bottle of clove oil on hand just in case it progresses to the point where euthanasia becomes the more humane course of action.

lisalisa · Post by **lisalisa** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:36 pm

I agree with Bred, I'd be seriously medicating that. Do you think there is something lodged in there?

ALaake · Post by **ALaake** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:32 pm

I've been doing exactly as I've been told throughout this thread.

Melafix and Maracin are the meds right now.......

I have a petco about 1/2 an hour away. So I guess I have access to any meds they would have.....

What do you guys recommend for serious meds....whatever you think will work I can probably get my hands on....I know of a few serious fish keepers in the area.

I guess it would be easier if I knew what I was looking for/at as far as something being lodged in there. Am I looking for a piece of food, a fish bone, a piece of snailshell, or just anything that looks out of the ordinary?...Should I put him under so I can take a closer look in his mouth????? I really don't know if I would be able to see anything more than I can now through the glass......

Anyone help?

Bred · Post by **Bred** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:55 pm

I think it is a mistake to think there's something lodged in there just because the mouth is inflammed, and putting him under may further jeapordize his condition.

I would probably use Kanamycin sulfate (Seachem: Kanaplex).

You don't want to mix meds, though, so clearing the water in the QT tank is a must.

In addition to dosing the QT tank, I would mix up a double-strength bath in a small container or bucket. (Double the concentration recommended for prolonged use.) Transfer your fish (use a container, not a net) to the bath tank and watch closely. Leave him for 5 minutes or until he shows signs of stress (slowed breathing, darting to the surface), then transfer him back to QT. Repeat baths once per day.

Edit--
According to this: http://www.novalek.com/aqvtc3.htm you should actually use a much higher dose.
"As a treatment for systemic (internal) infections, the concentration can be increased to 133.3 ppm (mg/L) (100 ppm active). Treat 3-5 days or until complete remission of disease. Make partial water changes and re-treat every 48 hours. An approximation of the recommended concentration can be achieved by adding 1/4 level teaspoon to 1 gallon of water."

Seachem Kanaplex is 40% kanamycin sulfate. So in order to get 133.3ppm, you would need to use ~1/2 teaspoon to 1 gallon of water.

ALaake · Post by **ALaake** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 2:55 pm

I am being told 2 different things from the shops around here.......it is not made anymore and I was also told it was banned? Regardless of what I am being told I am not having any luck finding this stuff.......I checked all the stores around where I live......actually within 2 hours one way of where I live.

I even checked with the reef guru who I usually get medicine from and he doesn't even have anything of the sort

If he doesn't have it I guess I can't get my hands on it.........

Is there anything else out there that may help?

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Need assistance with Fahaka