Treatment advise

[ai823]

One of our females has a ….. well I’m not even sure what it is on her side, I’m guessing the male has pecked at her side a few to many times but I’m not sure. She seemed alright threw there spawn with it there but then they ate all there eggs last night and she has been pretty slow moving since. What are my treatment options? My qt tank has another discus in it that I have been treating for a bloat issue so I’m limited for a day or two. Is medication my best bet? Maybe a dip of some kind? What should I be doing to help? Have kept the water clean frequent water changes stable ph and same conductivity threw it all.. but have only had the pair for a short time and my wife says the spot was there when we got them I don’t remember it so not sure. But it’s on her side and down by her belly a little
https://i.postimg.cc/3rSRnBSZ/D757-DECA-BD62-46-DD-8-CA4-DE6-F2291151-C.jpg (https://postimg.cc/ThbfPrXy)

[Iminit]

I’d start with salt and some water changes. 2 tbs per 10g. Should heal up in about a week.

[jwcarlson]

Have any pictures to go back to and see if the spot is there or if it's changed/worse?

[jeep]

I'd like to see a better pic of the affected area but a little salt and clean water may clear this up. You may have to separate them if it gets too violent.

[ai823]

I separated them yesterday morning. Size wise it looks like it’s staying about the same but it looks a little worse..from the right angle even looks like it has a white fuzzy over it. I put her in the qt tank with some salt and bactocide 1. I hope the meds wasn’t a bad idea but I really don’t want to loose her. In watching them before separating it looked like the male would target that point when he would nudge/peck at her.

https://i.postimg.cc/3rm2Sncp/F550665-A-E399-4397-8-F7-C-9-DB496888-CDE.jpg (https://postimg.cc/mhZchNR2)

[ai823]

Have any pictures to go back to and see if the spot is there or if it's changed/worse?

Good thinking I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. I don’t see it from the pic I took the day I got https://i.postimg.cc/76ss6XSm/4-A58-EBDE-4-FBC-4-AAC-810-F-CCCEC49-D5392.png (https://postimg.cc/CB8HrGPq)

[jeep]

How far apart are these photo's?

[ai823]

12 days

[jeep]

That's good. This mark is similar but not identical to aeromonas, which is nearly 100% fatal and moves very fast. Aeromonas would have been lethal in about 3-4 days.

I've never used Bactocide products but its becoming pretty popular. I don't think it's a bad thing that you used it and I would continue the recommended dose per directions, although I would have used nitrofurazone. Using the salt will help as well but I would increase it to 3-4TBS per 10g. Keep up daily water changes and replace the % of salt removed during water change... The main thing I don't like about Bactocide is the ingredients are a secret and you can only judge the results on word of mouth. I hope it works, and if it does please let us know.

Also, give daily updates on this fish. Nitro is getting hard to find but if you change meds you can find it at Everything Aquatic https://everythingaquatic.net/ I've also heard that Enrofloxacin is a good med for external bacterial issues.

[ai823]

I will keep updating. Thank you!!

[bluelagoon]

I think the only reason it's become popular is because a lot of countries don't sell antibiotics over the counter any longer and need to come from veterinarians for pets. Bactocide is natural and derived from plant extracts. Probably not as good as the antibiotics.

[ai823]

She is no worse this morning than yesterday..I upped the salt to 4 tbs per 10 gal felt like I was putting a ton of salt in but she seems to be fine this morning, to early to tell if any better though. So I got another question, before I removed her from the breeding tanks I dosed them with salt trying to help her. My other pair wasnt showing signs of breeding. Now looks like the cobalts want to make something happen for the first time. My tds has been coming down with every water change since the salt dosing but im still at 170 tds. Is that gonna be a issue for them?

[ai823]

Starting to look a little better https://i.postimg.cc/Qtb6PLnm/E5439-F43-3-F2-C-45-A2-9-C91-949-D42-FDE8-AC.jpg (https://postimg.cc/8J7BJYGf)

[jeep]

Nice! Keep up the good work!

[jwcarlson]

That does look better, good deal! :)

[ai823]

Little update. everything seems to be going good. Bactocide 1 and salt seem to being doing there job
https://i.postimg.cc/jd2CZFXr/08-ED3084-7-F4-A-4-A08-9881-EF168-E6-BAE71.jpg (https://postimg.cc/SJ0yKV3Z)

[Iminit]

Great job! Keep up the good work!

[ai823]

So her side is all but completely healed but there is something else going on and I don’t know what. She has been spending most her time at the top of the tank not hardly eating or moving and breathing very hard I have a large Airstone and sufficient pump running it. Started Prazi pro treatment 3 days ago. Still treating with salt (3 tbs per 10gal) have noticed her shedding some slime and a few odd bumps on fins. I do all but complete water changes still have her in the qt tank, stable ph 8.. water is on the warm side now (88).. what else can I do to help her?

[jwcarlson]

Using dechlorinator? My supply went to chloramine this spring and I forgot to use Prime. About an hour later they were all gasping at the surface and some were shedding slime coat.
Noticed lesser versions of this on previous water changes when I'd forgotten to put Prime in right away. So I guess I'd double check that you're adding the right amount (or even a little more).

[ai823]

Using dechlorinator? My supply went to chloramine this spring and I forgot to use Prime. About an hour later they were all gasping at the surface and some were shedding slime coat.
Noticed lesser versions of this on previous water changes when I'd forgotten to put Prime in right away. So I guess I'd double check that you're adding the right amount (or even a little more).
I have been using dechlorinator. Her breaths are very deep and her gill plates almost look flared out if that makes sense

[captainandy]

In the old days we would take the fish out and swab the area with mercurochrome

[LizStreithorst]

All I can think of in this case is to use something to get rid of gill flukes. If her immune system had been compromised from dealing with the weird spot on her side, gill flukes may have decided to take over. I've used PP in the past, but a gentler approach would be to use Wormer Plus. Supposedly it gets flukes as well. I sure hope you can get her well. She's been through a lot.

[ai823]

All I can think of in this case is to use something to get rid of gill flukes. If her immune system had been compromised from dealing with the weird spot on her side, gill flukes may have decided to take over. I've used PP in the past, but a gentler approach would be to use Wormer Plus. Supposedly it gets flukes as well. I sure hope you can get her well. She's been through a lot.
I have some pp, wormer plus and ordered some fluke x last week that should be here soon maybe even today. What would be my best bet? I really don’t want to loose her if I can do anything to help it

[LizStreithorst]

Wormer Plus is what I'd go with. I just hope my diagnosis is right.

[seanyuki]

Wormer Plus only treats Camallanus worms, anchor worms , flukes and fish lice according to the label.

133665

[ai823]

Started wormer plus last night.. hopefully have some positive news soon. Thanks for the help!

[ai823]

Not seen much for improvement other than she is still alive.. she hasn’t eaten since I can’t remember when.. but I did notice some bright white poop.. and last night before I changed water and re dosed the wormer plus I noticed one of her gills wasn’t moving and the other side was, seems to be using both again now though..

[LizStreithorst]

She needs time. She's been bombarded with drugs. Just time and lots of WC plus salt for now.

[ai823]

Finally some progress.. she is off the top corner (where she hasn’t moved from) and down pecking at food for the first time in weeks.

[LizStreithorst]

:bounce::bounce2:

[ai823]

I thought we was gonna loose her a week ago but she seems to be doing better than ever now! Thank you!!Her side is almost if not completely healed and she isn’t on the top of the tank anymore. What would be my next step? Keep her in the qt tank for how long?? It’s a 20 gal with no filter just heater and Airstone and I’ve been doing 95% water change everyday. I have a divider for the 40 breeder the male is in, should I use it when I do put her back? He does get a little rough. I guess what I’m asking is how long should I keep her away from him in the qt? I know it sounds dumb but they kinda seem sad alone from each other.
https://i.postimg.cc/KYBqdYC3/532056-C1-9545-4752-8-B37-94-AC1-BF3-E1-F7.jpg (https://postimg.cc/XZNk5njn)

[jeep]

They can have an off personality when they are alone. If you're confident she's doing better, I would suggest waiting another few days then maybe put her back in the 40g with the divider to test their compatibiity . I once reintroduced an injured mate too soon and another fight ensued, then a bacterial infection. I lost the fish...

[ai823]

That’s kinda what I was thinking give it threw the weekend and if she is still eating doing good and don’t need any more treatment to put her with him and have the divider in untill they both seem to be normal. I’m not sure how long you should run the wormer plus I did it for 6 days replacing every day when I changed water. I didn’t put it in last night kinda want to give her a break see how she does. Also I’ve been just having her in normal tap water with a tds of around 320 and ph 8-8.2 my breeders are ph 7.8-8 and 50 tds. Will that cause an issue should I try to mix some ro water into her tank to over the next few days? Or is it even a issue?

[jeep]

RO isn't necessary. Just make sure ph matches both tanks.