Please tell me what this is.

[RD.]

Thank you all. I put some general cure in last night.

Why? Does your fish have anchor worm, lice, ich, or some other form of ectoparasite? Among other things you just added an organophosphate insecticide (Trichlorfon) to your tank for no reason.

Is the dosage for this Tblspn per 5 gallons. Also do I need to reduce the amount of salt I add since I have an L200 and tetras in there?

The dosage of magnesium sulfate (aka epsom salt) for rectal prolapse isn't an exact science, 1 tbsp per gallon should be adequate. With regards to "salt" and your pleco & tetras, there is no "salt" (sodium chloride) in magnesium sulfate.

 

[Aquanero]

Agreed, treat with the esome salt and wait it out.

 

[Rivers2k]

Why? Does your fish have anchor worm, lice, ich, or some other form of ectoparasite? Among other things you just added an organophosphate insecticide (Trichlorfon) to your tank for no reason.




The dosage of magnesium sulfate (aka epsom salt) for rectal prolapse isn't an exact science, 1 tbsp per gallon should be adequate. With regards to "salt" and your pleco & tetras, there is no "salt" (sodium chloride) in magnesium sulfate.

1. I added API general cure because I thought it might be caused by an IP I didn't know and I have had luck with that in the past. Believe me I am not a fan of adding chemicals to my tank but if this issue is caused by an IP I know API general cure works.

2. I dont know what affect epsome salt had on things like plecos and tetras because I haven't ever used it in a tank with those types of fish in it before that is why I asked. So I am guessing from your response that it is safe?

I didn't get a chance to add the emsome salt last night so tonight I will do a water change and then add the salt.

 

[duanes]

There are basically 2 kinds of treatments for fish diseases, antibiotics, and poison.
Materials like malachite, copper, and formaldehyde are in the poison (soluble metals, etc) category.
In small doses they kill simple, lower, microscopic life, and don't kill your fish.
By adding a bunch of treatments together, you are making your tank water, a chemical soup, that in the end can harm, or even kill your fish, and not do anything about the original proiblem.
Many of these chemicals are carcinogenic, and though they often won't harm or kill your fish immediately can have long term effects. And if not careful, can enter you through exposure.
I agree with RD and Aquanero, making your tank a chemical soup bowl, can do more harm than good.
Unless you have a reasonable idea of the efficacy of what your doing, more is not necessarily better.

 

[Coryloach]

Any known cause or remedy for this?

I had a very bad outbreak of hexamita in one tank years ago. It took me 6 months to clear it off because at the start I wasn't sure what I was dealing with. One of the prominent symptoms was prolapsed anus alongside a range of others.

I don't know if that's the case with yours but it's quite possible as fish can live with hexamita for quite a while.Feeding with some Epsom salt soaked food twice a day for a week won't hurt as a possible remedy. It has cured my fish.
I think RD has a thread in the "deseases" section about dosage. I think it's a tablespoon of Epsom salts in 500ml of water and then "wet" the food in that solution before feeding.

 

[Rivers2k]

There are basically 2 kinds of treatments for fish diseases, antibiotics, and poison.
Materials like malachite, copper, and formaldehyde are in the poison (soluble metals, etc) category.
In small doses they kill simple, lower, microscopic life, and don't kill your fish.
By adding a bunch of treatments together, you are making your tank water, a chemical soup, that in the end can harm, or even kill your fish, and not do anything about the original proiblem.
Many of these chemicals are carcinogenic, and though they often won't harm or kill your fish immediately can have long term effects. And if not careful, can enter you through exposure.
I agree with RD and Aquanero, making your tank a chemical soup bowl, can do more harm than good.
Unless you have a reasonable idea of the efficacy of what your doing, more is not necessarily better.

I completely agree with this. That is why I typically don't use chemicals. I just had no idea what this was so thought I would give it a shot. Unless I am mistaken the only way to get rid of an IP is with meds correct? From what I read this issue can be caused by IP's but if there is a better way I am open to it. I am going to use the epsome salt tonight after a water change.

 

[tanyaelec11]

I've had this happen to a female fish I put her in a tote (sponge filter )and dosed her with Epsom salt 3% solution and left her in the tote for four days doing small tank water changes . I did not feed her in this time. By the fourth day she was better.

 

[Coryloach]

I've had this happen to a female fish I put her in a tote (sponge filter )and dosed her with Epsom salt 3% solution and left her in the tote for four days doing small tank water changes . I did not feed her in this time. By the fourth day she was better.

It won't have an effect on internal spironucleus and 3% magnesium sulphate in the water will send the TDS through the roof, that's a lot of stress on the fish, most won't handle it. If the fish has hexamita, not feeding the fish will make it worse.

 

[Pomatomus]

Yeah are you sure you meant 3% and not 3‰ (parts per thousand)?

 

[RD.]

Thus far there is zero evidence supporting the use of any form of anti-parasite medication on this fish, as there are no visible (or otherwise) signs of internal, or external, parasites. Waste of $$$, and potentially further stressing an already stressed fish!



The use of epsom salts (not 3%) in the tank water is to assist in the reduction of fluids, which "sometimes" can help the prolapse be reabsorbed by the fish.

From the link previously posted:

With an external prolapse it's the wall of the fishes ass hanging out, not his intestine. That's why it's called a rectal prolapse.

Water quality is not the cause.

In humans these are some of the more common causes:

•Malnutrition.
•Deformities or physical development problems.
•Straining during bowel movements.
•Infections.

Also in humans, often times surgery is the only corrective action that can be taken. Which is also why Tom and I both stated sometimes they retract back into the body, and sometimes they don't. The longer this goes on, the less chance of a full recovery.


If there's anything med wise that should be added, I would lean towards a broad-spectrum bactericidal, such as what Wailua Boy mentioned earlier on. Personally I would take a wait & see approach first, then follow up with an antibiotic only if the epsom salt treatment failed. If you need to go that route, this will help. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa084