100% parasites got from bad live black worm or N/C , change water add Praziol will take care that hump
Dent in the forehead of my ray--- but not from being skinny?????
- Thread starter keepinfish
- Start date
Imo Parasites are always present The Question is the Host strong enough to keep them under control..........
its been a while since i have seen a healthy ray starve to death but isnt the dent the second sign behind showing pelvic bones?
I have seen this before too, I treated with Prazi and isolated. This was with a small 5" ray that I kept with 12" rays . I always made sure he was eating but it still developed.
IMO it is due to stress.
IMO it is due to stress.
No matter what it's caused from I've seen it several times and seems best to isolate (or divide) so you can monitor food intake and remove from any potential tankmate stress. Starts getting flakey on feeding maybe need to move so if you have to resort to worms the other rays don't swarm.
IF he's still eating ok then you should have plenty of time to get him back on track........
Guy on ebay is selling Prazi dirt cheap. I bought 13K gallons worth for like $100. I don't even second guess anymore. When in doubt bust it out. They all seem to have giant appetites afterwards.
IF he's still eating ok then you should have plenty of time to get him back on track........
Guy on ebay is selling Prazi dirt cheap. I bought 13K gallons worth for like $100. I don't even second guess anymore. When in doubt bust it out. They all seem to have giant appetites afterwards.
I would suspect a parasite.
first isolate this ray in a Q tank.
if it is eating and excreting then you may be able to do a microscope exam of some of its turd and diagnose an exact parasite. If there is nothing then return it to the general population after a few weeks of observation.
There are plenty of internal parasites which are not at all susceptible to either metro or prazi.....and this is where it gets tricky.....some of the meds for these other parasites are not always well tolerated by rays. Even to tank bred rays can acquire these parasites fairly easily.
Even the best known breeders have had massive calamities with rays and harsh meds, so isolation is a must using some of these meds, with a 100% water change on hand if anything goes pear-shaped.
Capillaria is a commmon one, needing meds like levamisole or fenbendazole, tricky with rays.........
first isolate this ray in a Q tank.
if it is eating and excreting then you may be able to do a microscope exam of some of its turd and diagnose an exact parasite. If there is nothing then return it to the general population after a few weeks of observation.
There are plenty of internal parasites which are not at all susceptible to either metro or prazi.....and this is where it gets tricky.....some of the meds for these other parasites are not always well tolerated by rays. Even to tank bred rays can acquire these parasites fairly easily.
Even the best known breeders have had massive calamities with rays and harsh meds, so isolation is a must using some of these meds, with a 100% water change on hand if anything goes pear-shaped.
Capillaria is a commmon one, needing meds like levamisole or fenbendazole, tricky with rays.........
If your gut is pointing you to the well.. i would spend the 50$ or so to get it tested and know for sure.
What happens in the typical case of someone clueless ( myself as an example) having one of these said parasites, but the ray getting better? Are they really "better" or do they just build an imunity that allows them to live with it and in turn hinders long term health? Does the ray eventually fight it off by itself if given optimum living conditions?
Sounds like typical hobbyists are going to need help figuring out what might be plauging them. What are your suggestions as far as trying to get our rays better? Buddy up with a local university science lab? I know get a microscope, but have heard it's not that simple figuring out what's what.
Thanks!
Out of the three witch would you use first witch would you reach for??? The only one that i am familiar with is levamisole and know it is used by some Discus guys and have used it on wild peacock bass...
I am also clueless, just killed more rays in more ways than most of you guys!
med...Panacur probably.
I have killed some and saved some with Levamisole. With some meds it is important to keep your water hyper clean and pH neutral. Toxicity increases as pH lowers
med...Panacur probably.
I have killed some and saved some with Levamisole. With some meds it is important to keep your water hyper clean and pH neutral. Toxicity increases as pH lowers
