HELP!!! Super Red Sev Issue
- Thread starter beerad555
- Start date
It looks like it's healing so keep doing what you're doing. If it shows signs of developing a secondary infection let us know. Nether Pimafix or Malafix will have any effect if that should occur.
My opinion on of the two products mentioned above is, regular aquarium salt is cheaper, safer, will situlate slime coat, improve gill function and facilatate healing. Both pimafix and melafix are water-soluble oil based products and while they smell nice they are no better than and IMO not as good as regular old salt for the purpose which they are marketed. If over dosed and/or used in tanks with less than ideal water perameters they could cause respratory issues in compromised fish. The oil may also interfear with the uptake of oxigen by interfearing with gill function and in some cases since this is and organic product some bacteria can use it as a food source causing a bacterial bloom that deplets the available oxigen and causes the fish to gasp at the surface increasing the stress level of fish already stressed by illness (not a common issue so don't panic) but worth mentioning. I recomend you save your money and in the future just use salt if the situation arises. For more serious issues real meds will be required.
If an infection should devlope, at your Ph 7.8 - 8.0 I would recomend API Triple Sulfa but don't jump the gun. I don't think it's necessary at this point. I only mention this in case somthing happens and I'm not on line to see it. Again, I see no need at this point to use this.
My opinion on of the two products mentioned above is, regular aquarium salt is cheaper, safer, will situlate slime coat, improve gill function and facilatate healing. Both pimafix and melafix are water-soluble oil based products and while they smell nice they are no better than and IMO not as good as regular old salt for the purpose which they are marketed. If over dosed and/or used in tanks with less than ideal water perameters they could cause respratory issues in compromised fish. The oil may also interfear with the uptake of oxigen by interfearing with gill function and in some cases since this is and organic product some bacteria can use it as a food source causing a bacterial bloom that deplets the available oxigen and causes the fish to gasp at the surface increasing the stress level of fish already stressed by illness (not a common issue so don't panic) but worth mentioning. I recomend you save your money and in the future just use salt if the situation arises. For more serious issues real meds will be required.
If an infection should devlope, at your Ph 7.8 - 8.0 I would recomend API Triple Sulfa but don't jump the gun. I don't think it's necessary at this point. I only mention this in case somthing happens and I'm not on line to see it. Again, I see no need at this point to use this.
Ok thank you for all the info , my first thoughts were to use salt but after reading some posts they changed my mind so should I continue even after the 7 days of treatment and how long should I continue? I kinda wished I stuck with original plan because I really don't want to medicate all my other fish but I have no other tank. Would it be ok to discontinue treatment after the 7 days and start using salt?I am noticeing him breathing harder than normal but Iam using melafix as directed.Also I think it does appear to be getting a little bigger of an opening.
You can see what's going on much better than I can. If you think the situation warrents the use of Triple sulfa which can be used in conjunction with salt, do a 50% water change and run carbon in the filter for two days. Do and additional 25% water change, add 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons of water and dose with the sulfa as per the instructions on the package. Otherwise if you just want to try the salt do as discribed above without the addition of the sulfa. Treat with the salt for ten days with a 25% WC every other day replacing the salt removed by the water change. You can then start using the sulfa if you feel it's necessary at any time after a water change.
Well I got home this morning and he is much worse as you can see in the pic his right eye is protruding and his lips are also protruding and the impact area has grown considerably,and my question is should I go ahead with the sulfa dose and will this affect all my other fish? I may possibly be able to get a 10 gal tank for hospital or is that too small ?
Unplug the heater and get the water temp down to the 72-75 degree range if possible. It will slow down the progression of the bacteria. Remove any carbon if you use it do a 50% water change and start treating with the sulfa ASAP. Move fast or the chances of recovery will be low.
Can I do this in the hospital tank or do I have time? and how will this affect my other fish?
Treat the entire tank. What else is in the tank? I will say time is of the essance here if you want to save this fish.
