Help with sick Hystrix!!

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wg666666

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Jan 20, 2009
138
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Philly
I copied this from the sticky.....

Problem you are having:
1.Male hysrix not eating , lethargic, excess slime. In a previous thread I described that I added 3 SD's from my 220 gallon tank week before last(just spreading out my school) and also added the new female hystrix last Monday from Aqauscape. The female hystrix is doing/eating fine as are all tankmates, however, since last Thursday, the 11-12 inch male hystrix has refused food and has increasing become lethargic and slimy.......he started refusing worms (which he usually eats 4-6 per day in 2 feeding) last Thursday, but was eating the blackworms that I was feeding the smaller new hystrix female. This is the first time he has ever been offered blacworms. He quit those by Saturday....fearing internal parasites from thenew ray, I added PraziPro to the tank this past Monday afternoon......The male hystrix showed a little life about 3-4 hours after addition, but it was short lived. He did eat a few blackworms last evening, but nothing since then.....


I treuly believe now that I have external parasites, as the festae, SD's and barb are scratching their gills/side. I have treated my 220 with coppersafe (no rays there) as that tank was scratching slightly as well......

I am afraid to add other medications, but I am convinced this is the problem......can anyone suggest a medication that I can use for external parasites thats OK to use with PraziPro?? PLEASE HELP!!



Water conditions
2. What type of test kit are you using?
3. Old and New water: Readings are? All from old water....
..............................OLD ........./........ NEW
PH-7.0
Ammonia- 0.0
Nitrite-0.0
Nitrate-<5.0
4. Water temp?81
5. What is your water change schedule (how often and how much)
33% weekly with gravel vac

Tank setup info:
6. Type and depth of substrate?1/2 inch deep rounded gravel with some calcium substrate mixed in for Ph stabilization (from huge motoro that I gave away)
7. How long has your tank been set up?about 14 montrhs
8. Method of aeration of water FX5, 2 aquaclear 110's, s large powewrheads with airlines
9. When was the last time you cleaned tank and substrate? 33% Saturday, 33% Sunday
10. What size tank do you have? (gallons/liters and footprint) 240 gallon, 6' by 30" wide, by 28" high
11. What type of filtration are you using in your tank? see above
Please post picture of your tank ray is housed in. (if able, this helps us see your tank set up and rays living conditions) cant do it


Tankmates and general info :
12. Tankmates and size of tankmates? 1 5 inch female hystrix, 1 12 -inch oscar, 1 8-inch festae, 1 12 inch pike venezuela, 1 lemon fin mad barb, 3 SDollars all except the dollars have been together for a year plus.
13. What and how often do the ray(s) eat and last time fed?usually feed 2x /day, nightcrawlers
14. How long have you been keeping rays?15 years
15. How old are your ray(s) and sex (age, male or female)? 1 male hystrrix 11-12 inch disc, I havehad since last December
16. How big is your ray(s)? 11-12 - inches
 
prazi pro is all Ive ever used for parasites. I would just continue treating with prazi pro. Nothing else. Finish the treatment and give it time to work....
and maybe half the salt recom.. but that is only my opinion. Lots of people say salt is not to be added. But Ive seen no evidence in my esp that it harms in anyway.. But like I said, I always only add half of that is recom...
 
bcfd144;4747151; said:
prazi pro is all Ive ever used for parasites. I would just continue treating with prazi pro. Nothing else. Finish the treatment and give it time to work....
and maybe half the salt recom.. but that is only my opinion. Lots of people say salt is not to be added. But Ive seen no evidence in my esp that it harms in anyway.. But like I said, I always only add half of that is recom...

Thanks for the reply! I am just worried that if there is ick or something similar (as shown by the other fish scratching) that the Prazi is not going to help with the external parasites.......any thoughts on that?
 
Well if it is external you should be able to see it, if you cant see it than the infection cant be that bad and you may be able to get rid of it with just a bump up in temperature and a salt treatment. Mild cases externals can usually be kept under control this way, if however the infection seems more serious the warm water and salt will more than likely not be enough.

Do you usually rinse of your black worms and crawlers in tank water prior to feeding? I find that you can easily transmit disease and such if you simply dump worms into your tank without first rinsing them. I use a brine shrimp net to keep the worms in and I simply dump a cup full of tank water over them and let the water run into the sink.

It should also be mentioned that black worms can easily spoil a ray. Once they get a taste for them they will tend to become a bit finicky.

Good luck man sounds like a nice fish
 
UPDATE: I treated for a week with Prazi. I added a little salt ( 1teaspoon/10 gallons)The Male hystrix didnt eat anything and at times was very lethargic. By day 7 he perked up. I added carbon overnight to remve the Prazi, did a 40% water change first. Next day added Metro, next day he ate a nightcralwer!...next day another one! Today, he ate 2 crawlers! The small female has eaten cut worms and blackworms the entire time. There is no more scratching by the SD's......It apperas that something is working.....Im gonna do a full week of Metro, then possible Prazi for another week. Thanks for the advice guys.

I attached a crappy photo....

Fall Winter 2010 034.jpg
 
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