Ill RTC I think he might be dieing
- Thread starter UncleNos
- Start date
save that guy..
The pitting on the head is actually the skull. They have this shape naturally, and the skin just covers it. It's always like that. The gills are probably gill curl and as others say it can be poor water quality and possibly diet. I have a rtc that had it when I bought it, but now it's cured. I did heavy daily water changes, and added salt. I have learned that salt over periods of time can shut down the urinary tract of freshwater fish and should only be used in the short term. Hope this helps.
necrocanis;1112048; said:
Realize that the head bit is the skull after looking at some more examples on here just my last RTC was a lot smother and had almost a sand dollar patten on his head.
What amounts of salt are you recommending? I'll try varying the diet too but he's quite picky likes cray fish
and shrimp/prawn.thanks for the advice...
If the ammonia is zero.You may want to consider Prazipro a non toxic antiparasitic agent that may do the job and will not effect the biological filter. Assuming its parasitic in origin. Very hard to tell with internal parasites. These fish can live with certain parasites for long periods without becoming symptomatic until they are stressed. Foster and Smith have the best price. If the Melafix can be obtained locally use it until the Prazipro arrives if it is not helpful try the Prazipro. Be careful using antibiotics if you go that route that can disrupt the biological filter most do.
Salt should only be used as a last resort and for short periods of time less than two weeks as you can cause kidney, and liver failure in freshwater fish if they are subject to it for too long. If you do go this route I suggest no more than 1 tablespoon per 5 gals. The amount that is non-harmful to freshwater fish over long periods is 1 tablespoon per 300 gals. Keep that in mind before you go this route. If your fish is eating I would suggest melafix, and maybe an antibiotic, along with heat, aeriation, and daily water changes of no more than 25%. Feed good quality clean foods. Should help some, but it may never go away. Have seen 3+ footers with gill curl. One 4' fish in NC had a really bad case for at least 14 years.
Right,
Picking up an ammonia test today, so I'll let you know the result of that.
Thanks for the tip on the salt necro, the melafix seems to be working the edge of his gills have lost the pinky white edge? So I'll keep up the treatment.
No it's not dirt it's coral sand which he likes to push up at either end of his tank.
Picking up an ammonia test today, so I'll let you know the result of that.
Thanks for the tip on the salt necro, the melafix seems to be working the edge of his gills have lost the pinky white edge? So I'll keep up the treatment.
No it's not dirt it's coral sand which he likes to push up at either end of his tank.
remove the sand. RTCS dont have scales to protect them from rough surfaces. the sand rubbing against his gill cant be helping the recovery process....good luck 
