Not sure, but it is the only reason I can think of that my 15" Tigrinus Cat is now sick. The tank in question was dosed with Nitrofurazone about 4 weeks ago. At the time no ill effects were noted with the catfish or rays. The rays cleared up. Since then I addressed a long term problem that I was unaware of, nitrates. They are now undetectable and have been for weeks. I also lowered the water temp down to 78 and the water has never been as clear as it is now. I have not been testing nitrites and am assuming that the bio-filter took a hit from the Nitrofurazone and I must of had a nitrite spike at some point causing stress to the catfish and consequently leaving him vulnerable to infection. If not the bio-filter, perhaps the catfish took a hit from the nitrofurazone, leaving him stessed and susceptible. His breathing has been heavy and labored for 3 days, it progressed over these 3 days and on the 3rd he stared loosing color and signs of septicemia are showing (red in fins). Also his gills are bright red. Therefore I am assuming internal bacterial infection and have begun a course of Maracyn II (he did not respond well to Kanamycin in the past). He is in quarantine/hospital for this treatment with salt @ 1lb/25gal and temp of 78F. I am sure he will pull through, I have seen him at worse moments. 12 hours in and he is breathing more relaxed. Had this guy for 3 years now.
The point of this thread is that I should have hospital tanked the rays before treating with the Nitrofurazone. It was foolish of me to risk the other tankmates and bio-filter with such a broad-spectrum antiobiotic. No, there is no guarantee that the Nitrofurazone is the cause, but it is a variable I could have avoided by using a hospital tank.
*I do not feed live, the system is 300 gallons and gets 25% daily water exchanges, filtration is 80 gallons of bio-balls + extensive mechanical, tankmates are 4 rays from 9" to 12", aeration is heavy, Binox is Nitrofurazone
**Mods please don't move, this is information for the Ray people thinking of using meds on show tanks.
The point of this thread is that I should have hospital tanked the rays before treating with the Nitrofurazone. It was foolish of me to risk the other tankmates and bio-filter with such a broad-spectrum antiobiotic. No, there is no guarantee that the Nitrofurazone is the cause, but it is a variable I could have avoided by using a hospital tank.
*I do not feed live, the system is 300 gallons and gets 25% daily water exchanges, filtration is 80 gallons of bio-balls + extensive mechanical, tankmates are 4 rays from 9" to 12", aeration is heavy, Binox is Nitrofurazone
**Mods please don't move, this is information for the Ray people thinking of using meds on show tanks.
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