Rays on a budget- My (somewhat long) story w/pics

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I used a 5 gal tank to herd her gently into, and got her out of the main system. Then I started changing out a pitcher of water every half hour or so using the only thing my kid could find at 10pm last night (Stress Zyme), and some salt with each pitcherful of clean water. I added an airstone and a litle in-tank filter with some chemzorb and carbon. Turned up the heat one notch from 82, and just sat and observed for an hour or so with that feeling like I have no control.

When I was about to go to bed at 1, I went down to check, and she was upside down. Instead of righting her, I sat and observed for a while. This is either a seizure type issue, or she's constipated. It's a contract and relax movement, she isn't just waving her disc up and down. She is contracting with all her might and then relaxing. I had noticed her baby poop coming out all along in a little curly q, and as I observed, I could see her little cloaca bulging out with each contraction. When I did help her back over, I gave a little press in the bulge in her belly, and with each little depression, her Cloaca expanded a lot, as if blocked.

This observation had me turn the computer back on and do more research. I added Epsom Salts. I don't know if she has to eat for that to work, she isn't eating yet.

I'm ready to give her a little enema, but I don't know what to use.

She's still here this morning. She actually looks a little better, her slime coat isn't shedding, and she's alert...but she's still contracting like this. She still has the curly q of poop coming out, and there's about 3 inches worth of it in the tank. Looks like custard.

I have no idea if the Epsom Salts will work, but in all the other cases of this, I never saw that tried.... I still think she needs an enema of some sort.

I was going to take some pics, but I think the camera is with my wife.

Mike
 
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As for Mortality rate...This is the only one that I would count in that way...

The others...I'm just gonna take the blame for killing them. "negligent homicide".

I think that the term "mortality rate" should apply to deaths that don't involve physical injury.

Mike
 
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i used to work at a vets office, wed give evemas to cts all the time using syringes. just becareful not to push to much in. you could get a kit for a baby or something at CVS, andi would just use warm water
 
I have a very small syringe such as this. Plain water? Or should I use the same Saline/Epsom Salts mix that I'm adding to the tank?

Mike
 
pain no chlorinated warm water would most likely be safest. but the saline mix should have the same effet... not quite sure though, and ull need a hose of some sort
 
I'm going to pause for a moment, and re-evaluate my life.

I remember being a teenager...I knew everything.

Then after a few years, I figured I had a few things wrong. I've been back and fourth on that quite a bit.

Now it's been about 3 years since I've been through this...and now I'm thinking maybe I had it right when I was 16...

I just dusted off my 7-string and put a new set of strings on it. Maybe I WAS born to rock, and I just didn't know that it was supposed to fit between water changes and feedings...

;)
 
Are you testing inbetween all these water changes? Un-neccacery water changes can be stressful, also if your readings are way too high larger might be better.
 
She's cycled into perfectly clean water now, and the water changes are to keep it that way, and the BB, Epsom salts, and kosher salt goes in each pitcher of water, and the temp is matched exactly the same every time.

I need a new test kit is what I'm saying...but this can't be anything but good, and she seems a little more calm...but still doing the same thing.

Mike
 
I think you should totally count being bitten in with your mortality rate, unless you did the biting. I've got my fingers crossed for you and this pup. Do you think there is an obstruction? Is constipation common in baby rays? If the poop is coming out, it seems like everything is functioning, even if not as well as you'd like. Sometimes it just takes a little time for animals to be fully operational.
 
I don't know if there's an obstruction, or if this is a seizure deal that is just causing to bear down.

She is quite swollen around the belly and around her vent. I careflly inserted the tip of a syringe in there, and it goes right in and seems to push the swelling down, but I'm not sure there's any pressure relief. I'm sure there are 2 openings there, and that the rectal vent is inside the larger opening, but there's no way I'm going to try anything more- .4cc of water didn't have any effect. the dark color in her belly seems bad. I hope she doesn't have some type of internal issue from the umbilical cord, but I'm also worried that she may herniate herself with this contracting.

Mike
 
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