Hi there,
About a month ago I started keeping four juvenile rays (P. schroederi), each about 5" across. They each have their own 30 gallon breeder tank (housed separately b/c they're part of a research project) so each has a bottom area of 36" by 18" covered in nice non-silica sand. They're fed live blackworms twice a day and eat well! I'm waiting for my ph decreaser to arrive, since things are currently too basic at about 7.4; otherwise water quality is great.
Four days ago I noticed two Argulus fish lice on one ray (I looked & looked but couldn't spot any on her or on the others). I picked them off but the area of her disc where they were was really irritated--I've read that the lice secrete a hemmorhagic compound when they insert, so I'm guessing that's why. Over the next couple days it looked increasingly nasty and WORST of all her fin has now started to curl upward. (I know that's an awful sign.) She was still eating well until yesterday, but has been losing weight so I'm concerned about internal parasites too.
I have access to antibiotics & salts, but don't know what the right course of action would be. Even if it's too late for this poor little one I'd like to know what to do so I can take better care of my fish if (god forbid!) this happens again.
About a month ago I started keeping four juvenile rays (P. schroederi), each about 5" across. They each have their own 30 gallon breeder tank (housed separately b/c they're part of a research project) so each has a bottom area of 36" by 18" covered in nice non-silica sand. They're fed live blackworms twice a day and eat well! I'm waiting for my ph decreaser to arrive, since things are currently too basic at about 7.4; otherwise water quality is great.
Four days ago I noticed two Argulus fish lice on one ray (I looked & looked but couldn't spot any on her or on the others). I picked them off but the area of her disc where they were was really irritated--I've read that the lice secrete a hemmorhagic compound when they insert, so I'm guessing that's why. Over the next couple days it looked increasingly nasty and WORST of all her fin has now started to curl upward. (I know that's an awful sign.) She was still eating well until yesterday, but has been losing weight so I'm concerned about internal parasites too.
I have access to antibiotics & salts, but don't know what the right course of action would be. Even if it's too late for this poor little one I'd like to know what to do so I can take better care of my fish if (god forbid!) this happens again.
