Sick Silver Dollar

[Racersk]

Dieing Silver dollar- Is there anything I can do now?

I lost one SD about a month ago to a scratch it received when moving tanks around. The scratch was infected, got some felt looking infection and then a day later died!

Well my one female got a similar scratch about 2 weeks ago, but this time I thought I caught it in time. I added PrimaFix per instructions and did x2 50% water changes over these 2 weeks. It is in with 3 other young adults and 4 little juveniles. No other trauma that I can see, but that scratch lost the velvety stuff and apeared to be healing.

Yesterday I saw it had more velvet looking stuff on it's forehead to dorsal fin, so I added a small dose of PrimaFix again, this morning I found it wedged into an ornament barely breathing and very week. Same condition I found the other in just before I euthanized it(cold water dunk).

I now have my female in a breeding egg net so she'll stay upright and it appears she is still breathing, but just barely.

Is there anything else I can do that isn't going to kill her from the stress of doing it?

help.

*check the cam in my signature to see the situation real time-bottom tank in the box in the corner.

 

[BigO6687]

I don't really know what to tell you about the velvety looking stuff, but to help the heavy breathing, put the breeding net that it's in right where the flow is released out of whatever filter/powerhead, etc. you have.

 

[Racersk]

Already done.. On this tank I have 2 AC110's and a spraybar from my Cascade1200 all along the back of this tank. I would have kept the net over the air bubbler too, but it kept floating away!

Thanks for the tips! Keep 'em coming. I am going out in a bit and can pick up any recommended meds at that time...

 

[Racersk]

Done, thinking possible secondary infection due to initial trama. Crappy!

Thinking about a silver dollar only in a 45 show tank, see if they might breed? I have enough youngsters now(hope all females) and 3 big males.

 

[framcosco]

This is what I recommend if you are going to use meds. I usually try to simply increase Water Changes and add some Aquarium salts when a problem occurs, BUT some times meds are definitely needed.....

Once a bacteria for the most part has taken a hold of your Silver $'s and is showing deterioration PImafix/Melafix will do nothing for them. I have had this problem before with my Myleus schomburgkiis. My two cents: STOP using pima/mela...it is just adding to TDS at this point with no added benefit. 1 tbl spoon of aquarium salt per 5 gallons of water is ok. I know this adds to TDS but has other benefits. DO NOT increase temp....higher temps usually speeds up the bacterial infection which YOU DO NOT WANT. Higher temps are beneficial in treating single cell parasites ie ICK.....not bacterial infections. As antibiotics are concerned, I highly recommend Triple Sulfa by API. You can get a large bulk jar from Foster & Smith for about $100.00....this may be cost effective depending on the size of your tank/tanks. Treat everyday for 4 days and up to 8 days if needed. WC with the first treatment and thenafter every other day. Increase aeration/oxygen, remove all carbon.

You may want to also consider a UV light down the road. Aqua Ultraviolets are good UV sterilizers.

Best of luck.