Something Extremely Strange To Me

[TheNewSeverum]

I have never seen anything like this before. My Severum's scales seem to be inflated I guess you could say would be the right term. I have never seen that happen. I was treating her for internal parasites due to the fact that she blew up like a balloon. I was using the API General Cure to do it. I water changed the tank before treatment. I also went away and instructed my friend what to do as far as treatment goes and he did as such. I came back from vacation (mind you, I was gone 4 days) and then she looked like that. Not fully sure as to what could have happened, not sure if its a reaction to the medication or what. I am at a strange loss here and don't know what to do. None of the other fish seem sick so I think that's a good thing. Shes swimming around, but shows zero desire to eat, which isn't like her at all. I really don't know what to do here guys. I've had her since she was a baby. I would really hate to lose her.

Tank Specs:
55 Gallons

Filters:
Aquaclear 110
Penguin 350

Fish:
One 8" Tin Foil Barb
Two 2" Geo. Surinamensis
One 3" Sailfin Pleco
One 4" Meeki
One 2" Gold Severum
One 4.5" Green Severum


Water Parameters
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 - 0.25ppm
Nitrates: 0
Nitrites: 0

Temperature of water, roughly 78 degrees.

 

[JRT8783]

I have never seen anything like this before. My Severum's scales seem to be inflated I guess you could say would be the right term. I have never seen that happen. I was treating her for internal parasites due to the fact that she blew up like a balloon. I was using the API General Cure to do it. I water changed the tank before treatment. I also went away and instructed my friend what to do as far as treatment goes and he did as such. I came back from vacation (mind you, I was gone 4 days) and then she looked like that. Not fully sure as to what could have happened, not sure if its a reaction to the medication or what. I am at a strange loss here and don't know what to do. None of the other fish seem sick so I think that's a good thing. Shes swimming around, but shows zero desire to eat, which isn't like her at all. I really don't know what to do here guys. I've had her since she was a baby. I would really hate to lose her.

Tank Specs:
55 Gallons

Filters:
Aquaclear 110
Penguin 350

Fish:
One 8" Tin Foil Barb
Two 2" Geo. Surinamensis
One 3" Sailfin Pleco
One 4" Meeki
One 2" Gold Severum
One 4.5" Green Severum


Water Parameters
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 - 0.25ppm
Nitrates: 0
Nitrites: 0

Temperature of water, roughly 78 degrees.

Sounds like the bloat at 1st was the start of dropsy and now it's in its advanced stage so unfortunately that general cure u were using more than likely didn't do a thing. If your Severums scales resemble a pine cone then it may be too late. I've never dealt with this disease myself but have heard it's very difficult to cure.

Here's a little about dropsy from fish-disease.net

Cause:

Three main causes for Dropsy have been identified. The over use of salt (NaCl), prolonged exposure to poor water conditions, and improper diet, which lead to a parasitic infection. Other causes include poisoning, internal injuries and cancerous tumors. The swelling is not the disease itself, but rather a symptom, which is caused by a build-up of fluids in the body cavity due to internal organ failure.

Treatment:

Treatment of this disease is difficult, as by the time it is recognized, permanent damage to the internal organs of the fish will have occurred. Immediate treatment must be performed if there is to be any chance for survival. Metronidazole (Flagyl) and or Clout are the best medications for treatment of Dropsy. Notwithstanding, not much is known for certain about the etiology of this disease and some experienced aquarists use antibiotics to fight Dropsy. For oxytetracycline, baths of 20-100 mg/litre for five days is suggested. For tetracycline hydrochloride, treat with baths of 40-100 mg/litre for five days. And for minocycline hydrochloride a dilution of 250mg/10 gallons of water is recommended. On day 2 change all the water and add the medicine again at the same dose for another 2 days. Increase aeration during treatment. Do not use minocycline a third time in a row. Caution: tetracyclines are photo sensitive so turn the tank lights off during treatment and cover the whole tank with a blanket. If the fish is still eating, you can soak the food in a concentrated solution of the antibiotic before feeding.

Sent from my LG-E980 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[lunker65]

^+1 here is another link that may help. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/fo...ght=epsom+salt

 

[petspoiler]

the fish pictured doesn't have the pine cone look at all. the scales resemble filled water blisters all over it's body, with the mid-section scales being most severe.
I have no idea what it is, but looks serious.

 

[TheNewSeverum]

Thanks for the info JRT. She looks like shes getting worse not better. I am starting to lean towards euthanization honestly. I rather not see her suffer.

 

[Aquanero]

This is an Aeromonas type infection with classic fluid filled blisters. The best treatment for this is a combination of Kanamycin and Furan 2. If you can only find one or the other use it. The Kana is skin absorbed so this will be th the primary drug of choice as the Furna 2 is not but will will work together with the Kana to stop the spread of the infection. If you can't find both of the above treat with Triple Sulfa which will work good in your water but again is not absorbed so it will take longer to effect a cure, that not withstanding it is very effective against this type of bacteria. Furan 2 is not as effective in higher Ph as is Triple sulfa so if you can't find Kanamycin and can only use one med opt for the 3X over the Furan 2 alone. So to recap number one choice is Kanamycin/Furan 2 in combination. #2 would be Kanamycin alone #3 would be Triple Sulfa #4 would be Furan 2 alone.

The water can also be dosed with aquarium salt at 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water.

There is ammonia present in your tank which would indacate somthing is off somewhere. Do a large 50% water change & gravel vacumingbefore starting treatment and clean your filter media in a bucket of tank water. Water must be kept as clean as possibile. GL

 

[TheNewSeverum]

Thank you for the info Aquanero. I'll have to look around and see if I can find the medications you were talking about.