What is killing my Acarichthys Heckelii?

[JK47]

Justin that sucks man! Just out of curiosity...how much water are you changing at a time? I recall you saying you do a couple small water changes a week? is that right? I wonder if lowering the temp on your tanks may help? down to say 74-75.. Just thinking out loud..I know you keep those babies bumped up pretty high...that may accelerate whatever bacteria is in your fish...I could be way off on my thoughts...just throwing some ideas out there...

Thanks for the feedback Damien. I will lower the temps a bit and see if that helps it from spreading. I change about 15%-20% at a time. I am doing smaller water changes because I have a ton of DW in the tank leaching tannins and I don't want to cause any soft/hardness swings from the wood. You know our water bro... If it is specticemia, it's bacterial, I wonder if I should try and get a UV sterilizer going?

 

[fallin49er]

http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/skin_disorders.html

Justin: Check out this website and scroll down to the letter P...tell me what you think.

 

[JK47]

http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/skin_disorders.html

Justin: Check out this website and scroll down to the letter P...tell me what you think.

Thanks for the link D, sorry for the delay I was doing a WC on the 220g. "No suitable treatment known. Verify by dissecting the fish." WTF, really? It could be that but I think (hope) Septicemia was correct because that is what the meds I am now using treats. The odd thing is the open hole was clearing up on the heckelii, no more puss just a healing open region in the face. I thought it was on the right track. Last night she went dark, laid and stayed on the bottom, would not eat and died over the night. The male severum (I am really sorry BTW, he was the one I got from you, I never saw it coming with him I was only treating the heckelii) never had the pocket of puss break through the skin. It was very rapid with him.

I know it's a puss of some sort now after watching him, a pocket builds up over the top of the skull but under the skin. They both showed signs of popeye after this took place.

 

[peathenster]

totally sucks man....looks like something is growing and kills the fish when it reaches the brain. I doubt it has anything to do with water...

 

[Oddball]

Pharoah hit it with Septicemia. Unfortunately, the pathogen cannot be accurately identified without a culture. That means there's no positive ID as to whether the infection is gram-negative or gram-positive. The best broad spectrum med to treat with is tetracycline. Treat with 500mg/per 20 gallons. The antibiotic regimen is 5-7 days whether the symptoms clear earlier or not. My vet sells me the 500mg tetracycline caps for much cheaper than at a lfs. I get 80 caps for $10. If you already have a regular vet, give the vet a shot at supplying your meds.
Watch out for post-infection fungal attacks since the fish's immune systems will be decreased. I treated a septacemic attack on an angel tank with a tblsp of salt per 20 gals, increased the temp to 86F, dosed with maroxy for fungal outbreaks, and treated with the tetracycline.
Remember to remove any carbon or resin from the filter. Perform a 1/3rd to 1/2 water change to start off treatrment. The WC will greatly reduce the pathogen population and allow the meds to take effect much more quickly.
After treatment, perform a similar water change. If all signs of infection are gone, you can replace carbon resin packs to remove the meds and orange tinge left by the tetracycline.
Good luck.

 

[Oddball]

If there's no response, whatsoever, to the tetracycline after 3 days, you must consider that the infection may be staphlococcal in nature. If this is the case, treatment must be started with Dicloxacillin or Eurythromycin. The other parts of the regimen may remain in play.

 

[JK47]

Pharoah hit it with Septicemia. Unfortunately, the pathogen cannot be accurately identified without a culture. That means there's no positive ID as to whether the infection is gram-negative or gram-positive. The best broad spectrum med to treat with is tetracycline. Treat with 500mg/per 20 gallons. The antibiotic regimen is 5-7 days whether the symptoms clear earlier or not. My vet sells me the 500mg tetracycline caps for much cheaper than at a lfs. I get 80 caps for $10. If you already have a regular vet, give the vet a shot at supplying your meds.
Watch out for post-infection fungal attacks since the fish's immune systems will be decreased. I treated a septacemic attack on an angel tank with a tblsp of salt per 20 gals, increased the temp to 86F, dosed with maroxy for fungal outbreaks, and treated with the tetracycline.
Remember to remove any carbon or resin from the filter. Perform a 1/3rd to 1/2 water change to start off treatrment. The WC will greatly reduce the pathogen population and allow the meds to take effect much more quickly.
After treatment, perform a similar water change. If all signs of infection are gone, you can replace carbon resin packs to remove the meds and orange tinge left by the tetracycline.
Good luck.

If there's no response, whatsoever, to the tetracycline after 3 days, you must consider that the infection may be staphlococcal in nature. If this is the case, treatment must be started with Dicloxacillin or Eurythromycin. The other parts of the regimen may remain in play.

Thank you sincerely for your input Oddball. I will ask my vet tomorrow as well as the LFS for tetracycline. Next question, after todays losses, I did a 90% WC on the QT tank (which I normally never do that large), moved over my last two heckelii and started treating with Maracyn 2. The meds say it is for Septicemia specifically and also not to stop the meds once you start. Should I stop using the maracyn, do a large WC and switch to treating with tetracycline or finish the 5 days of maracyn then treat with tetracycline? Sorry for the 20 questions I've just heard bad things about start/stopping and mixing meds. I am a noob with diseases. [embarrased]

 

[Oddball]

Keep going with the antibiotic already started. With any antibiotic treatment, you have to treat at least 3 days. Not doing so may lead to a pathogen developing an increased tolerance to antibiotics. By day three, if you're not seeing an improvement in the fish, go to Plan B with the Dicloxacillin or eurythromycin. As always the other parts of the regimen (salt, Maroxy, etc.) can continue being used.

 

[fallin49er]

Pharoah hit it with Septicemia. Unfortunately, the pathogen cannot be accurately identified without a culture. That means there's no positive ID as to whether the infection is gram-negative or gram-positive. The best broad spectrum med to treat with is tetracycline. Treat with 500mg/per 20 gallons. The antibiotic regimen is 5-7 days whether the symptoms clear earlier or not. My vet sells me the 500mg tetracycline caps for much cheaper than at a lfs. I get 80 caps for $10. If you already have a regular vet, give the vet a shot at supplying your meds.
Watch out for post-infection fungal attacks since the fish's immune systems will be decreased. I treated a septacemic attack on an angel tank with a tblsp of salt per 20 gals, increased the temp to 86F, dosed with maroxy for fungal outbreaks, and treated with the tetracycline.
Remember to remove any carbon or resin from the filter. Perform a 1/3rd to 1/2 water change to start off treatrment. The WC will greatly reduce the pathogen population and allow the meds to take effect much more quickly.
After treatment, perform a similar water change. If all signs of infection are gone, you can replace carbon resin packs to remove the meds and orange tinge left by the tetracycline.
Good luck.

Oddball....Very good, and informative. I hope you get this thing figured out Justin...would hate to see you lose anymore fish.

 

[JK47]

Again, thank you Oddball. I'll keep you guys posted. I just checked my 125g and the Sanatoperca Mapiritensis (the rare cichlids) my largest 7" female is showing signs now that were not there yesterday so it is in this tank as well. Red lines through the caudal fin with the red tips. I will treat this tank with the tetracycline and let you know how the difference goes. I CANNOT risk losing any of these fish, now it's on....