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Argggggggggggg looks like I'm back to treating sick fishies.....
This morning noticed a red patch on the side of my gold barb, assumed it was just a bump and treated with melafix. Was able to get a slightly better look later with my camera...



That's the best I can get for now...will try again later, but as you can see if you look really really closely (sorry they took photoshop off my computer ) there looks to be something poking out. I'm not sure if it's a scale or a parasite. Any opinions.

Also you'll notice a bit of red around the base of the fins of the one on the left...is this the beginnings of dropsy .

Sorry I havent' got WQ #'s on the tank, test kit is @home and haven't gotten one @the office yet, so far I've only treated with melafix.

T'anks in advance ... .

^_^

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You can try a good parasite med...

Some, like myself, prefer "Parasite Clear" because it has such a wide range of effectiveness for various critters.

If the "wound" appears to ulcerate and expand, then Tetracycline and Melafix may come into play.

--garyroland.

T'anks garyroland,
This morning the red is still visible on the side, and still seems to be something sticking in or out. On very very close inspection that barb doesn't seem quite as colorful as the others, but not obviously so. The red I noticed around the fins on the one to the left doesn't show today.

Having done about as much research as I could on my own thru a google search (or three ) I saw a few accounts that parasites can't handle temps above 86F, however the profile for the gold barb says that their max temp is 75F. Would it be putting too much strain on the fish to push the tank temp up that far for five days with increased surface agitation ? I will be getting meds this weekend, but they won't be added to the tank till monday. I'm still adding melafix per directions for advanced illness.

^_^


[span class="edited"][Edited by Babelfish 2004-08-19 09:28][/span]

Now you're dealing with a "possible" parasite...

Certain internal parasites have been known to break through the skin of the fish and produce what you're observing.

External parasites do indeed have a rather poor tolerance for heat. That intolerance varies with the type of parasite involved. Unfortunately I can't say the same for internal parasites.

If you remember the high heat treatment for ich with no meds, the treatment calls for 95 degrees for seven to ten days with increased surface agitation to allow for a quicker gas exchange under high heat conditions.

Of course this treatment is suggested for Clown Loaches who have a love for high temps anyway, the norm being 86 degrees for that particular fish.

Most, perhaps all, tropicals can withstand 86 degrees if slowly increased over an eight-hour period.

--garyroland.

I can't address the parasite issue, but I can tell you this... It's not Dropsy, good thing.. Good luck

The Amazon Nut...

Vet @the LFS thought it was a sore that was beginning to fungus over, diagnosis confirmed by another, based on the pic and the fact that there were no other signs of parasitic infection, nor was it or the others acting stressed in any way. Monday morning, no signs of red white, or the gold barbs @first. After adding some crumbled shrimp pellet all four accounted for and acting their normal cute selves ....Looks like another overreaction on my part .

^_^

Not an over-reaction, you just have a very protective eye out for your fish. No harm in that.
Glad it's getting better

The Amazon Nut...