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Hi Everyone,

Tank 55
Fish- 8-9" Oscar, 6-7" Severum 7-8" Pleco
I feed them Wardley Cichlid Pellets and once in a while a cricket (We keep Geckos and have feeder crickets) No feeder fish except when I cull a batch of Angel fry and none of those in the last month.
Ammonia-0
Nitr(I)te-0
Nitr(A)te- 20
Ph-7.6
Hardness- never checked but the fish have been in this tank for a couple years and no problems.

I've been treating with Super Ich Plus (Malachite Green and Quinine Hydrochloride)

I started treating because the Severum had a few spots on it's flanks. They seemed too big for Ich and there were only 3 of them but I suspected some kind of similar parasite. The spots cleared up after 4 days.

The Oscar has been having fits where it shakes and vibrates. He spends a lot of time laying on the bottom of the tank.
His color has lightened quite a bit.
When he does swim his fins are clamped.
He sometimes curls up and appears not to be in control of his nersous system.
His eyes are a little cloudy.
No external signs like spots or flukes. I looked at the gills with the aid of a flashlight and they are pink with white edges. Respiration is not fast or labored.

This started about a week ago. about 5 or 6 weeks ago I euthanised a Jack dempsy with the same symptoms. I got that fish about a year ago and I thought he was just old, he was 7" when I got him. His symptoms weren't a severe as the Oscars, he mostly just layed around and every once in a while had a little shaking fit.

The Severum is now a little clamped.

Anybody got any ideas?


Thanks, Mike

Last edited by Mike R at 02-Nov-2004 16:35

Watch the ich treatment with the scaleless fish. Are you using at half-strength?

Unfortunately, more questions to answer than answers to give:

1)How is the temp? Is it stable and do you ensure stable temp during water changes? Even a 3-4F rise or drop during water change can bring on temp stress.

2)Is there salt in this aquarium? (I'm not suggesting you add it, just wondering if you use it and does it go into replacement water for that which has evaporated. If so, salinity can creep upward).

3)Live plants? Fertilizers?

4)Poop color? If the fish is eating, check throughout the day for feces color. If it is white, thin and stringy, it could indicate internal parasites. White poop can also indicate a severe infection, internally.

5)Fish flicking against any objects or gravel?

6)Is heater old or possibly cracked? Stray current can make fish miserable.

7)Have you lost power prior to your fish getting sick (including the one that died)? How long was power out?

8)Using old fish food (greater than 90 days since opened)? Is there any chance that food got moistened where it could grow mold? If so, such food is highly toxic and can lead to death. Food opened greater than 90 days is devoid of its best nutrients. Ideally, it should be replaced within 60 days, which is why it is a good idea to purchase small containers.

When fish are slowly going downhill and parameteres are fine, then we often wonder if what we are dealing with is bacterial, some type of parasite (internal or external), a virus, sporozoan, or even an adverse reaction to some type of chemical. Often, we have to guess or provide the least invasive of treatments.

If power was out for any length of one hour or more and filters were allowed to go back on without being cleaned out, I would pick up the new Anti-Bacterial feed by Jungle. According to Jungle, it is currently only available at PetSmart, which is where I found it. They also have an excellent Anti-Parasite for internal parasites. I don't know that they can be fed simultaneously, but if you were to go to http://www.junglelabs.com, they can tell you. In fact, there is a toll free number there. They provide advice over the phone, if you can get them. Otherwise, I've found they respond within 2 business days by email.

Keep us updated.


Last edited by Cory_Di at 02-Nov-2004 17:01

Thanks for the quick reply,
The temp stays around 78. When I change water I fill a 32 gallon Rubermaid trash can and match the temp & dechlorinate it, then pump it into the tank with a pond pump.
I don't use salt on this tank.
No plants
The poop is the color of the pellets I feed them
I haven't noticed any flicking.
THe heater seems ok but maybe I'll swap it out to see. the only thing about that is that the Severum isn't showing symptoms other than being a little clamped
I haven't lost power.I bought this bag of food less than a month ago.
I'll look into the antibacterial food. The closest Petsmart is about 65mi.but I may need to do the trip.
Thanks again, If there are any other suggestions I would appreciate them

Thanks, Mike
t

Change 40% of your tank water with the same temp and pH...

In three days repeat the process.

--garyroland.

Did that about an hour ago.

Thanks Gary

Mike

You must have ESP, Mike...

You've got to dilute all meds from your water.

I suspect the Oscar has had a bad reaction to the ich meds.

Do another change in three days.

--garyroland.

Will do, I also put the carbon back in. He's back up in the water column now rather than laying on the bottom. He's still clamped though.

Thanks again, Mike

I agree with Gary on water change - those never hurt as long as temp is matched. If it was the ich med, maybe it will just take time and further changes for them to come around.

Let us know how they do.

Perhaps an offering of some special food will perk him up...

Some frozen brine shrimp may be the ticket. Make sure the Oscar will eat to provide needed nutrition.

--garyroland.

He's back swimming around the tank. He doesn't seem like he's quite back to his old self yet but I think he's on the mend. His color is back anyway. I'll go take a clump of brine shrimp out right now.

Thanks, Mike

Just an update.
Oscar is doing fine now. Eating, watching me at the computer and irritating the Pleco when the mood strikes.

Thanks everybody, Mike

Good news, Make...

Take care of that Oscar.

--garyroland.

Awwww .

I want an oscar - I just love those things every time I go to the fish store. My white clouds and rasboras don't know me from the wall. But, an oscar - they've got personality.

You'd like an Oscar, Diane...

They do have personality, much like a Dempsey, but probably a little more active.

--garyroland.

I'd like one of everything, but I don't think I want to have entire saturdays devoted to water changes . I've got 3 filtered tanks now, and two 2-gallon betta containers. I must admit, its work. My long-term goal is to have only two freshwater tanks - one, long, but short-depth, planted community tank and the goldie tank. When the bettas die off, they won't be replaced. If the goldies die off, they won't be replaced I'll be down to one long, georgeous tank that will get all of my attention - in retirement