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Bought a new crown pearlscale yesterday, absolutely stunning fish!

I looked it over carefully when i purchased it, but the shipment had just come in, and the fish seemed slightly stressed, but that was it. Fins were erect, eyes were normal, body perfect and proportionate, no problem keeping balabce, normal poo etc etc....

I was still feeling a little leary and put it in my 10 gallon quarantine tank with a 0.3 salt solution and a teaspoon full of melafix. the Fish was doing okay, but wasn't eating at first, and then only a little. It's gills were working pretty hard, and it was lethargic. I decided to put it on a round of medi-gold.

It was eating last night when I went to bed, but I had noticed a small green dot on it's back.This morning the dot was behind it's caudal fin - FISH LICE!! I grabbed the fish and tweezed off the louse, and squished it's horrible body to pieces! ]:| I don't like fish lice.

There are no other visible louses in the tank, which is completely bare except for a java fern, so I should be able to see them. However, I think it would be a good idea to go a round of Aquarium Pharmaceuticals General Cure (for parasites, active ingred. metronidazole, copper sulphate, and trichlorfon), as I suspect flukes. The fish is not gasping at the surface, it is just working it's gills overtime.

Ammonia and NitrIte are zero in the QT tank, filter is an already established Aquaclear 200, and temp is 70.

Anyone have experience with the General cure?

I would prefer "Fluke Tabs" if available...

The product has a wide range of effectiveness, including fish lice.

But first make sure and dilute the other meds by doing a few partial water changes of the same temp and pH.

Carbon filtration should be removed before new dosing.

--garyroland.

[span class="edited"][Edited by garyroland 2004-08-28 20:27][/span]

That's the most frustrating part Gary, I read up all over the net about these wonderful products, fluke tabs, anchors away, clout, Praziquatel products, Jungle parasite clear tabs. The only thing available at 5 major pet stores was the Aquarium pharm. We went to PetsMart, PetCetera, Super Pet, Aquarium illusions, and Pj'S Pet Centers. 4 out of 5 are the largest chain pet stores in Canada!

I don't know what it is about Edmonton, I had to mail order my med food !

There is no carbon in the filter, I removed that for the melafix, and the melafix and salt were all I had in the tank, didn't mess around with any other meds. I mixed the capsule with a large glass of tank water, poured a little in, added more tank water, mixed it, poured it in, and so on until the glass was empty. the fish doesn't seem stressed by the meds, thank god!

Fins are all still erect, and the gasping is almost gone since I yanked that nasty louse off of her. She has red patches on her sides, probably from the louse as well, poor girl But... with salt, clean water, and (hopefully just one round) of the meds, she should be good as new! She's eating the med food, and her poop is normal

It may be a good idea to mail order in some meds to have on hand...

You can use a q-tip dipped in iodine and swab the spots while holding the fish in a semi-wet soft towel over the tank in case the fish is dropped.

Melafix, an anticeptic, can be applied full strength in the same manner.

--garyroland.

[span class="edited"][Edited by garyroland 2004-08-29 13:44][/span]

I don't have any iodine, but the same thing was suggested with hydrogen peroxide on another forum. makes sense, kill the nasties, right? Then she said to take a dry q-tip and swab off the peroxide after 10 seconds, then do a light swab of neosporin. I haven't done it yet, since I have no peroxide either. I didn't know the melafix could be applied in the same manner, it would make sense though! I was kinda leery of "burning" the fish with it. Trust me, I am going to mail order up a storm once I get my credit card! May have to ask my mom if I can put it on hers in the meantime.

The medical profession has stopped using Peroxide as a cleansing solution on wounds because of the caustic and burning damage it creates...

They've switched to saline solution to clean wounds.

My other post suggestions still apply. Stay away from Peroxide.

--garyroland.

ok, so stay away from peroxide, and swab with melafix or iodine? Sounds good. She is so lethargic, just kinda hanging out near the bottom, swimming around occasionally... She is eating still, and her poop is still normal. All fins are still erect, so hopefully it's just an aftereffect of the fish lice that's bringing her down. Thanks for the help, Gary, I do appreciate it

How long does it usually take for a fish to recover from fish lice? I have read that they often cause secondary infections like aeromonas... The fish is still lethargic, hanging out by the bottom. She's still eating, and all her fins are erect, but you can tell she's not doing so hot...

Well, the aquarium pharm meds didn't seem to be doing much of anything, so i did a 50% water change to dilute the meds, and put the carbon back in the filter. Tomorrow I will do another water change and start s round of new meds. I went to Big Al's today, it was about a 45 minute drive, (and i had to pay me roommate 10 bucks to take me there ) but they sure have the market cornered on medication in Edmonton. I was able to purchase Clout and Fluke Tabs, as well as Life Bearer, all by Aquarium products. They are going to special order me Jungle Parasite clear tank buddies for the future, as those contain praziquantel, and i would rather medicate with them when i have the option if i ever deal with these bloody parasites again! Now, I need some advice. I've never used any of the products I mentioned above. I am not sure which to use...? Fish symptoms:

1) breathing heavily, and stays at the bottom of the tank (flukes?)
2) focalized red patches on her sides (from skin flukes or the lice?)
3) had a fish louse, I tweezed it off, and haven't seen any more or eggs
4)fish is eating, poo is normal, fins erect.

Please advise as to which product i should use (clout, fluke tabs, or life bearer) and add any special instructions you may have

[span class="edited"][Edited by guppylove1985 2004-08-30 22:07][/span]

"Clout" cannot be trusted...

Especially with those that treated for anchorworm.

The med did nothing or, sadly, killed the fish.

The other meds I have no info on except to say your fish seems to be weak and stressed. There's a good chance the meds will kill it.

--garyroland.

YIKES! gary, that's not very encouraging

Do you think I should just leave her be, and skip medication, and see if she recovers on her own? It is a bare 10 gallon, so if there were any eggs, I would see them... It's the possible flukes that are worrying me.

Just a little update here, the fish is still doing fine, eating and swimming normally, and I feel she is on the mend. I tried a course of the aquarium Pharm General Cure, but adter a day or so I changed 75% of the water and added the carbon back, as it didn't seem to be doing anything.

After I went to Big Al's as described earlier and purchased the meds mentioned above, I decided to give the Life Bearer a go, as it was the most gentle out of the three. Did the 48 hour treatment and fish is looking much better, still gasps slightly occasionaly, but the red patches are much smaller, and I haven't seen any more lice or eggs.

But today, when I was with my friend in St. Albert (another city right beside Edmonton) I struck GOLD!

Prazi-Pro! Contains praziquantel, the ultimate treatment for flukes out there! I've read a lot on this med, and it's really wonderful. It's extremely gentle on your fish (think melafix), eradicates flukes, and won't harm your bio-filter!

I looked everywhere for it, but the only place I was able to find it was Online for mail order, but none of the sites shipped to Canada. Then there I was in St. Albert wandering through this family owned LFS called Paradise Pets (so you other Edmonton guys can know where to buy it ), and there it was!

I was so happy I wanted to run up to a salesperson and hug them

So I did another large water change, and started the prazi treatment. I swear my fish already looks happier *warm fuzzies* I'm so excited I found this product