Convict fish has been in a hospital tank for 10 days. This fish has had frayed fins for years apparently (fish was a rescue). Have treated with 1TBS salt per 5 gallons with daily dosings of M1/M2 and every other day 80% water changes. Water temp turned up to 84F. Have given the fish twice daily methylene blue baths as well. There has been absolutely no improvement in 8 days.
I don't have much experience but I know the maracyn products specifically instruct not to water change unless the parameters call for it. I've been doing maracyn 1/2 treatment (as you know) and doing 2x daily water tests to make sure my biofilter is intact. So far it has been. I know at least according to the package it's time release. So if you
dose then vacuum 80% out it's not going to be sufficient. Just my 2 cents. Best of
luck!
The fins may not grow back if it has been "years" that they have been damaged. Most of the time pristine water will grow back fins if they are going to grow back. No meds needed.
The fins may not grow back if it has been "years" that they have been damaged. Most of the time pristine water will grow back fins if they are going to grow back. No meds needed.
I believe you may be right. The person that had these fish apparently did not do water changes and who knows how long the fins have been frayed. :mad2:
I don't have much experience but I know the maracyn products specifically instruct not to water change unless the parameters call for it. I've been doing maracyn 1/2 treatment (as you know) and doing 2x daily water tests to make sure my biofilter is intact. So far it has been. I know at least according to the package it's time release. So if you
dose then vacuum 80% out it's not going to be sufficient. Just my 2 cents. Best of
luck!
It's fairly common to reduce the badness in the water right before a dose of meds by a PWC. In fact many knowledgeable fish keepers recommend that. Most antibiotics have done their business within 24 hours in any case, sometimes much less (8 hours). If the package says to leave it in there, well it's something I can try I guess. Have no clue how these powders can be time release, though. :huh:
I agree with Snoopy that the fins are probably going to stay that way. The fish is probably healthy, as long as you see no degradation of the fins and you see no blood streaks or other signs of septicemia, or the fuzziness that characterizes columnaris.
I, also, am an advocate of a big water change, just before dosing, every 24 hours. The meds do not build up to a "desirable" level. They have done their work and can be removed every 24 hours. The most important thing after the action of the anitibiotic is keeping the parameters pristine. I've had good success with treating fish in this manner.
OK, since we all agree that the fins are most likely perm damaged... Convict goes back into his regular tank. No use medicating him unnecessarily any longer. Thanks!
your medication regime was probably a 'lil' over the top, IMO. salt, maracyn, and methyl blue baths..... i'm surprised that fish didn't get stressed and get some other secondary infection. I employ the KISS method when it comes to things like fin rot, and keeping it simple means you have less to worry about. daily water changes, keep the environment clean, and never overfeed. that is what i do when there is fin rot happening and if that doesn't clear it up then i reach for the methyl blue.
btw, fin rot is for the most part bacterial and higher temperatures will increase the bacteria activity (translation: higher temp, more bad bacteria, more fin rot). next time you're battling rot, try lowering the tank temperature to 78 or even 76 if your fish will be comfortable in cooler water.
BFM is right that fin rot usually clears up with pristine water. Doing big daily water changes, or multiple smaller daily water changes, will usually heal finrot in an otherwise healthy fish.
As long as you don't see a progressive decline, while keeping up the water changes, or any other sign of septicemia or columnaris, clean water does wonders. I don't think you hurt him, in fact, if he had any subclincal infection going he probably doesn't have it anymore, lol.
I just finished treating a Brochis for septicemia in a 5 gallon hospital (too small really, makes dosing more difficult) with Jungle Fungus Clear (has three antibiotics and not really for fungus). Also food with antibiotics in it, though I'm not sure how much of that he ate.
I was doing daily 90% water changes, 24 hours after dosing. His septicemia had cleared; I was planning on putting him back in the main tank, but I went out of town for two days and when I got in I saw signs of finrot from water quality issues even though I had bb in the filter media that I put in with him. I'm sure the Fungus Clear killed off the bb.
I started immediate water changes daily, 90%, and used Melafix only, and after three or four days his fins are back to normal.
I agree that it was an aggressive treatment, but he had this problem under near pristine conditions since I've had the fish (months). Most agree that a mild Meth Blue bath is easy on very easy on fish, but I hear what you're saying. If it was a more delicate fish, I probably would not have taken that approach, but this is a convict we're talking about. He showed no sign of stress the whole time and was eating well.
That is an interesting observation about the temperature. Most literature I read online dictates to raise the temperature when dealing with fin rot - even though it is most often bacterial. The main reason I believe is to increase the fish's metabolism. However, it is well known that when dealing with Flavobacterium (Columnaris) bacteria the temp should not be over 75F or so. So that is worth looking into.
Mel:
I had tried Melafix when I first received the fish. No effect whatsoever.
Jungle Fungus Clear was one of my next options if I were to try to treat the convict again, but at this time I don't see the point. It does contain Nitrofurazone which is supposedly an excellent antibiotic for columnaris and fin rot - although I have no experience with it. Maybe sometime down the road, but personally I think it's a waste of time - there would have been some noticeable difference in the 10 days I had him in isolation with that treatment I think.
Thanks to all for the help. Mr Convict will have to deal with this tail the way it is - and he's been dealing with it very well up to now.
After a week out of the hospital tank the problem has gotten worse so I put the Convict back in the hospital tank. I dosed it with Jungle Fungus Eliminator (not the Fungus Clear). If this doesn't work I'm not sure what to try next.
The Convict is mating with the female - and the female has no symptoms. The water is a usual 0-0-5.
He showed no sign of stress the whole time and was eating well. 