Ok.. I'm lost. Ill oscars, which medication?

LindaD

LindaD

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Jan 6, 2000
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Ontario, Canada
I picked up a pair of oscars on March 25. I noticed a few days later that they were occasionally breathing with only one gill. I assumed it was gill damage from the horrible conditions at the lfs. Ammo, Nitrite and Nitrate were all pretty high when I tested their water. But the one-sided breathing has continued after being introduced to my aquarium, with a few more symptoms. But I'm lost and I don't know exactly what medication I need.

First off... They are in a 75g.. My water parameters are:
PH=6.6 (which is normal)
Ammonia=0
Nitrite=0
Nitrate=10ppm.

I've also been doing small daily water changes.. and added salt 15 tablespoons and kept that concentration for a week with no effect.

Here are there symptom.

-Breathing one-sided occasionally, but they are not breathing rapidly.
-Producing excessive slime coat, not extremely bad, But I can see it in areas.
-Rubbing on the bottom, generally their head area. Gill flukes maybe?
-Reduced appetite, The female will eat but only small amounts, The male has only ate once since the 25th of march. And that was one cricket.

I'm thinking internal and external parasites. But I have no idea which medication would be best to treat both and won't kill my 'good bacteria'.

All I have on hand is Aquari-sol and salt.. But I'm going to head to the lfs and pick up whatever you all suggest.

Thanks,
Linda
 
Sorry that no one has replied yet. I would have already, but I seem to have misplaced my copy of The Manual of Fish Health , which is my bible on this subject. I will conduct a more extensive search of the house and library this evening, and get back to you ASAP. RTR, where are you?
 
Found my copy of the book. Sorry for the delay. From your description of sliminess, it might be an external protozoan parasite like Chilodonella. If your fish have not started to recover on their own, the recommendation is to treat with an ich remedy for 5-7 days, and if that doesn't help to switch to a formalin-based product. I think a good compromise would be to use Quick Cure, which is a malachite-green/formalin combo.

Good luck and let us know how things are going.
 
On my oscars, I used a salt remedy and gradually bumped up the heat to 80 degrees.

However, I have used aquarisol (parasites or ich med) or Melafix (Slim bacterial infection or open wounds). Both work awesome for me and I would recommend taht you leave the lights out while they are sick.

Good luck
 
Np Harry. ;)

Just an update... They had internal parasites. I treated their food and tank water with Metrodonizole I bought from my vet. That cleared that problem up. No more slimy, gross poop.

The Metro helped trememdously. They are much more active. They have normal oscar appetites now. The female will eat anything I offer her, The male is being picky, he's currently hooked on crickets. But I managed to get him to eat one pellet this morning, so he's getting there..

I also treated them for flukes with "Lifebearer" being careful not to overdose. The excess slime coat and the scratching stopped after 48 hours.

The only symptom they still have is occasionally breathing with one gill. It seems to be mainly when they are 'resting/sleeping'. Which puzzles me.. Either the medication wasn't effective.. or didn't kill all the flukes... or they have some gill damage that just needs to heal. I'm not sure. :confused: I figure I'll give them a couple more weeks and see if I see any improvement.

pierre_john, I have been leaving the lights out, the male doesn't like them and he sits and sulks.. He's a big baby.. LOL
 
Glad it seems to have worked out. If the gill thing doesn't now clear up on its own, you might still want to try Quick Cure. But for now it seems reasonable just to let them recover on their own, as you are doing.
 
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