Possibly sick fish

I found it, but I found the powder form only, that may be why I could only find powder. Anyway, going to add it now, fingers crossed!
 
OK, treating the fish with Maracyn-Two. Couple of questions:

1. How long do fish normally take to show signs fo improvment if this is septicemia? I will continue the full dose, but I am curious if they show signes within 24 hours, longer, or does it vary? Right now I see now improvment yet, but it has only bee about 14 hours.

2. This is a newly established tank being cycled with Bio-Spira. Is the Maracyn-Two going to kill all my bacteria off?

3. Since this tank is new, I have had small amounts of ammonia and nitrite still, not sure about today, will test in a bit. The question is, am I supposed to do water changes while using the medication (couldn't find a defintive answer when I read the package last night, but will re-read later today when I am more awake)? If I am not supposed to do WC but I see my ammonia or nitrite rising, which is the lesser of two evils, change the water and mess up the medication, or leave the water and have high levels for a few days? I am guessing I would change the water, but don't want to screw things up too badly.

Thanks for the help! This teaches me to definitely invest in a QT tank!
 
I would get some sort of an ammonia nuetralizer and not change the water if while medicateing. You could call Vibrac who make it and see what they say. Most all antibiotics for aquriums say they wont harm the beneficial bacteria in the tank but I would think some if it must be killed off from an antibiotic so im not sure about a new tank again I think I would place a call to Vibrac and see what they say. I think theres a number on the package.
 
My tank is still not 100% cycled, the ammonia is at .25 ppm and the nitrites are at .5 ppm, nitrates at 5 ppm. Hopefully these levels will be ok for a couple more days until I finish the Maracyn two treatment course.

I am still dosing with maracyn two for the possible septicemia, but I am not seeing a lot of improvement. Some of the fish may have reduced blood streaks, but it is definitely still there (the perceived reduction may be wishful thinking). I have also noticed the two gold gouramis that started the whole sickness seem to have slightly more rounded stomachs than the rest of the gouramis. Does anyone know how long it takes fish with septicemia to respond to treatment with maracyn two? I am starting to wonder if they don't have parasites and I should be treating for that at the same time so I don't wait too long to start treating.

I have read some references to garlic for treating parasites and would like to keep it as natural as possible since I am already treating with the maracyn two and want to administer the full course of that. Does garlic really help treat internal parasites? Can I get the garlic in a jar packed in oil and try feeding then that since it is softer and a little stronger it might be more beneificial or shoudl I just get a clove and mince it and try that instead? Or is garlic not going to help anything?
 
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Does anyone have any information about using garlic to treat parasites as asked above? I don't want to medicate if I can avoid as I am already int eh middle of a medication cycle and I am still not positive what the problem is.
 
Just documenting my attempts to feed garlic and cure my fish for posterity at this point, but if anyone has other suggestions I would welcome them. Since my tank has both gouramis and bottom dwellers (catfish, pleco, albino rainbow shark) and I wanted everyone to get some garlic I took two approaches.

1. Took a glove of garlic and ran it through my press and fed just pieces of the pressed garlic straight into the tank - fish went nuts trying to eat it - so at least now I know they will eat it :)

2. I took 2 4" long quarter slices of zucchini and put them in a small microwave tupperware, put about 1/4" of water in the bottom, pressed another clove of garlic and spread the original remainding 1/2 clove and the entire second clove over the top of the zucchini and cooked in the microwave for 3 mins to soften and allow the garlic to be absorbed as much as possible. I let cool and dropped the whole thing, garlic on top and all into the tank. Fish went nuts for the extra garlic floating once again, not sure about the reception of the zucchini yet :)

I will keep everyone posted on whether the fish improve or not. They have showed little sign of improvement with the maracyn two after 3 full days of treatment. If anyone else has recommendations for treating internal parasites without adding more meds, feel free to speak up!
 
I have now given garlic for two days the fish are pooping an extraordinary amount, and much of it has white threads in it, so I am about 99% sure they have parasites. It seems like the garlic may be cleaning them out, but I can't take the smell of it any more. My 75G is in my bedroom and is smells like an Italian restaurant with a serious garlic fetish. Because of that I broke down and got the anti-parasite food when I was at PetSmart today. So hopefully that will be then end of the great parasite infestation of 2006 :)
 
You could try a salt bath which may kill the parasites if they're external.
Garlic doesn't actually cure anything, it just helps boost the immune system and "clean the pipes" so to speak.
 
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