But I AM doing the water changes, and it is getting WORSE quite fast. I don't want to sit on my hands and have a dead fish by morning.
Kristina
Kristina
Swim Bladder Problems and Fin Rot on Black Moor
- Thread starter kyryah
- Start date
Kristina,
I understand that you're very worried now and the sense of urgency you feel to push real hard, grasping for whatever answers and suggestions you can get. But I have to tell you that incomplete descriptions and rapid-fire posting just a few minutes apart in multiple threads at the same time is NOT going to help you. On the contrary, this verges on spamming a thread (which could ultimately force us to close it down should this continue).... at best, all you're going to get from us by taking that approach is an assortment of best guesses from a number of different people who haven't been given the full story. This is not helpful for you and it's not fair to our members who are doing their very best to advise you.
From here on, this is what I suggest you do. Relax and collect your thoughts so you can write out a single detailed and comprehensive update for us. Then monitor this thread for all the replies we give you, look for a general consensus of opinion, and then use your best judgement to decide what you're going to do next. Later on if you have follow-up questions to ask after that, then post those all together at the same time and review the answers we give you.
I understand that you're very worried now and the sense of urgency you feel to push real hard, grasping for whatever answers and suggestions you can get. But I have to tell you that incomplete descriptions and rapid-fire posting just a few minutes apart in multiple threads at the same time is NOT going to help you. On the contrary, this verges on spamming a thread (which could ultimately force us to close it down should this continue).... at best, all you're going to get from us by taking that approach is an assortment of best guesses from a number of different people who haven't been given the full story. This is not helpful for you and it's not fair to our members who are doing their very best to advise you.
From here on, this is what I suggest you do. Relax and collect your thoughts so you can write out a single detailed and comprehensive update for us. Then monitor this thread for all the replies we give you, look for a general consensus of opinion, and then use your best judgement to decide what you're going to do next. Later on if you have follow-up questions to ask after that, then post those all together at the same time and review the answers we give you.
I apologize. I am having internet issues which is why my answers have been short, and I have not edited previous posts to include other information. Did not realize that was spamming, and figured it did not make sense to add information to a thread about a separate illness. My mistake.
Done for awhile, I am pretty upset.
Kristina
Done for awhile, I am pretty upset.
Kristina
Believe me, I know what you're going through. I've been there myself before and so have so many others. We're truly here for you and we'll do everything we possibly can to help you through this.
If there was some way we could be there to give you a hug or take hold of your hand, we'd all be right there now. Do what you can to calm yourself down and try settle your nerves. The rest of us will review all the information you've provided here and decide what else we can think of to help.
If there was some way we could be there to give you a hug or take hold of your hand, we'd all be right there now. Do what you can to calm yourself down and try settle your nerves. The rest of us will review all the information you've provided here and decide what else we can think of to help.
Let me try to compress this.
Tank specs: 10 gallon filled to half capacity, un-cycled sponge filter, no substrate. I use Prime conditioner. No fake plants at this time, but should be arriving tomorrow.
Fish: Approximately 1 1/2 inch black moor. Has not eaten since 5/10
Parameters: Due to frequent water changes, and no feeding, amm 0 nitA 0 and NitI 0
So far the progression has been as follows-
8 pm yesterday, noticed Tenshi rubbing his left side on the bottom of the tank. Performed 25% water change.
12 pm yesterday, noticed a greyish/white tinge to the left side of Tenshi's tail, right at the margin
8 am today, noticed that the tail discoloration was getting wider, and that there was now a small discolored spot on his left side.
11:40 am today, spot on the side had doubled in size, and now there are ragged edges to the tail. A 2-3 mm split was apparent. Performed 90% water change.
5:00 pm today, Dissolved aquarium salt separately and began dripping it into the tank.
6:45 pm today, discoloration has spread to dorsal fin, and to the right side of the tail. The entire end of the tail is ragged.
I no longer have the option to go anywhere and purchase any medication this day. Everything is closed.
Kristina
Tank specs: 10 gallon filled to half capacity, un-cycled sponge filter, no substrate. I use Prime conditioner. No fake plants at this time, but should be arriving tomorrow.
Fish: Approximately 1 1/2 inch black moor. Has not eaten since 5/10
Parameters: Due to frequent water changes, and no feeding, amm 0 nitA 0 and NitI 0
So far the progression has been as follows-
8 pm yesterday, noticed Tenshi rubbing his left side on the bottom of the tank. Performed 25% water change.
12 pm yesterday, noticed a greyish/white tinge to the left side of Tenshi's tail, right at the margin
8 am today, noticed that the tail discoloration was getting wider, and that there was now a small discolored spot on his left side.
11:40 am today, spot on the side had doubled in size, and now there are ragged edges to the tail. A 2-3 mm split was apparent. Performed 90% water change.
5:00 pm today, Dissolved aquarium salt separately and began dripping it into the tank.
6:45 pm today, discoloration has spread to dorsal fin, and to the right side of the tail. The entire end of the tail is ragged.
I no longer have the option to go anywhere and purchase any medication this day. Everything is closed.
Kristina
Best I could get. At this rate, I won't be surprised if he has no fins by morning, or is dead.
Kristina
Last edited:
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
it is possible he's just one of those fishies that can't be saved, no matter what is done. do be prepared for that possibility. i will keep my 'finners' crossed for him though!
i still don't know if salt is the correct treatment here, it might be stressing him more?
i still don't know if salt is the correct treatment here, it might be stressing him more?
The problem is in my mind that he has not had any treatment.
I have decided to go ahead and use the medicine that I have here. At this point, I don't think that it will be prohibitive, because if something is not done I am going to lose him anyway.
I am preforming a water change now to remove the salt, and then will be adding the medication, which is indicated for fungal and bacterial illness such as columnaris, furunculosis, costiasis, dropsy, red streaks, and swim bladder.
Kristina
I have decided to go ahead and use the medicine that I have here. At this point, I don't think that it will be prohibitive, because if something is not done I am going to lose him anyway.
I am preforming a water change now to remove the salt, and then will be adding the medication, which is indicated for fungal and bacterial illness such as columnaris, furunculosis, costiasis, dropsy, red streaks, and swim bladder.
Kristina
Swim bladder
Has there been any change to the tilting angle when he's not swimming? Is he still active and trying to move around or has he become lethargic?
Because of his high stress level and the fact that you've seen him poo since he started to fast. I'd say it's okay to give him (only) one or two peas when you see this in the morning... then nothing else. Still wait. To curb his hunger slightly, might help settle him down so he's not struggling so much looking for food. Just don't feed too much to further aggravate things. Watch for signs later that he poos normally and let us know if he ate them or not.
Fin rot/bacterial infection
This sets in either from poor water quality (which you've improved for him since bringing him home), from stress (which is obvious), or from bacterial infection (which you already know and are treating for now with medication). So you're doing the right things for that new development already. Same thing for bacterial treatment.
Stress
This seems to be a large factor in everything here, which is not unusual. First, he's in a strange place... it takes real effort for him to move around because of the angle he's at. If you don't get the plants right away, put in anything you have that's aquarium safe so he can hide, relax, and rest. You could use smooth rocks, bottles, a coffee mug.. add the plants for more cover once you get them. For this tank, I'd sort of clutter up one side with items he can tuck himself in between so he feels protected... leave the other side of the tank open so he can venture out if that's what he wants to do. This lets him find his own comfort areas to hang out in.
The salt you were adding is not an irritant to him, that also serves as a tonic that will help calm him down. It doesn't need to be discontinued when medication is added.
The key to all this, of course, is going to be time. You've removed all the negatives you can control to give him the best chance to recover. You're doing all the positive things needed to help that along, too. The rest is now to wait and see. He's either going to get better now or he's not. Accept that so you're prepared whichever way this goes.
Let us know how he's doing in the morning... and remember, they often seem to be getting worse when, in fact, they really are getting better.
Has there been any change to the tilting angle when he's not swimming? Is he still active and trying to move around or has he become lethargic?
Because of his high stress level and the fact that you've seen him poo since he started to fast. I'd say it's okay to give him (only) one or two peas when you see this in the morning... then nothing else. Still wait. To curb his hunger slightly, might help settle him down so he's not struggling so much looking for food. Just don't feed too much to further aggravate things. Watch for signs later that he poos normally and let us know if he ate them or not.
Fin rot/bacterial infection
This sets in either from poor water quality (which you've improved for him since bringing him home), from stress (which is obvious), or from bacterial infection (which you already know and are treating for now with medication). So you're doing the right things for that new development already. Same thing for bacterial treatment.
Stress
This seems to be a large factor in everything here, which is not unusual. First, he's in a strange place... it takes real effort for him to move around because of the angle he's at. If you don't get the plants right away, put in anything you have that's aquarium safe so he can hide, relax, and rest. You could use smooth rocks, bottles, a coffee mug.. add the plants for more cover once you get them. For this tank, I'd sort of clutter up one side with items he can tuck himself in between so he feels protected... leave the other side of the tank open so he can venture out if that's what he wants to do. This lets him find his own comfort areas to hang out in.
The salt you were adding is not an irritant to him, that also serves as a tonic that will help calm him down. It doesn't need to be discontinued when medication is added.
The key to all this, of course, is going to be time. You've removed all the negatives you can control to give him the best chance to recover. You're doing all the positive things needed to help that along, too. The rest is now to wait and see. He's either going to get better now or he's not. Accept that so you're prepared whichever way this goes.
Let us know how he's doing in the morning... and remember, they often seem to be getting worse when, in fact, they really are getting better.
As of this AM -
Tenshi is very active, swimming quite well. The bad news is that the greyish color to the slime coat has spread to the other side of his body, now accompanied by several re-occurring spots of ich.
He is flashing, but alert and moving well.
His feces have gone from green to white and stringy, not a good sign.
The reason that I removed the salt from the aquarium before dosing the medication is that the first ingredient is sodium chloride, and I did not want to overdose. I am thinking of adding some salt back the aquarium.
I did read your post this morning Kashta, so I fed one mashed pea before I took the girls to school so that he would have time to eat before I got home and started water changes.
I am just going to do what I can. I am going to do a water change right now, and re-dose the medication.
Kristina
Tenshi is very active, swimming quite well. The bad news is that the greyish color to the slime coat has spread to the other side of his body, now accompanied by several re-occurring spots of ich.
He is flashing, but alert and moving well.
His feces have gone from green to white and stringy, not a good sign.
The reason that I removed the salt from the aquarium before dosing the medication is that the first ingredient is sodium chloride, and I did not want to overdose. I am thinking of adding some salt back the aquarium.
I did read your post this morning Kashta, so I fed one mashed pea before I took the girls to school so that he would have time to eat before I got home and started water changes.
I am just going to do what I can. I am going to do a water change right now, and re-dose the medication.
Kristina
