Urgent Help Needed!!! Sick Pleco!!!

Great help from everyone here, but one thing I respectfully suggest is that when treating a sick fish I do like to do daily water changes, and this doesn't interfere with the action of the antibiotic.

Antibiotics are available for just a few hours in the water column, so you can do a big water change just before you dose the tank with antibiotic, then in another 24 hours do another big water change and dose immediately, then in another 24 hours repeat for as long as you're treating for the illness.

The fish benefits from having the water really sparkling clean, and the Maracyn 2 is fighting the bacterial infection, and in addition to that this helps with any ammonia or nitrite that may be in the tank due to any negative impact the antibiotic may be having on your beneficial bacteria.

I also like to use a water conditioner that detoxifies ammonia and nitrite, which in my case is Prime by Seachem, but correct me if I'm wrong, guys, I think Amquel+ does that, too.

I've successfully treated many fish doing the big water changes every day, right before dosing with antibiotic. Pristine water on its own merits works wonders for a sick or injured fish.

You're really doing a good job working so hard on your handsome guy's behalf. I'm sure he'll be feeling better soon. Keeping my fingers crossed.
 
And....I just learned something else. Thanks Mel for the info on how long antibiotics stay in the water column.
 
Thanks for that information! I was worried that I'd be taking the medication out if I did too big of water changes so that was good info on how to do it. I just got back with the wood and maracyn 2 and prime, he's got zucchini anchored at the bottom. I'll do the big water change and start with the antibiotics tonight. I'm just praying for my little fella! Thank you!
 
You're welcome... I know it's basic stuff, but make sure to match your water temps when you do the change. Good luck and keep us updated on the progress. That's how we all get better at giving advice :)
 
You're welcome guys... this is how I learned, too.

The knowledge and wisdom of hundreds of years of experience are here on AC in the many fish gurus in attendance. I want to be a guru, too, and, hopefully, will be - one day. :grinyes:

We all learn from the experiences of others, and it's fun to do the homework, too: reading, researching and studying up on all things pertaining to this hobby.

We're all wishing the best for your little guy.
 
Whichever antibiotic you coose to use, just follow the instruction recommended by mfr. I dont know how this information is started but solubility and activeness of antibiotic all differs per antibiotic and are affected by water condition including temp.

Just follow the instruction and avoid unnecessary water changes. Mfr have done their experiments to maintain optimal concentration thus unnecessary water changes will lower required concentration, diminishing its potency, eventually affecting its/their effectiveness.

Good luck!
 
With all due respect, Cerianthus, antibiotics do break down and lose efficacy in the water column in the aquarium, and although some manufacturers direct you to do a water change after four days, or three, or two, or after a full five day course, it is safe and effective to do daily water changes just before dosing the tank, and the fish will benefit from cleaner water, and the antibiotic will provide the full impact of the dose for a few hours after dosing but not for more than twenty-four hours.

I respectfully stand by my recommendation.

Some of the sources upon which I base my opinion are the following:

A respected source at this link:

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Medication.html


"When you have fish that are sick (bacterial, fungal, protozoan, or other parasites), you want to try and isolate them in a hospital aquarium whenever possible unless the infection is systemic (often Ich or Gram positive infections such as Streptococcus). Regular water changes before each treatment allow for a more effective treatment, especially when treated in the display aquarium. These water changes will lower dissolved organics (often as a result of the previous treatment) that not only absorb your latest medication dose (rendering it less effective), but as well can increase the toxic side effects of the treatment. The bottom line is that water changes before each treatment dose is a must for the best results!"

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"I would continue the coarse of treatment, often things get worse before they get better. Also, you can do large dailywater changes right before addign teh medication as antibiotics lose their efficacy in the water after 24 hours. This may help their overall condition and health as well."

In a thread at the link below:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forum...935&highlight=antibiotics+water+column&page=2

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Another AC member/guru, highly regarded and a person whose expertise is based not only on his experience as a fishkeeper, but also on his background in medicine, (human), from the same thread as the one above by Msjinkzd.

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"Good plan... you're doing great work here. Don't be afraid to do daily waterchanges either immediately before redosing."
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Hanihoney36, I would go with daily water changes, personally, based on what I've learned here from those guys I quoted above, and others as well here on AC. There are many other posts by very experienced fishkeepers in very many threads that assert the same opinion.

My purpose here isn't to argue, nor is it to try to prove that my opinion is right because, by golly, I want to be right; I truly want to help you get your little guy well and I believe this will give him the best shot.

I always welcome correction when I'm off target in my thinking and I'm not offended by that; that's how I gain greater knowledge and that's my goal.

I'm serious about learning all I can regarding illness and disease in freshwater fish so I do a lot of reading, research, and studying, and I copy and paste anything that will be helpful in learning to be a good fishkeeper and a healer, should the need arise.

When I read a thread dealing with an illness or injury that is especially informative, (and I read a lot of them), I copy and paste the link, and I have tons of them, lol.

I also search for scholarly articles from university websites and anywhere I can find them and save them as files on my laptop. I have files within files, lol, cross referenced, and cataloged to refer to when I'm confronted with some health problem in any of my fish. (photos, too)

And, beside that I do have a good bit of experience in treating sick and injured fish of my own, (usually successfully), and in helping with others, so based on my own experience I stand by my recommendation.

I guess I'm going on a bit more than I intended, but I do want your fish to get better, as I know we all do, so I thought I'd present more than just my opinion on this. This may help you decide how to proceed with your treatment plan.

That's what a forum is... lots of people doing the best they can and trying to help, so I hope no one is offended
 
mel_20_20 said:
"...I guess I'm going on a bit more than I intended, but I do want your fish to get better, as I know we all do, so I thought I'd present more than just my opinion on this. This may help you decide how to proceed with your treatment plan.

That's what a forum is... lots of people doing the best they can and trying to help, so I hope no one is offended
Click to expand...

Geeze it was late-thirty when I composed that long-winded post and I didn't express myself quite the way I intended. :headshake2:

I didn't post all that about my reading and studying to sound like a know-it-all. Compared to the majority of fishkeepers here on AC I still consider myself a noobie. :)

What I wanted to say is - the basis for my opinon on this issue is having read what Msjinkzd and Dr. No and many other fishkeeping gurus on AC have said on the subject, as well as what other very experienced fishkeepers on other fish forums have said, and in articles both professional and avocational that I've read.

I didn't mean to sound like I was giving a lecture.:footinmouth:
 
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Never mind!!! Perhaps what I am trying to inform here is beyond your scope!!!

I did not know some of our memebers are certified pharmacologist/pathologist. If they were, they should not give such recommendation over procedures recommeded by MFR.

Anyway, good luck with treatment.
 
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Please help!!! He's getting worse. I've started the Maracyn Two and have done two doses thus far. His underbody is pale and his mouth area appears sunken in. He is very lethargic and suddenly seems to be looking almost collapsed. What is going on? Is there anything I can do? I'm worried sick!!!
 
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