Catfish In Trouble

[SharonCC]

Sorry, I've posted this twice...I thought I might get more answers here. Frank, my UDC, is unwell. He is normally a great fish, and has been living in my Mbuna tank. He's never bothered by the cichlids, and eats aggressively and well. He was absent from feeding on Sunday, which immediately alerted me to the fact that something was wrong. On Monday morning, I removed all rocks from the tank in order to net him. He is now in a 10 gal. hospital tank. He does have some slightly damaged fins, and a red spot on one of them. He is looking a little better, and did take some food this morning, but when he eats, he seems to be uncomfortable, and shakes his head. I've examined his mouth and all seems fine, although there is a dark area...which may even be normal. I was wondering if I could add an antibiotic presribed for humans to the water. Husband just got back from the doctor...as luck should have it! Fish meds are hard to come by here, and all I have access to is Melafix and Pimafix. The prescribed antibiotic that I do have is labelled AMOXI CIAV 250mg...underneath that it says AMOX TR\ POTASSIUM CLAVAL. I'd like to treat him, as he's one of my favourites...but I don't want to make things worse using an inappropiate med...Any ideas? I'm trying to get a good pic, but it may be awhile!!!

 

[drobbyb]

There's no way of knowing if amoxicilin will be toxic to the fish or not. If you add it to the tank it will certainly kill off every bacteria it reaches (including the good ones) effectively killing off the rest of the inhabitants.

I wouldn't advise doing this.

 

[WILDER]

Never heard of the med what does it treat.

 

[WILDER]

What do his gills look like.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing against objects in the tank.
An open mouth can mean that a fish has a sore or ulcer in its mouth.
Does he spit his food out.
Do he swim ok not in a jerky movement.

 

[SharonCC]

He's breathing fast at times...other times, breathing appears normal. No flicking or rubbing. He ate this AM, didn't spit it out, but it seemed to make him uncomfortable...he shakes his head at the same time. His swimming does not seem right...he seems a little off balance at times, but it's hard to tell. He's not used to a tank this small, and seems clumsy. He was not swimming properly when I took him out of the main tank. He was "spinning" and then seemed to get control back. There have been times today when I'm sure he's done...leaning to one side and breathing hard. The next time I check, he seems to be resting comfortably. I've added Melafix and Pimafix...it may be coincidence but he seems to have more trouble breathing when the meds are added....He's one of my favourite fish, and this has upset me. I always wonder if I could have done something to cause the problem, or could have done something to prevent it.

 

[WILDER]

Spinning and off balance can be swim bladder.
Also spinning can be brain damage to internal parasites.
Going to pm you.

 

[SharonCC]

Thanks Wilder...

 

[SharonCC]

Here's a better pic of Frank...I don't know if I should euthanize. He's a fighter, but I'm unsure of how much he is suffering.

 

[WILDER]

Does he look thin to you as sometimes pics can be deceiving.
As he always looked abit pic where his fins start.
How do his eyes look.

 

[SharonCC]

Frank is normally fat...he ate Sat...the day before he disappeared. I removed him from the tank on Monday. I always check all fish every day. I know he ate, but he may have been getting thinner...I didn't look at his belly, as he seemed fine. The pink area is new...I take a lot of pics of Frank, and I would have noticed it. His eyes are still clear...

 

[WILDER]

How old is he as fish can start to look thiner when they get older.
Being thin when eating well can be old age, fish tb, to internal parasites, also external parasites like flukes and velvet can make fish lose weight.
What does it look like when the fish goes to the toilet.
Check his anus to see if it enlarged or red and inflamed.
Does his belly look sunken in.
Internal parasites cause bacterial infections as they damage there organs when there infested with them.

 

[SharonCC]

He's not quite two, yet, so I guess, it's not old age. I can't see his anus right now, but I did look at the pics again, and it doesn't look enlarged or red. I haven't seen him go to the tiolet...When I removed him from the main tank, it looked like he had a sunken belly. However, after I put him in the hospital, and had given algae wafer, and shrimp pellets, his belly looked full. Can laboured breathing affect how his belly looks, as I didn't quite understand how it could look sunken, and two hours later, look fine! If it were parasites, would any of the other fish be having trouble....I ask because everybody is fine including babies.

I'm assuming that it's the anus I see in this pic....

 

[WILDER]

Strange.
So hsi belly looks sunken till he eats, I suppose laboured breathing can pull your tummy in abit.
Yes if one fish has internal parasites you can bet some others do in the tank, they can pass on by fish sucking poo up.
Check your other fish over for long stringy white poo, and the other symtoms I said then go from there.

 

[SharonCC]

Thanks again...I really appreciate the help!

 

[WILDER]

Its busy on here.
Keep a look out for when he goes to the toilet.
Only kept plecs once as I lost mine to internal parasites, hubby noticed worms prutruding from there anus.
Sadly didn't know about flubenol then, though it be taken off the market now.
You could always buy wormer plus as that treat some internal parasites.
Its best to worm fish anyway.
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