Please Help me in desperate need of advice

[Henry_VCG_]

When I was watching my feeder fish in his tank just a minute ago (he is approximately a year and a bit old. I could not believe my eyes. My feeder fish looks so ill I have no idea what has happened to him.

He has blood around his face, at his find joints and his anus. One of his fins is cut. He is slightly off balance and one of his fins appears to be gimpy. I can not believe this as I did not notice this earlier. This has come up very suddenly and looks if anything to be a physical injury, although I can see some fungus like bits on him.

I will check the paramaters in a sec, but I dont think the problem is ammonia or nitrite.

3 days ago I got back from a 1 week holiday, for well over a week the water I topped his tank up has been sitting there, the "mount franklin" containers I hold it are very old.

I think this may be the problem, something that is dangerous to fish has gotten in to the water. There are no other aggressive fish in the tank. Only 1 goldfish which is half his size.

I am going to put him into a bucket for now and add some fungus treatment because he also appears to have some fungus on him. If someone could please help diagnose this mystery illness please help me!

Henry

 

[Henry_VCG_]

I was wrong about the paramaters. My dad insisted I get one of those "Holiday Feeders" this has caused the ammonia to skyrocket i'm going to move both fish asap, problem is I need to wait for the water ager to kick into my top up bottles.

Also should I use some fungus treatment? My dad thinks I should but i'm a little unsure whether it will hurt him with his cuts.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[glolite]

How about doing a 50% water change with some dechlorinated water to get rid of some nitrites, then put in some melafix plus fungus treatment. Then do 20% water changes daily till nitrites nil.

 

[Henry_VCG_]

I'll pick up some melafix tommorow, i've popped him into some fresh dechlorinated water, and I will be doing some heavy water changes to the tank. Thankyou for the help


Henry

 

[WILDER]

How bad is the fungus, do some salt baths it will help heal the cuts aswell.

 

[Henry_VCG_]

Yes well in retrospect they aren't really cuts. They appear more like bruising, all under his head, by the sides of his head. Because the fact is, hes not bleeding, so that has to be the closest thing to it. Its reakly read near his fin joints etc. The fungus, may be infecting the cuts.

I am giving him fungus treatment but I am going to be collecting him further treatment today

Does melaxif handle parasites? I noticed he had stringy poo and I believe that is related to parasites?

Regarding the salt bath, thats just aquarium salt in say 5 litres for 10 minutes or something isn't it?

Could you give me a run down on the procedure please.


Henry

 

[WILDER]

http/www.kenliz.plus.com/Salt_use.html
You will need an internal parasite med, try a shelled pea, just to make sure it isn't constipation first.

 

[Henry_VCG_]

Hes a tough fighter fish, but he looks pretty bad. Should I use the recommended dosage of salt for 10 minutes?

How soon will I see the results?

Oh no! I'm out of peas. Are there any other vegetables that to give the same result?

I will post results shortly

 

[WILDER]

If he acts weird remove him before the time, I would do three or more baths aday if you can.

 

[Henry_VCG_]

okay sure, and that will help with parasites if he has any will it?

 

[WILDER]

Use the same salt bath for the day, so you are not having to mess about mixing and changing water, just reheat the water in the bucket in the sink filled with hot water, keep checking tempreture till it matches the tank.

 

[WILDER]

It won't help with internal parasites, only external parasites.

 

[Henry_VCG_]

okay thanks, oh and regarding his water. He goes up for air every now and then. This could just be him wanting food, but how often should I change his 6 litres of water? Also should I jam an airstone in there?

His dorsal fin is still up which to me is a pretty good sign.


Henry

 

[WILDER]

That's just over a gallon, just do half a gallon a day, remove food and waste with a net, don't forget to add the salt back to his tank half a teaspoon,you could use an airstone, do you have a adjuster for turning the flow down, as it might blow him everywhere.

 

[Henry_VCG_]

yes, I can adjust it for a more gentle flow.

don't forget to add the salt back to his tank half a teaspoon

Don't I add the salt into a seperate container and then bath him in that? And leave his bucket with freshwater?