Please I need help and I need it now!

[Elisabeth83]

I thought as that was the main one afflicted you could try her to see if it worked. As for the temperature then i dont know as you need to keep the bowl in the tropical region.
If it did seem to work then you couldnt put her back in the main tank again and you would need a brand new set up going where you could house the females and divide them. You would then if it worked need to do the same with the next affected female..
It would probably cost you but its going to cost you any way in replacing loved fish.

I would also try the teaspoon of white vinegar to the main tank to see if that worked.

As i'm more into treating goldies than bettas, the method is the same and called bucket to bucket. For goldfish its done when theres a bacterial outbreak and moving them from one bucket to another each day keeps the sick fish away from the bacteria so breaking the cycle.
I thought maybe on a smaller scale it might work for a betta.

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How does this sound:

I was thinking of using an empty 28 gallon with a bare bottom. Then using another cycled filter from another tank ( a spare one that's running ) and spare clean silk plants. Changing meds to JBL ektol fluid seeing as the sterazin is not working and also adding salt to the tank. Then I would give the females a salt dip in clean water in a plastic container so if they were carrying eggs on them they would be left behind in the plastic container also hopefully once the fish go into the new tank with the Ektol fluid it'll kill the worms on the fish and they wont have a chance to spread their eggs?

That's my idea anyways seeing as I don't have a spare heater (new one would cost around 30-40 US dollars) and if I had to do the bucket method I think I might lose quite a few of the girls as it would take who knows how long for each fish to get better that the ones back in the tank might deteriorate quickly. If it were say just one fish that was sick it's a great idea...very clever But I'm not sure in my case it would work

Then if I had to do a repeat dose after 4 days I would do a similar thing like taking them out and cleaning the tank again. I don't know I'm just trying to think of alternative ideas

 

[WILDER]

Sounds good to me, is there anyway you can strip the tank down and start again once you have moved them over.

 

[black angel]

If you're going to do a salt dip then it needs to be highly concentrated. 3 teaspoons to half a litre and only lie them in it for a second or two.
Dont add salt to the tank as you are using meds, and too much salt can cause fin rot to quicken. Ive never heard of the one you are planning to use but if sterazin doesnt work then i dont know of anything stronger. Maybe a crustacean med or prazi if you can get it as thats used sucessfully for flukes in goldies.
Hopefully with them being out the old tank you could use both the tanks as they have heaters and swap them back and forth between those.
I'm guessing the worms will leave the host to breed and lay eggs, so changing daily with meds in both set ups i hope would work for you.
Good luck with whichever way you go with this, its not easy as no one seems to have come across anything like this before.

 

[riogal_11]

This sounds like such a horrible thing. My heart goes out to you, I can't imagine how frustrating/timely/costly this must be. Goodluck. I wish I could help.

 

[black angel]

You are helping Riogal, just posting and supporting really does help

 

[Bloo]

How are things going Elisabeth ?

 

[Elisabeth83]

I decided to go ahead and move the girls over to the empty 28 gallon with a new filter, and plants with no substrate. I went ahead and switched medications and started using JBL ektol fluid instead. Because my water is soft the medication says to use half the recommended dose. Well I've always done that but thought maybe I should try regular dose just to hit the fin rot and worms hard. It didn't go too well though...all the females were acting weird a couple of them instantly did nose dives and had their fins fully fanned out and were just drifting oddly. Good thing I only had the tank half filled up so I quickly filled the rest of it up and by doing that the medication was at half dose. Once I did that they still were a lot better. I was afraid with switching meds in-between treatments that something would go terribly wrong. I sat and watched them for about 45 mins to an hour just to make sure they were ok.

It's been 3 days since I moved them and put the new meds in and they actually seem to be doing better. The girl with the worms I can only see 2 worms now so something is working. I don't know what it is though. If it's moving to a new clean tank, the new meds, the salt or the garlic.

I went to a really good shop the other day and was talking to one of the guys there who is really good with diseases but he had no clue what these white worms were either. He gave me the number of the only vet in Sweden and pretty much all of Europe who studies Aquarium fish diseases. I have still yet to call him I'm wondering if he speaks good english )

Tonight I am going to do a 50% water change and start a second treatment with the JBL ektol fluid. I hope the last 2 worms will fall off. I almost wrote this morning saying that all the worms were gone but then I spotted still 2 on her. I hope it's only 2 and not more as it's really hard to see them

edit: Oh my GOSH!!! You wont believe this...They have ich now What the heck do I do now?? Treat for ich instead?? I think I am going to go and kill myself now. I can't deal with this

 

[jollysue]

Ok, Elisabeth

As they say in "12 step," "one day at a time." But sometimes it's got to be "one moment at a time."

Just take one step at a time. Check with a moderator or two, JBL, google, call the vet's hot line; find out what you can about mixing JBL with an ich treatment.

I mixed a low dose of Aquari-Sol with Maricyn Plus, and it got rid of the ich because it was just starting. And Maricyn Plus says emphatically not to mix it with any other medication. Of course the Maricyn Plus didn't work because it was the wrong med for culamnaris.

If everyone says it can't be done, get some Aquari-Sol by Aquarium Products. It is very mild but will kill one stage of the ich in the water and and maybe some on the fish.

Elisabeth, these are suggestions. Just find out what you can and do what you can.

There's a Southern gospel song, "One day at a time, Sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking from you. Just give me the strength today to do what you're asking me to." (I've got that line wrong. ) ) That attitude of one step at a time has taken people to the top of Mt. Everest and carried me though life threatening diseases.

The worst that can happen is your fish don't make it through this one. But that's already a given. So carry on, Elisabeth.

 

[Elisabeth83]

Well everyone the worms appear to be gone I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they are gone forever. I still have no idea what they were and how I got rid of them The people over at Waterlife had/have no idea what they are either.

They are still not out of the woods though as I am now treating them for ich I know one for sure has it and I am pretty sure I can see some spots on the ventral fins of another girl.


About the fin rot though I'm wondering if they actually have fin rot or if they had it and the fins got so damaged that they will never grow back? I think after the treatment is over for the ich I'll stop using any medications and just add salt and do water changes.

You've all been so helpful!! I truely appreciate it!! I never would of gotten through all of this without all of your advice, support and kind words of encouragement

 

[jollysue]

You go girl

 

[JackDemp528]

I'm so glad to see that your terrible ordeal is finally ending! Good luck!

 

[black angel]

Good to see they are doing better and fins crossed that they make a full recovery

 

[Naughtygirlrlw]

Yay No more Nasty Worms!

 

[Elise]

Elizabeth, you poor thing. You've been so patient!

You are doing great! Better than most people would have done, I must say!

I'm glad things are looking up! Those girls have a good mommy!

 

[Tangerinefizz]

Elizabeth, you poor thing. You've been so patient!

You are doing great! Better than most people would have done, I must say!

I'm glad things are looking up! Those girls have a good mommy!

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I agree!! I am soooo glad to read a happy ending to one of the sad posts on the board lately!

Give yourself a big pat on the back for hanging tough!