Two pandas with swim bladder issues

[Lcc86]

Update on the tank. The day I put the meds in I saw one of my pygmy cories flash against the substrate just once, haven't seen it since but am glad I did go down the medication route as there's clearly something bothering the other fish, even if it's not doing so routinely. The main panda (the one who lost his barbels) is feeding again and his breathing seems less laboured although not 100% normal. I'm hoping his barbels will grow back?

 

[Lcc86]

Well I was watching my tank this morning thinking that the cories all looked okay, including the main one I was worried about. However, I noticed this panda which has lost all its markings and is very pale. I think this is one of the ones that seemed to be affected by the swim bladder issues initially, but it's not the one that lost its barbels (that one seems fine).

I didn't see all the pandas but the ones I did see all seemed fine apart from this one. I assume that the loss of colour is due to stress? This one has always had relatively light markings compared to the others which is how I've been able to tell them apart. I'll be checking water parameters shortly to make sure but last water change was on 26/01 when I added the fluke medication. Next dose is due on 02/02, I'll be doing a big water change beforehand.

 

[AJ356]

Well I was watching my tank this morning thinking that the cories all looked okay, including the main one I was worried about. However, I noticed this panda which has lost all its markings and is very pale. I think this is one of the ones that seemed to be affected by the swim bladder issues initially, but it's not the one that lost its barbels (that one seems fine).

I didn't see all the pandas but the ones I did see all seemed fine apart from this one. I assume that the loss of colour is due to stress? This one has always had relatively light markings compared to the others which is how I've been able to tell them apart. I'll be checking water parameters shortly to make sure but last water change was on 26/01 when I added the fluke medication. Next dose is due on 02/02, I'll be doing a big water change beforehand.

I think best to flag these pictures up again @Colin_T as this kind of complete colour loss in Corydoras can be bad news from a parasite perspective, but hopefully it's a stress reaction, or some other quirk

 

[Lcc86]

Y

I think best to flag these pictures up again @Colin_T as this kind of complete colour loss in Corydoras can be bad news from a parasite perspective, but hopefully it's a stress reaction, or some other quirk

Yeah everything I've read doesn't fill me confidence about the colour loss. Weirdly the fish is acting normally - eating, active, fins seem fine etc. It completely threw me when I first saw it as I thought it was a new fish!

 

[AJ356]

Y

Yeah everything I've read doesn't fill me confidence about the colour loss. Weirdly the fish is acting normally - eating, active, fins seem fine etc. It completely threw me when I first saw it as I thought it was a new fish!

I think (but limited experience on this) if it's the bad news type parasite that can do this, the fish decline will be fairly swift, a few days or a week. It might get a change in its posture or how it moves like its underbelly changes slightly, but I am speculating on very limited experience and hopefully it's not that! If it is the nasty thing it might be, I think it spreads from other fish nibbling a corpse, so once the fish looks ropey, whip it out. We can see what Colin thinks. Finger's crossed.

 

[Lcc86]

I think (but limited experience on this) if it's the bad news type parasite that can do this, the fish decline will be fairly swift, a few days or a week. It might get a change in its posture or how it moves like its underbelly changes slightly, but I am speculating on very limited experience and hopefully it's not that! If it is the nasty thing it might be, I think it spreads from other fish nibbling a corpse, so once the fish looks ropey, whip it out. We can see what Colin thinks. Finger's crossed.

Oh gosh I hope it's not that! I'll be keeping a close eye and do have clove oil to hand just in case. Both this fish and the other one, who looked much worse, are both doing much better but I've only done one treatment of the fluke/parasite meds so far.

 

[Lcc86]

Big water change and second dose of meds today. All fish seemingly active and eating afterwards. Pale fish still pale...

 

[AJ356]

Big water change and second dose of meds today. All fish seemingly active and eating afterwards. Pale fish still pale...

Would you say they are no more skittish than normal? If so, that's a good sign in my experience.

 

[Lcc86]

Would you say they are no more skittish than normal? If so, that's a good sign in my experience.

Yeah I honestly can't tell any difference in behaviour at present, and positively they are all eating. I know the paleness isn't a good sign of course and am still worried about that one but realistically not sure what else I can do for him. I feel like keeping him in his normal environment with his normal routine is the best thing.

 

[Lcc86]

Well the saga continues, but hopefully a positive turn. The white panda now seems to be regaining some colour. I haven't been able to spend too much time checking out the tank this morning but am hoping this is a good sign.

 

[Lcc86]

So today is dose 3 of the medication. I've been trying to watch the tank as much as I can when I'm home and haven't seen any more flashing. All the fish are feeding and I don't have any concerns about swim bladder or anything else, so fingers crossed I caught it in time. I'll continue with the final dose next week but thought I would update this thread for anyone interested as I know sometimes we post in an emergency and then don't update with the outcome.

One less positive outcome is that since moving my ADF's out so that I could treat the tank, one has gone completely AWOL. Their temporary tank has a lid, but I tore the tank apart a few days ago and he's nowhere to be found.

 

[Lcc86]

Final dose of medication added today I'm hoping that this has done the trick. I haven't seen the "main" panda for a couple of days but couldn't find any evidence of death when I cleaned the tank this morning so I'm hoping he will turn up! I haven't seen any flashing by any of the other fish so keeping everything crossed that this has worked and that everyone has come through unscathed.

 

[Lcc86]

Can't find any evidence of the panda who is in the pics on page 1, alive or dead it's been several days now and the rest are all accounted for at feeding time. Bit of a shame but perhaps he was just too badly affected before I got the meds into the tank and couldn't make it. Now wondering whether I should do an extra dose of meds next week just to be on the safe side?