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Post by Xander on Nov 9, 2016 16:26:02 GMT -5
Hey guys,
So I just lost a cherry barb last week to swim bladder disease, and I'm currently attempting to treat a tiger barb right now for a nasty case of bloat.
I'm not willing to say it's dropsy yet, as her scales aren't pineconing, and her eyes don't appear to be bulging. I don't know whether this is egg retention or constipation, but I'm betting on the latter because she hasn't passed any waste that I've seen since I discovered her condition on Sunday. She is not eating, as far as I can tell. Shelled peas and spinach have been offered. (I generally give all my tanks peas every Saturday for a digestive system flush, but I missed one or two pea days in the past month)
I've been giving her an epsom salt bath once a day for the past 3 days (I'd like to do twice a day, but I haven't got the time). It doesn't seem to change her condition in any way. Occasionally she feels well enough to school with the rest of the tigers, but more often than not she will be up in the top corners of the tank. Her swim bladder doesn't seem terribly affected, but she does occasionally go nose-up or nose-down. Unsure if it's any more than her own actions, though.
So what I want to know is, do you have a reliable method to combat constipation that has progressed to bloating or swim bladder disease in a fish? Do you have a medicine that you rely on? Try to stick the natural route?
I do think she could be incurable by this point what with the not eating, and I'm just prolonging the inevitable with the baths... However, she doesn't appear to be in distress, just sort of mobily impaired and her gills are working a bit harder than the other tigers'. (she sort of waddles as she swims, as much as a fish could waddle). Yet when she swims with the rest of the school, she keeps up quite well.
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Post by phish on Nov 9, 2016 17:10:39 GMT -5
I haven't had any luck turning a fish around once they stop feeding. I have Rams which on occasion just stop feeding and wither away even though there is nothing physically wrong with them. I've heard of some people having luck with API General Cure. I had an Angelfish that was severely bloated for months yet would still eat like a pig. I decided to try the epsom salt baths and it died while doing so. I may have overdosed <shrug>. I think that most of the time this stuff is caused by parasites, more than likely HEXAMITA. I have read that a 3% solution of epsom salt in diluted water eye dropped onto food and left to dry does wonders for HEX, but of course, that only helps when the fish is eating. Or, if you can find a way to shove the 3% solution down the fishes throat and have it digest it, then that may work as well.
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Post by phish on Nov 9, 2016 17:14:32 GMT -5
I had saved this information that I read a while ago while trying to save my Angelfish... I can't verify whether or not this actually works but I'll share it anyways.
For a 3% solution of Magnesium sulphate, add 1 level tablespoon (15 grams) magnesium sulphate to 500 milliliters of distilled water. Stir, and it's good to go.
Use an eye dropper or pipette to add to pellet food (or any other food that will readily absorb it), and stop dripping water once the pellets become saturated. Use only enough water to saturate the food, with no excess water, so that the water soluble vitamins in the food remain intact. Feed twice a day, for 3-5 days. (I went with 5 days)
In extreme cases, the oral solution could be administered to a fish via a pipette.Just make sure to use a flexible tip so as not to damage the fishes esophagus when squirting the solution down the fishes throat. Only a small amount is required, but repeat daily until the fish is accepting pre-soaked pellets, and continue treatment for 5 days.
My own experience with this treatment ........ so far it's proven to be a life saver, where all other previous 'textbook' methods of treatment for internal parasites have failed, including several days of treating with 500mg Metro per 10 gallons, while feeding Metro soaked food at the same time. (fish was chewing & spitting, but was eating some food twice a day)
In less than 48 hrs of the 3% Magnesium sulphate treatment, for the first time in 30 days the fish was no longer shedding the mucous lining of his intestine. (white/clear feces) After 5 days of feeding the 3% solution via pellets, the fish had made a complete recovery & was back eating like gang busters.
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Post by Xander on Nov 9, 2016 17:24:36 GMT -5
Oh, that could be some valuable information! I might try it on some flakes tonight. if she eats anything, it's going to be a flake. And the other tigers could use the cleanse, I did lose one a month ago to what I suspect were parasites. And I know that the epsoms give a laxative effect when taken orally.
Thanks for that info, Phish. I do still think it's too late for her, but that could prevent this from happening again in the future.
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Post by gabor129 on Nov 9, 2016 17:25:38 GMT -5
Sorry Xander I got no helpful information for you! Best of luck with the treatment!
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Post by phish on Nov 9, 2016 17:52:23 GMT -5
Hopefully it's of some use Xander. Probably best if done before symptoms arise, like while quarantining after getting a new fish. I would imagine it's better to periodically flush out the digestive system using this than peas which some fish don't really eat.
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Post by Xander on Nov 10, 2016 19:06:29 GMT -5
Well, she never ate, so I'm certain it's a losing battle at this point.
I haven't had a fish yet that isn't voracious on pea day, lol. The tigers especially act like a pack of piranhas.
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Post by phish on Nov 10, 2016 19:46:37 GMT -5
My Angelfish wouldn't eat them. They like their meat.
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Post by Xander on Nov 11, 2016 15:55:07 GMT -5
There is... a strange development in her condition?
Her bloat is appears slightly less awful today, and she... appears to be making a bubble nest, almost? I mean, I KNOW it's not a bubble nest, but she's just nose up in one of the corners, and the edge of tank near her is lined with bubbles. Plus some bubbles floating around elsewhere on the water's surface.
This isn't something I expected to see, in any event... Or something I've ever seen before.
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Post by phish on Nov 11, 2016 19:18:24 GMT -5
Bubbles sound like protein build up. Probably not enough surface agitation especially around the fish with its nose up.
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Post by Xander on Nov 12, 2016 8:41:03 GMT -5
That's probably the case. I usually run with both a power filter and a sponge filter, but this one has just the canister going. I'll raise the outtake.
She's even more herself again, today. Schooling with the group and smaller in the belly. Still haven't witnessed her eating yet, but I'll keep giving her epsom baths for a few more days. I've never had a sick fish actually get better. Huh.
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Post by Xander on Nov 14, 2016 18:51:47 GMT -5
She eats! I witnessed her grabbing a couple pellets today. And her swelling is nearly gone. She still looks a bit plump, but not like she might pop like a balloon anymore.
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Post by phish on Nov 14, 2016 19:23:39 GMT -5
Have you been soaking them in the epsom salt solution?
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Post by Xander on Nov 14, 2016 21:20:24 GMT -5
No, but now that I know she's taking food, I'll treat the next meal and give them all a flush with it.
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Post by lesfromlakeshore on Nov 14, 2016 21:55:43 GMT -5
She eats! I witnessed her grabbing a couple pellets today. And her swelling is nearly gone. She still looks a bit plump, but not like she might pop like a balloon anymore. That's great news . Hopefully she's well on her way to a full recovery .
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