Bald Spot and Missing Fin on Goby

FindingEmily · Feb 21, 2016

Ok so... I stopped the prazipro and started running carbon. Trying to decide if I want to do another resound of prazipro, or start Kanaplex or Melafix. I haven't noticed any more white stringy poop. He still hasn't eaten though.

Humblefish · Feb 21, 2016

In your particular situation, I would begin Melafix. Kanaplex will just further suppress appetite. It's important to get the fish eating again at this point. The underlying issues can be addressed after he resumes eating.

FindingEmily · Feb 21, 2016

Is there anything I give him that will encourage him to eat?

Humblefish · Feb 21, 2016

FindingEmily said:
Is there anything I give him that will encourage him to eat?

Sometimes soaking fish food in garlic will entice them to eat. Kent Marine sells "Garlic Xtreme", but you can also just use garlic extract from a grocery store.

FindingEmily · Feb 23, 2016

Finally got him eating a little! Going to give it another day or two and then do a second round of prazipro. Thanks for all your help Humblefish!!

Humblefish · Feb 23, 2016

FindingEmily said:
Finally got him eating a little! Going to give it another day or two and then do a second round of prazipro. Thanks for all your help Humblefish!!

72 hrs after dosing Prazipro for a second time, do a large WC & run carbon to take all the medication out of the water. Then we can turn our attention to dealing with his infection.

omykiss001 · Feb 23, 2016

FindingEmily said:
Finally got him eating a little! Going to give it another day or two and then do a second round of prazipro. Thanks for all your help Humblefish!!

If any LFS sells live blackworms those can often get them going too. Most fish just can't resist the wriggling and just have to take a bite.

FindingEmily · Feb 28, 2016

So I put carbon in the filter and I'm about to do a large WC to get rid of the prazipro. He seems to be doing pretty well and actually ate during the second round of treatment. His scrape, or whatever it was, looks healed. It's not red any more and I think his fin might be growing back. Should I dose anything else or just observe him for another week or so? And how long till I can put him back in the DT?

Humblefish · Feb 28, 2016

FindingEmily said:
Should I dose anything else or just observe him for another week or so? And how long till I can put him back in the DT?

If Melafix is getting the job done, I would continue dosing that for another week or two.

What other fish do you have in your DT? I'm worried about another fish attacking him in his weakened state. One time (at band camp

) I added a diamond goby back to my DT before his fins had completely healed, and two of my dwarf angels literally ripped him to pieces.

Fish are :mad:.

FindingEmily · Feb 28, 2016

Humblefish said:
If Melafix is getting the job done, I would continue dosing that for another week or two.

What other fish do you have in your DT? I'm worried about another fish attacking him in his weakened state. One time (at band camp ) I added a diamond goby back to my DT before his fins had completely healed, and two of my dwarf angels literally ripped him to pieces. Fish are :mad:.

Haha you just couldn't help yourself, huh?

I haven't dosed Melafix yet. It just healed up on its own. And there's no fish in the DT right now. Just inverts. My baby clowns are still going through QT for a few more weeks, but I would like to get him in the DT before them just so he can re-claim his territory.

Humblefish · Feb 28, 2016

FindingEmily said:
Haha you just couldn't help yourself, huh?

I haven't dosed Melafix yet. It just healed up on its own. And there's no fish in the DT right now. Just inverts. My baby clowns are still going through QT for a few more weeks, but I would like to get him in the DT before them just so he can re-claim his territory.

Maybe give him just another week or so to be on the safe side. You want the infection to be completely clear and signs the fin is growing before putting him back in the DT.

FindingEmily · Feb 28, 2016

Humblefish said:
Maybe give him just another week or so to be on the safe side. You want the infection to be completely clear and signs the fin is growing before putting him back in the DT.

Not that it really matters to me, but is there a possibility the fin won't grow back?

Humblefish · Feb 28, 2016

FindingEmily said:
Not that it really matters to me, but is there a possibility the fin won't grow back?

Yes, if its completely gone it may not grow back.

FindingEmily · Mar 2, 2016

I noticed more white stringy poop so I dosed a third round or prazi. And tonight I just noticed his belly is super white and looks kind of lumpy. Not quite sure what it is or what to do. It's very hard to get a picture so I'll try to get one in the AM. Any idea what it could be?

Humblefish · Mar 2, 2016

FindingEmily said:
I noticed more white stringy poop so I dosed a third round or prazi. And tonight I just noticed his belly is super white and looks kind of lumpy. Not quite sure what it is or what to do. It's very hard to get a picture so I'll try to get one in the AM. Any idea what it could be?

Not sure about the lumpy white belly (post a pic); but some strains of worms are resistant to praziquantel. For these you have to use metronidazole (exs. Seachem Metroplex, Metro-MS, API General Cure). Metro is mainly found in powder form, so you could use a binder (ex. Seachem Focus) to soak it in food so the medication is delivered directly into his gut.

FindingEmily · Mar 2, 2016

Well good thing today was pay day. I'll try that after this last round of prazi.

FindingEmily · Mar 2, 2016

Alright here is as good a picture I can get. It's not the white stringy stuff coming out of his butt. It's right under the fin on his right side. It almost looks like a hole with white stuff coming out.

Humblefish · Mar 2, 2016

Could be Hexamita: http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-health/freshwater-conditions/hexamita.aspx

The lesions do not always appear on the head. Treatment is the same as intestinal worms, metro.

FindingEmily · Mar 8, 2016

Just wanted to give a quick update: a week or so ago I bought Metro-Pro to treat the Hexamita. Dose every 24 hours for 10 days. It is working fantastically. He's been aggressively eating and even swimming up to get the food before it has a chance to get to the bottom. He's on his 5th day of treatment. After 5 more days, I'll observe him for a couple more days and if he's good to go, he gets to go back in the DT.

Humblefish, you have been incredibly helpful and patient. Thank you for answering my questions and for genuinely caring about my fish's health. High five!!

Humblefish · Mar 8, 2016

FindingEmily said:
Just wanted to give a quick update: a week or so ago I bought Metro-Pro to treat the Hexamita. Dose every 24 hours for 10 days. It is working fantastically. He's been aggressively eating and even swimming up to get the food before it has a chance to get to the bottom. He's on his 5th day of treatment. After 5 more days, I'll observe him for a couple more days and if he's good to go, he gets to go back in the DT.

Humblefish, you have been incredibly helpful and patient. Thank you for answering my questions and for genuinely caring about my fish's health. High five!!

It warms my heart to hear that advice I have given has saved the life of a fish.

How long has he been in QT total? Was he the only fish in your tank?