Concerned About Mandarin

Squishie89 · Sep 8, 2013

No he did not get worse during or after the bath. He got better overnight.

Eienna · Sep 8, 2013

Ah. I see.
Poor fella. Wish I could help more.

Squishie89 · Sep 8, 2013

You have been great, I appreciate the help and support. One of the frustrating things about fish, not a lot you can do =/

Eienna · Sep 8, 2013

Squishie89 said:
You have been great, I appreciate the help and support. One of the frustrating things about fish, not a lot you can do =/

Yeah....
They don't even make fishy stethoscopes. We should fix that.

I want to run a fishy hospital eventually, probably as part of being a tank consultant. Which brings me to a question I need to ask...is there any chance you could get him autopsied if he dies? I hope he doesn't, but if he does go knowing why might help save other fish since nobody seems to have seen this before.

Squishie89 · Sep 8, 2013

I have strongly considered it. Mr. Saltwater Tank sent a fish to someone. I will try and get the info from him.

NanaReefer · Sep 8, 2013

Did you even try the PraziPro?

Squishie89 · Sep 8, 2013

I have not tried the prazipro. In theory I could put him in QT or give him dips/baths in it, but as of now he is not really eating so I can not put it in the food.

Eienna · Sep 9, 2013

Give it a shot.

Squishie89 · Sep 9, 2013

Quarantine or a bath? I have not used any medications before. I would be okay doing a bath, even multiple baths, just need the instructions.

Eienna · Sep 9, 2013

Squishie89 said:
Quarantine or a bath? I have not used any medications before. I would be okay doing a bath, even multiple baths, just need the instructions.

Can you quarantine? It's hard on a fish to be captured multiple times.

FishyPapa · Sep 9, 2013

Don't really have anything to add but that I hope he continues to get better. I have a little one too (green psychedelic mandi). It's sad seeing them having problems (well any fish or coral for that matter but especially mandarins)

Squishie89 · Sep 10, 2013

I decided not to put him in QT. I do not think it is a parasite and I believe the stress alone would kill him. Last night he seemed excited by food, not sure if ate. But he has continued to isolate himself and gasp. Today he was on his side and gasping, so I took him out intending to put him down. I noticed his stomach has shrunk back down to a normal size. But he now also has either a wound or a hole in his side stomach. I have not put him down because I am not sure if this is recoverable. I put him in an in tank isolation for now. Getting pictures was very hard due to where the wound is. Stuff kind of keeps coming out, I am not sure if what happened is his stomach skin finally gave way from the stress of the swelling and that is what I am seeing. I am really open to ideas on what to do, like anything. I do know the probability is he will need to be put down and I accept that, but if I can save him, I rather do that.

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Squishie89 · Sep 10, 2013

I was able to press gently on his side and more stuff came out. So I am pretty sure that it is a hole into his insides/stomach. Please help

Eienna · Sep 10, 2013

I would guess a ruptured abscess. Your best bet, imo, is probably an antibiotic. Not sure which one, though. :/ If it were my fish....um....maybe iodine baths. Hoping for the best. :/

You MIGHT be able to anesthetize him with clove oil and use something to close the wound, but having not inspected it personally I couldn't really say. I'm also not a vet.

Might actually do better if the wound can drain. Anesthesia carries its own set of risks, as well.

Squishie89 · Sep 10, 2013

Yeah I was thinking about trying to get more of the stuff out. I didn't even think of an antibiotic.

Eienna · Sep 10, 2013

Mods please delete this post. Can't figure out how

Eienna · Sep 10, 2013

Two possible ones you might use (in QT, and not together) would be kanaplex (kanamycin) or furan-2. Those can be added straight to the water.

Please don't squeeze more while he's awake. That sounds incredibly painful. Even partial anesthesia for a cleaning would be better than that.

I've heard of mercurochrome being used topically for wounds, but that was on koi. Not sure how it might react with SW.

Eienna · Sep 10, 2013

Or on a sensitive fish, for that matter.

Squishie89 · Sep 10, 2013

I have put hin in quarantine, thank god I had water made up. I got API General Cure which is metronidazole and praziquantel. I really wasn't sure what to get and had a limited amount of time before the stores closed. This was what the guy at the LFS suggested after I explained. So Max is in quarantine, he is still alive. Still gasping. I have not done any more squeezing. I really don't know what will happen, he looks bad (would not right himself in the cup I used to transfer him). Eienna I cannot thank you enough for your help.

Eienna · Sep 10, 2013

What you got is basically an antiparasitic, not an antibiotic, though metronidazole does have some antibiotic properties. Here's hoping.

I have to tell you I doubt he'll make it, but I'm pulling for the little fellow. :'(

He may benefit from some extra oxygen. Do you have an airstone?