Just wondering if there are specific symptoms of cyanide poisoning. I have a majestic angel in qt for a little over 3 weeks with copper at 2.1. Was eating great until 3 days ago. Now it's hiding and has no interest in eating. No visible signs of any disease or breathing issues. Changed the water every week and have 2 ammonia badges that show no ammonia. I already started to lower the copper level and also have an air stone to help improve oxygen. Cyanide is the only thing I can think of.
Cyanide poisoning?
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vetteguy53081
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-Lethargic behavior
-No appetite or interest in food
-Waste away or thinning
-Laboring to breath
-Flashing in the tank
-Darting along surface
TastesLikeChicken
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This may be cyanide poisoning. But my recommendation is to start with the basics. Get a test kit and check ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, salinity, temp, etc. Once you are sure those parameters are normal then you can consider cyanide. Cyanide poisoning is a diagnosis of exclusion, first exclude all other possibilities.
Only loss of appetite. No other issues. I read that a methylene blue bath can help with copper poisoning but not cyanide. I've been in this hobby 30 plus years and I thought they stopped using cyanide for some time. Well in some areas. No way to find out where this guy was shipped from.
Rick's Reviews
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Definitely need a big check if possible of cyanide poisoning is a concern?
Rick's Reviews
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Plus one on reaction score - 20 on human healthcare
About 15 years ago, I diagnosed cyanide on some anthias I had. I had them for about 4 months before any symptoms and it was loss of appetite and wasting. During necropsy, the liver was non-existent and the muscle tissue was absent as well.
Probably not a good idea to cut into a live fish to check though.
I hope it survives. Most places banned it, but not sure how regulated the trade is in some areas.
Probably not a good idea to cut into a live fish to check though.
I hope it survives. Most places banned it, but not sure how regulated the trade is in some areas.
Yeah, I really hope it survives also. I have a whole draw of meds for most issues but not this one. I don't just throw meds in the qt unless needed. I'm thinking maybe a methylene bath while I change out 100% of the water with my display tank water (which is what I use anyway in the qt tank). I added cuprasorb and carbon already to help remove the copper and any other contaminants. Fingures crossed! Not going to get much sleep tonight.
Jay Hemdal
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What copper product are you using?
Knowing where the fish came from is vital in diagnosing cyanide poisoning. For example, Biota recently released a bunch of tank raised majestics and they of course would be cyanide free (grin).
The worst areas for cyanide right now are Indonesia, followed by Vietnam (don't think majestics come from there) followed by the Philippines.
As mentioned, cyanide poisoning is tough to diagnose and there is a tendency for people to blame it for losses that were not caused by it. However, I did some studies over the years that show that 40 day mortality rate on suspected cyanide fish runs 45 to 60%, while known net collected fish runs about 6 to 15%
I normally see cyanide cause fish to not feed at all, or eat well for a few days and then stop. Three weeks is a bit long. Flukes can have a long time frame like that, and copper doesn't control them.
Jay
I used copper power at 2.1. I was going to prazi treat after the copper. Didn't know flukes caused loss of appetite. Nothing visible at all but I may start prazi tonight after a water change. Do think a methylene bath will help with the copper for a detox? Just strange how it went from eating out of my hands for 3 weeks to no interest and hiding within 3 days.
MnFish1
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I would follow the protocol - lowering the copper to me is not the solution. instead. watch or symptoms of other diseases - and treat accordingly. Decreasing the copper concentration - assuming it's correct - means you need to re-start your QT period. ASSUMING your copper tests are correct - the recommended level - depending on the copper used - is 2.5.
This could be flukes - or something else not treated by copper
bruno3047
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One symptom that was not previously mentioned is intense coloration.
bruno3047
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Is it alone? If not, there could be some harassment going on when you’re not looking. Majestic Angels are one of my favorite fish and I’ve had a number of them over the years. I hope he comes around.
