Help me save my Bangaii cardinal

[elisa h]

I got Casper last Black Friday. It was a pain getting him to eat and he’s only ever eaten live blackworms. I had a intestinal parasite problem in my tank shortly after getting him and dosed their food with metro until poop turned brown again. Never thought until now that he was never getting medicine since he only ever ate live food. Lately I’ve had to very carefully target feed him blackworms - they’d have to be RIGHT in front of his face for him to eat. But the last week he hasn’t shown any interest. This morning he was breathing heavily near the bottom of the tank. So about an hour ago, i decided to dose prazipro in the hopes that it could kill the internal parasites he most likely has (never seen his poop). I have dosed prazipro before due to a fish coming in with flukes and never had a problem. But now, Casper can’t seem to stay upright. He’ll be on his side, then try to swim up, then fall again. There is no ich or velvet in the tank. I haven’t added anything wet in months. No other fish is acting out of the norm. Only thing I can think is he has internal parasites or when I dosed prazipro a while ago the flukes were not completely eradicated. Not sure what I can do for him. I haven’t lost a fish in the six months since I started my tank and I’m heart broken to think he’s hurting. I do have a quarantine tank I can put him in but I’m honestly scared that if I stress him out to much he’s gonna go. Does anybody have any ideas on what could be wrong/what I could do?
Ammonia/nitrite is zero. Nitrates are 40. Alk is 8.

 

[melypr1985]

I'm very sorry to say this but it sounds like he's past saving. If it's intestinal worms, he is well past being able to treat him.

 

[elisa h]

I'm very sorry to say this but it sounds like he's past saving. If it's intestinal worms, he is well past being able to treat him.

Ugh I feel like such an airhead!! When I treated the tank with metro I never even thought about him only eating live food! For future reference, is there any good way to treat intestinal parasites in a fish that will not eat/will only eat live food? I know prazi will treat some but not all and that api general cure can help also. But it seems like metroplex with focus is the only sure fire way to kill them all. It’s awful to sit here and not be able to do anything for him and know that my mindlessness is what got him here in the first place!!

 

[melypr1985]

For future reference, is there any good way to treat intestinal parasites in a fish that will not eat/will only eat live food?

The best thing you can do is to get them eating frozen foods. Cardinals are usually not difficult to get switched over. Most of them are tank bred and raised.

 

[Robink]

Couldn't she put him in a qt and dose general cure or metro as a last shot?

 

[Humblefish]

Couldn't she put him in a qt and dose general cure or metro as a last shot?

Yes, but prognosis is bleak at this point. It would be more humane to euthanize the fish. And you won't hear me say that too often.

 

[Robink]

Hate doing that. Had to euthanize in the past. Very sad.

 

[elisa h]

Yes, but prognosis is bleak at this point. It would be more humane to euthanize the fish. And you won't hear me say that too often.

Do you mean it’d be more humane than putting him in qt or just more humane all around? He’s still breathing but just laying on his side at this point. I feel terrible that he’s suffering. I’m not sure how to go about euthanizing a fish though. I wouldn’t want to mess it up and end up putting him through more pain.

 

[JoshKReef]

He could be also be having issues with prazi and the oxygen levels in the water when you dose that, right?

If you have a small QT, I would try moving him and dosing general cure or metro, especially if you aren't going to euthanize him.

Metro to dose directly in water is:

Remove all invertebrates - these are extremely sensitive to medication. Turn off UV filters, ozone filters, and remove chemical filtration like MatrixCarbon™ and Purigen™. Use 1-2 measures (included) per every 40 L (10 US gallons). Repeat this dose every 48 hours for up to 3 weeks or until symptoms disappear.

 

[Humblefish]

Do you mean it’d be more humane than putting him in qt or just more humane all around? He’s still breathing but just laying on his side at this point. I feel terrible that he’s suffering. I’m not sure how to go about euthanizing a fish though. I wouldn’t want to mess it up and end up putting him through more pain.

What I mean is based on your descriptions, I feel the fish is suffering with very little chance of recovery.

This thread discusses various humane ways to euthanize: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-euthanize-a-fish.266222/