Neep help with sick Chromis Damsel

[melodypond]

Last week we noticed that a chromis damsel was swimming tail down in the corner of the tank and wasn't eating. The only medicine we could get our hands on at first was Coppersafe and something called "Bacterial Infection Remedy". Then I ordered metroplex, kanaplex, and focus online. We did a freshwater dip (didn't see any flukes), then put him in the quarantine tank and started slowly giving him both of the medications above. He had white stringy poop and was swimming in circles at the bottom of the QT. At times he seemed like he was getting better and would be swimming at the top of the tank but still wouldn't eat and then the next day he would be back to swimming in circles at the bottom of the tank. Once I got the metroplex in I started giving him that this past Sunday. The white stringy poop has seemed to stop but yesterday I noticed some discoloration on one side (in pictures below) and he's also started swimming backwards and backwards in circles. I soaked some food in garlic to see if I could get him to eat today and he seems interested in it but doesn't eat it. It's almost as if he can't get his body to move the way he wants it to so he can't eat. I don't know. He has also started breathing more rapidly, but he wasn't doing that originally when this started.

In case anybody asks, we have had him for around 5 years and we haven't added anything new to the tank in years actually.

Any advice on what to do or if I did anything wrong please let me know. I'm just really worried about him. Thanks.

 

[Big G]

Often when a fish is swimming head up tail down, this can be a symptom of a spinal injury. Not much you can do. Sometimes they heal; sometimes they don't.

 

[melodypond]

Yeah I did read that when I was scouring the forums to try and figure out what was wrong with him, but since he had stopped swimming that way I was trying to be hopeful that it was parasite related. Tonight we noticed that he's possibly gone blind? He doesn't react to light or fingers close to him on the tank. I tried to feed him again and was putting the food directly in front of him but there was no reaction. Maybe this is stupid to suggest, idk, but I was wondering if maybe going blind could cause similar symptoms to spinal injury?

 

[Big G]

Sometimes when a fish injures its spine badly and infection can start along the spinal column and spread out into the body.

 

[melodypond]

Oh right that makes sense. Well thanks for the help. He started swimming tail down again last night in circles. I don't think he'll last much longer. At what point should I stop holding onto the hope that he will get better and turn to euthanasia?

 

[Big G]

Oh right that makes sense. Well thanks for the help. He started swimming tail down again last night in circles. I don't think he'll last much longer. At what point should I stop holding onto the hope that he will get better and turn to euthanasia?

If the fish is starving and suffering.