Problem with angelfish

Humblefish · Apr 28, 2016

coral_menagerie said:
So this has been going on entirely too long. The articles Humblefish suggested are very good, but I am having trouble finding the right antibiotic. I have tried pretty much everything and nothing seems to help. From what I have read I need an antibiotic that kills for anaerobic gram - negative bacteria. All the articles I have read suggest many for aerobic gram-negative, but not anaerobic. Can anyone suggest the strongest, most effective antibiotic that specifically fights anaerobic gram - negative bacteria??

Unfortunately, this stuff is hard to get without a Rx:

CHLORAMPHENICOL:

Chloramphenicol has in vitro activity against most anaerobic bacteria (gram positive/negative), and aerobic gram-positive bacteria making this one of the more effective antibiotics I have ever used for fish due to its wide spectrum effectiveness, especially as per many aquatic bacterial pathogens (and even some parasites too).

Unfortunately the toxicity of Chloramphenicol, which has been linked to the development of aplastic anemia (a rare but potentially fatal condition) and dose-dependent leukopenia, has made this antibiotic impossible to find for most aquarists due to strict regulation, with Kanamycin Sulfate the closest substitute (although still not as useful in my experience)

Source: http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumMedication2.html

coral_menagerie · May 23, 2016

So I have been using the Kanamycin since 4/28. As the directions require dosing every other day up to and including today. This is not working either. What do I try now?? Or do I just put the fish back into the DT and stop trying to cure it?? This is really frustrating. I have tried metro-ms, maracyn 2, e.m. erythroycin, and furan-2. Nothing is helping. Any other suggestions?

Humblefish · May 23, 2016

@coral_menagerie Still just looking splotchy? Any other symptoms?

coral_menagerie · May 23, 2016

This the queen angel with Popeye. I have even tried methylene blue. A lighter dose for the tank water and a drop of straight out of the bottle in each eye. Still nothing. It's been months since it has been in the HT.

Humblefish · May 23, 2016

coral_menagerie said:
This the queen angel with Popeye. I have even tried methylene blue. A lighter dose for the tank water and a drop of straight out of the bottle in each eye. Still nothing. It's been months since it has been in the HT.

Still in just one eye? (I went back through the thread.) What I'm not 100% sure of is, did the Queen get a couple rounds of Epsom salt to help relieve the swelling? Just wanting to make sure no stone was left unturned.

coral_menagerie · May 23, 2016

Yes mostly in one eye and no I have not tried epsom salts. What is the procedure for using epsom salts?

Humblefish · May 23, 2016

I would dose it at least twice, spaced 48 hrs apart. It's worth a shot at this point.

Epsom Salt: Treats eye and other injuries. Popeye in one eye usually means injury, but popeye in both eyes usually denotes a bacterial infection requiring antibiotic treatment. Cloudy eye can be a bacterial infection or flukes.

How To Treat - 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of aquarium water. Repeat only once, if necessary. Use only “USP” grade Epsom salt.

Pros - Reef safe, as Epsom salt is just magnesium sulfate.

Cons/Side Effects - The effects of excessive sulfate in a reef aquarium are not fully known.

coral_menagerie · May 23, 2016

Thank you. I will try this tomorrow!!

coral_menagerie · May 24, 2016

Since your directions say dose only twice. I'm guessing that this is a dip/bath. Is there a recommended time limit to soak the fish each time?

melypr1985 · May 24, 2016

coral_menagerie said:
Since your directions say dose only twice. I'm guessing that this is a dip/bath. Is there a recommended time limit to soak the fish each time?

The epsom salt is done "in tank" and can be done in the display or a QT.

Humblefish · May 24, 2016

melypr1985 said:
The epsom salt is done "in tank" and can be done in the display or a QT.

^^ This. Epsom salt is just magnesium sulfate, which some use as half of their 2-part solution for raising mag in a reef aquarium. So, no issues with prolonged exposure for fish or harm to corals/inverts (if done in a DT).

coral_menagerie · May 24, 2016

Thanks, I will add some epsom salts to the HT when I get home from work. I'll let you know if this works.

coral_menagerie · May 31, 2016

Well I added Epsom Salts to the HT twice in two days and left the angelfish soak in this solution for a total of 7 days. No improvement. What now? I really don't know what else to do, other than putting the Queen back in the display tank. Any other suggestions?

melypr1985 · May 31, 2016

coral_menagerie said:
Well I added Epsom Salts to the HT twice in two days and left the angelfish soak in this solution for a total of 7 days. No improvement. What now? I really don't know what else to do, other than putting the Queen back in the display tank. Any other suggestions?

I'm at a loss here. There's nothing else going on with her? Just the eye right? Wait for humble to give his opinion, but I'm out of ideas for you. I'm sorry.

Humblefish · May 31, 2016

@coral_menagerie Unfortunately, I think you have exhausted all treatment options at this point.

coral_menagerie · May 31, 2016

The right eye had Popeye over a year ago. I treated and it mostly went away. Very slight bulging. This go around it's the left eye and it's no better since all these treatments. So right is slightly bulging from previously and left is really bulging from this most recent event. The left started a weeks before I started this thread.

Humblefish · May 31, 2016

coral_menagerie said:
The right eye had Popeye over a year ago. I treated and it mostly went away. Very slight bulging. This go around it's the left eye and it's no better since all these treatments. So right is slightly bulging from previously and left is really bulging from this most recent event. The left started a weeks before I started this thread.

It sounds like a lingering infection that just won't go away. I know you've already tried every antibiotic under the sun, but have you ever tried Melafix (Tea Tree oil)? I tried it 20+ years ago without much success, but recently I've been experimenting with freshwater fish infections and the results using Melafix are pretty encouraging. I'm getting ready to start testing it out on SW fish again. It might be worth a shot for you, since you've already tried everything else. I don't see it hurting anything.

coral_menagerie · Jul 26, 2016

Still no change. I'm going to put it in the sump for now. Not sure what else to try. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

John

melypr1985 · Jul 26, 2016

coral_menagerie said:
Still no change. I'm going to put it in the sump for now. Not sure what else to try. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

John

Sorry sweetie. Did you try the teatree oil humble suggested? did that not help at all?