Emergency! Mystery disease magnificent foxface

[LisaD]

I hope someone can help me, I am about to lose my magnificent foxface, which has been very hardy and a great fish for many months.

About a week and a half ago it stopped eating. I had to go out of town over Easter weekend, family medical issue, so wasn't watching it. In the last two days it has been shimmying violently, kind of undulating quickly while paddling its front fins, head down. The abdomen seems abnormally swollen. This is in a 120 gallon tank, the other fish don't seem affected. I have never seen anything like it.

I have a pretty good medicine chest, and have a 30 gallon rubbermaid I can put it in, with a small powerhead.

Can anyone offer any suggestions? Color, surprisingly, is pretty normal. Please help asap if you can!!!

 

[LisaD]

I know why the shimmying. I put the fish in a hospital tank and it is floating on its side. So it is an inflated swim bladder or maybe air in the stomach (???) Probably a sign of parasites or bacterial infection. Any suggestions?

 

[justinl]

I don't know exactly what it is so i don't know how much the following will help. It sounds to me like it ate something that isn't agreeing with it. Wouldn't surprise me since foxfaces usually eat just about anything.

hope yours ends up okay.

 

[LisaD]

I am thinking it is probably an internal bacterial infection. I doubt if it is something it ate. Thanks, anyway.

 

[mano]

Have you tried looking here for a recommendation on treatment?

http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/swim_bladder.html

Good luck with it!

 

[LisaD]

mano, thanks, good suggestion. based on guesswork, I just treated with:

Diamox (because it reduces bouyancy in seahorses and is unlikely to hurt, might help)
Triple Sulfa and Neomycin (because I know they can be safely used with Diamox and they are decent broad spectrum antibiotics)

I'm using National Fish Pharmacy (= the link you gave me) Neo and Triple Sulfa according to package instructions, 1/4 tsp per 10 gallons.

Based on their info, I think that is probably the way to go. I am also going to add a heater to raise temp slightly.

 

[melev]

Hopefully Amanda will reply soon. This definitely sounds like a swim bladder infection to me, but I'm no expert.

 

[LisaD]

From what I have read so far, this does not often resolve itself after treatment. I hope the fish survives, but I am not hopeful at this point.

 

[mano]

I wish I could help more but I've never dealt with an aquarium fish with swim bladder issues. I've brought fish up from depths with hyperinflated swim bladders but that is a totally different issue. I'm familiar with the diamox treatment for seahorses so hopefully it will work here as well. I hope it turns around for you.

Christine

 

[LisaD]

Thanks Christine. I am very bummed, but the fish is hanging in there. I have spent a couple of sleepless nights doing large water changes (which I always do when things head south, even if parameters I measure are fine). Now that he is in the hospital tank, I can keep a better eye on him and focus on treatment.

 

[TerryB]

Tainted foods harbor a lot of bacteria. Do you store all your foods including flake and freeze dried in the freezer? Do you buy foods in quantities that you will use up within two months? I would have suggested Furanase, or possibly Maracyn-Two at double dose, or nitrofurazone.

Terry B

 

[LisaD]

Which med would you rank as the best? And next best?

I do store my foods properly, and none of the other fish exhibit these symptoms. However, I was not pre-soaking nori sheets before feeding. I wonder if he ingested dry seaweed, causing impaction and infection?

The fish is still alive, though weakening.

 

[jim48]

How did you make out? Did the foxface make it?

 

[TerryB]

I don't really have a preference in this instance. With other types of bacterial infections I often do have a preference, but not always the same medication. Each of the three that I suggested is well absorbed into the fishes system so they can all potentially work. For a definative answer we would need to grow a culture of the bacteria and perform sesitivity testing.

Terry B

 

[TerryB]

No real preference in this instance.

Terry B

 

[LisaD]

Tang is still alive, not looking good. Thanks for the advice on the meds, Terry.

 

[LisaD]

The fish is still alive. I am contacting a local exotic animal practice that sees fish.

 

[LisaD]

Several days ago I started treating with Paragon II, because it combines some of the meds several people recommended separately. After 3 days, I am seeing what appears to be some improvement, though the fish is still floating. Have also tried force feeding, not sure how successful I have been.

 

[melev]

How frustrating. I hope it heals.

 

[LisaD]

Thank you. I am caught up in this battle to the point where I have become insane and stubborn enough that I have an appointment to get him anesthetized and X-rayed tomorrow afternoon. Don't even ask me how much it's going to cost!