Flame angel with bacterial infection

[Crush Coral]

I have a flame that I bought 3 weeks ago from DeathCo. He was there for 3 weeks before I bought him. He was in a tank with ich but eating all the time so I thought I would save him and buy him. I put him in a quarentime tank and everything was great for 2 weeks and then he started to loose weight even though eating well. Then came a little ich and then fin rot. He stopped eating 3 days ago and at that time I started dipping him 2x per day in straight methaline blue. Ich is gone and fin rot has stopped progressing. Still not eating. The only medication for salt fish at DeathCo is sulpha. I do not remember having much luck with that 20 years ago when I managed pet stores. Anyone tell me if it is worth trying or do I drive 2 hours to get something else?

 

[woodycb]

I dosed melafix and pimafix together and I started noticing results in 3 days, it says to dose for 7 days, I did it for 5 days and never had another problem.

 

[Crush Coral]

Thanks Woody. I saw that but was not sure an herbal would work . Appreciate the feedback. Anyone else use the melafix?

 

[kevin2000]

My 02

If your fish is in a QT then a bonafide antibiotic like maracyn 2 will help the bacterial issue.

I would stop dipping the fish ... probably done more harm than good.

You should consider treating fish with hypoalinity ... will reduce stress and kill the ich.

Short term focus s/b getting the fish to eat ... migh try some live brine shrimp.

Read the ich sticky post at the top of the forum.

Hope this helps.

 

[Crush Coral]

The methaline blue dips have gotten rid of the ich. As an in water treatment it is ineffective but I have had good success with direct applications. Good point about the live brine to get it to start eating. He is barely picking at Rods and frozen angel fish food so I will look for live brine. I always liked meds that had nitrofurazone in them but can't find any locally. Does anyone know if PetCo sells live brine? I am guessing not.

 

[kevin2000]

In general dips are not considered an effective treatment for ich ... trophants can bury themselves deep within fish where dip has no impact. Dips can also be highly stressful. The two effective methods of attacking ich are hypo and copper (neither has any significant impact on the trophont stage of ich) and work by interupting the ich life cycle over several weeks.

Petco/Petsmarts don't generally sell LBS ... might try some LFS .. probably FW ones.

Good luck.

 

[Crush Coral]

Thanks for the input. The fin rot is the big problem with this fish. I am suspecting that with the progression of it's ailment. Loosing weight while eating, days later signs of ich and bacterial infection despite good environment, stopping eating and decaying, that this fish was caught with syonide and it's organs are shutting down and that what ever I do he is doomed. Will still give it the old college try though.