Gas Bubble Disease in Tail, Looking for Diamox?

[dmcmares24]

Looking for some help locating some Diamox to treat one of my Sea Horses who has developed Gas Bubble Disease in his Tail. From what I have read, This seems to be the most effective medication. Are there any ither meds that would treat this disease? Thanks

 

[rayjay]

Most of us have had to have a prescription to obtain Diamox.
Ask your vet for one that you can have filled at a pharmacy.

 

[Keoki18]

How successful has the Diamox treatments been?

I have in the past re pressurized my ponies in a barometric chamber. They lose the gas bubbles and look great for a month or so, but the affliction returns. This is mainly manifested in the tail.

 

[rayjay]

I would have thought depressurization would be the better way to go.
Perhaps the return of the GBD would indicate conditions in the tank were not rectified before returning the seahorse to the tank.
Water quality is the most likely cause of the disease IMO.
I've not had a tail bubble, only pouch emphysema so I can't tell you for sure on that use of diamox.

 

[Keoki18]

sorry about hijacking this thread, but what parameters do you believe to be in question to bring the return of these emboli? The system is not super saturated with DO.

Could aptasia stings cause this? I have two Hippocampus comes and only one is/ has been affected.

 

[rayjay]

Aiptasia stings will cause a wound that gets bacterial infection and begins to erode flesh.
I'd NEVER alow Aiptasia to remain in my tanks.
As for parameters that cause GBD, like bacterial problems, it's not something that can be measured with any hobbyist test kits.
From experience, I, like many others, have learned that you need to keep the water cleaner than any reef tank has need of, frequently removing all uneaten food and detritus and doing large frequent water changes. Oversized skimming is also a big help.
You won't have the problems from insufficient husbandry in the short term, but conditions deteriorate over time so that when they become afflicted, you don't understand why because you haven't changed your protocols and feel you haven't done anything to cause the problem.

 

[Keoki18]

I hear you on the aptasia removal, however, the persistent pest is fairly deep rooted in my NPS system that houses the two ponies.

I also have a slightly high PO4 problem resulting from all the food in the system. Again, overfeeding is a bit of a necessity to keep my dendro very happy.

I guess I will have to be a bit more diligent in the removal detritus and water changes.

Thank you for the information.

 

[rayjay]

Because of conflicts in the needs of seahorses and specific needs of other tank occupants, one or the other is going to suffer if you put them in conflict.
Many SPS type corals don't like the "dirty" water produced by seahorses, and many corals period don't like the lower temperature range of 68° to 74°F that work much better for survival of seahorses.
In your case, the need for overfeeding is causing the water to be just what seahorses have problems with. PO4 in itself is not a problem for seahorses, but what IS problematic are conditions that we cannot test for so we just have to keep the tank cleaner than it is when problems are occuring.