tylersarah
Member
Decided to start formalin-ms treatment to knock out any remaining flukes. He is a great fish, $250 on Divers Den, he's an Aussie.
My Prized Muelleri Butterflyfish has bumps all over body
- Thread starter tylersarah
- Start date
tylersarah
Member
Day 3 of formalin treatment, going pretty well. I'm not sure how to do frequent water changes for ammonia control in conjunction with treating bi-daily with 40 drops per the directions. I noticed towards a new dose the fish begins to behave spastically and swim excessively, after the dose, he calms and hangs in his PVC. My thought would be fluke irritation, but maybe the formaldehyde makes him mellow or the ammonia and possible ich in the tank would be irritating too I would suspect.
tylersarah
Member
Good Update
Good Update
Turns out I don't have ammonia, I have a bad Salifert kit. Not expired, just bad. A new one changed my life (no more 2x/day w/c).
Ziggy is still doing well. I'm slowly exiting hypo (mostly thru evaporation) and continuing with the Formalin treatment. Appetite is excellent, no bumps, lumps or heavy breathing and his mouth infection completely healed. He acts a little funny sometimes, almost over-active, I think there's still some flukes and I've only begun week 2 of Formalin. I scored some chloroquine phosphate in case I need it in the future.
Good Update
Turns out I don't have ammonia, I have a bad Salifert kit. Not expired, just bad. A new one changed my life (no more 2x/day w/c).
Ziggy is still doing well. I'm slowly exiting hypo (mostly thru evaporation) and continuing with the Formalin treatment. Appetite is excellent, no bumps, lumps or heavy breathing and his mouth infection completely healed. He acts a little funny sometimes, almost over-active, I think there's still some flukes and I've only begun week 2 of Formalin. I scored some chloroquine phosphate in case I need it in the future.
tylersarah
Member
What took it out in the end? I hate to see anything die, it's gotten to the point I put spiders outside instead of squashing them.
In case you're not aware, there is another marginalis on DD....
I'm feeling pretty good about my fish, they want to survive and I'm doing everything I can.
In case you're not aware, there is another marginalis on DD....
I'm feeling pretty good about my fish, they want to survive and I'm doing everything I can.
Glad the muelleri continues to do well for you!
You can read the whole story about my first marginalis here
I'm not sure what eventually did it in, but I did learn that this fish needs space to settle in. I did eventually get another, when I set up the 240g, and I'm glad I did. It's been doing very well, and is HUGE!
Here's my current one:
And my muelleri:
Newsmyrna80
Active member
Hi Sarah! Just read this...too funny:lol: I do the same thing with spiders...and lizards, dragonflys, frogs...the list goes on
tylersarah
Member
I read your whole marginalis story, I think I would have developed an anxiety disorder throughout the year. It's really neat to see all the butterflies coexisting in your tank. For me, one is enough - he's like the king of my fish tank universe (currently king of the 20gal basement hospital tank, but you get the point).
My Muelleri looks a bit different - body shape - head bump, do you think mine is older than yours or possibly male vs female?
My Muelleri looks a bit different - body shape - head bump, do you think mine is older than yours or possibly male vs female?
Spyderturbo007
New member
How is Ziggy?
tylersarah
Member
So far so good. I'm still treating formalin and exiting hypo (currently 1.011), he eats very well, much less spastic/twitchy & I don't have any reason to believe he won't make it back to his reef.
tylersarah
Member
Now it is my understand that copperbands/muelleris, not exclusively, but commonly shake their heads when healthy? My fish has always done this, mostly when I'm about to feed. I've read and it seems quite common, now with flukes in the mix I'm having trouble deciphering possible hunger from gill itch, so is it true healthy butterflyfish shake their heads?
tylersarah
Member
And SDGuy - your Muelleri is really cute. If you don't name your fish, but have thought about it, I suggest "Pip."
tylersarah
Member
Ziggy today:
Goofy fish, looking good!
Goofy fish, looking good!
Newsmyrna80
Active member
Are you still dosing formalin in his QT?
tylersarah
Member
Yes, it's day 25 of Formalin. 14 days ago was the last I noted strange erratic swimming. He's still kind of odd sometimes, there's a bit of head shaking (always has been), I'm having a hard time deciphering if any of the behavior is flukes related. He's a big fish in a small tank who's very comfortable with me, he doesn't hide much and when I'm around he swims more. Salinity is ~1.013, appetite is excellent & no bumps/lumps/infection/mucus of any sort.
I suppose I'll continue with Formalin a bit more, they say to dose 2 wks past the last day of symptoms and I'm right on that mark. Formalin kills fluke eggs, correct?
I suppose I'll continue with Formalin a bit more, they say to dose 2 wks past the last day of symptoms and I'm right on that mark. Formalin kills fluke eggs, correct?
Newsmyrna80
Active member
No formalin does not kill the eggs on any type of fluke. The egg "shell" is too hard:mad2:
How much and what brand of formalin are you dosing?
tylersarah
Member
It's Fish Vet 37% Formaldehyde, I've been following the bottle directions @ 1 drop/gal every other day. If the eggs are on the fish, how do I ever get rid of them?
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