Why is my fish acting strange during treatment?

tylersarah

Member
I've been treating a Percula Clownfish and a Muelleri Butterflyfish for 26 days in separate 20 gal quarantine tanks in 1.009 hyposalinity (possible ich) and for confirmed flukes. I've done two 5 day and one 7 day Prazipro treatments and currently on day 6 of Formalyn. I switched to Formalyn because the fish was still exhibiting signs of irritation, swimming abruptly, shaking head, loss of appetite (only when the other symptoms were severe), but these symptoms were not constant. It is known to me that the Muelleri will shake its head under disease free conditions, seemingly a response when about to be fed, but this is excessive.

Here's a couple videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NkbTfFQrHU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-dJIQSEn5I

At this stage of irritation the fish will eat. He does not stop moving like this, even when I spy with the lights off. I've seen it intensified where he won't eat and is continuously twitching and almost looked stiff - a water change and Prazipro fixed this immediately.

Up until today when I saw these symptoms I would do a 12-25% water change and either dose Prazi or Formalyn and the fish would immediately calm down, stop shaking, hang out in his pvc and look normal. This morning when he was acting irritated I did a 25% water change with NO medication and saw slight improvement instantly. So, I got to thinking...ammonia, nitrite, pH, oxygen, dilution of flukes...

Salifert - Clown Tank / Muelleri Tank
Ammonia: .25 .25
Nitirite: 0 0
pH: 7.7 7.7
Temp: 79 79
It's important to note the clown doesn't exhibit any symptoms and the Muelleri doesn't have any spots, lesions, bumps or dots. The ammonia has been lingering since the first day I've dosed Prazi and I've been doing frequent 12-25% water changes and feeding lightly. The pH is low because of the hyposalinity, in the beginning I attempted to raise it, but stopped when the ammonia showed up. I would assume the fish would be used to 7.7 at this point.

For the readers familiar with flukes, does this look/sound familiar? Btw, I don't have a normal case of flukes, they are a very small, fast killing type unlike the rice grain size that cover the body/eyes and when left untreated kill in a week or two.
 
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The low ph is one factor I don't like using hypo, have you tested this at different time periods? .25 ammonia may not seem like much but it's a huge issue, and MUST be resolved pronto.

In your situation I'd raise the s. g. Get established bio media (bio spira works great) and treat with crypto pro or quinine sulfate or locate chloroquine phosphate. Both are effective at killing ich and stubborn gill flukes.
 
The low ph is one factor I don't like using hypo, have you tested this at different time periods? .25 ammonia may not seem like much but it's a huge issue, and MUST be resolved pronto.

In your situation I'd raise the s. g. Get established bio media (bio spira works great) and treat with crypto pro or quinine sulfate or locate chloroquine phosphate. Both are effective at killing ich and stubborn gill flukes.

I have tested the pH at diff times, including early morning and have not seen less than 7.7. The ammonia - I've used 2 bottles of Bio Spira, a seeded sponge from my sump and 4 seeded bags of media from my lfs. I can only assume at this point it's because of the medication, therefore, I do frequent water changes.

It would take about 2 weeks to raise the sg to 1.025 which makes me hesitant to change methods. I have been looking for a source of chloroquine phosphate.
 
I was under the impression no more than a .001-2 increase per day?

Thanks for the quinine sulfate info, I'll look into it.
 
I was under the impression no more than a .001-2 increase per day?

Thanks for the quinine sulfate info, I'll look into it.

The slow part should be from 1.009 to 1.015, over two days, once there fish can handle 1.015 to 1.025 over the course of the third day.
 
I located some chloroquine phosphate, quinine sulfate and PARA-X, I'm prepared for anything!

Turns out my Salifert ammonia kit went sour, not expired, just bad. I bought a new one and it reads 0 ammonia in both QTs - great news for me and the fish.
 
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