9 replies to this topic

[mremants]

I've just been abit worried lately about a new addition to one of my tanks. One of my C.Salvini.
Whilst the other is swimming around, eating vigouriously and seems to have no problems, the other hasn't been eating, sits inbetween 2 reeds(at the bottom) and generally doesn't move.

I have also noticed lately, that his poo is white. Is this fish sick? and if so would anyone be able to give me a diagnosis and possible treatment?

[Mazimbwe]

Sounds unhappy at the very least...diagnosis may be better coming from someone like Link2Hell on the SCP or mtchye here on the Perth page.

I would not like to take a guess at it because that may do more harm than good.

If worse comes to worst try emailing Dr F.Stephens at
franstph@numbat.murdoch.edu.au She is a Vet specialising in fish and fish desease and is always looking for people who need her help in "Exact" diagnosis.
However, most times it means biting the bullet and having the autopsy done B4 the fish actaully dies, due the rapid rate of decomposition, but it will help you prevent losing the rest of the tank-mates.

I am sure it will not come to this and mtchye or Link2Hell will tell you what can help.

p.s. This link may be of some help
www.cichlidae.com/articles/a109.html

Edited by: Mazimbwe  at: 12/10/03 11:07 pm

[7BARfrontosa]

I would like to start off that I am no expert and this is my opinion and should be taken in as an opinion only and not a exact diagnosis.
Here I go. It seems your fish has a intestinal tract infection that can be fatal unless treated on time. It could be bloat as bloat is thought to be that, a intestinal tract infection. I have had fish suffer from what you describe, their faeces are stringy white, they don't eat, and they keep to themselves and at all instances it has been fatal. This can arise from feeding your fish the wrong type of foods. Anyways hope you get a exact diagnostic and hope everything goes well.

[mremants]

Thanks alot Maz and 7bar for your replies

Invaluable advice,

Although you were modest about your experience, I believe you nailed this diagnosis, as his behaviour is a mirror of the disease 7bar discribed.

I am confident that the ailment is an infection of the intestinal tract, although I am unsure how he managed to catch this disease since he hasn't eaten anything since i brought him home from the LFS.

As for cures i have a refridgerated medicine called Sterazin by a company called Waterlife. The medicine states that it treats: Gill & body flukes
Internal worms

As you said it is better treated sooner then later so i would rather rely on your diagnosis then wait to get an "expert" one.

I'll start treating asap.

[greshaki]

Hey there, I have the same problem with my fish and its driving me up the wall. I do everything right and still someone manages to contract some intestinal problem and die. Im no expert either, but I ‘think’ the following is right:

I get the impression that the bacteria that causes gut infection is always present in fish, its just that if a fish is stressed, its immune system can take a dive and the infection takes hold. This is mostly when a fish gets caught and moved, or when they are constantly getting beat up by other fish.

That medicine you have probably wont harm the fish, but it wont treat a bacterial gut infection. That sounds like a parasite treatment, like worms and what not, which is different. Pretty much the only thing that treats bloat and similar disease is an antibiotic with the active ingredient ‘metronidosal’ (I may have spelt that wrong).

[reesy1]

My green terror had a similar thing a while back he didnt eat for almost a month and a half i thought i was going to loose him cause he was just getting worse i kept putting food in the hang on net i had him in and then one day he just ate and so i fed him peas and heaps of vegies until his strength returned. Now he is as good as ever but alittle stunted in growth , he is a real fighter. I thought he may have swallowed a BN or something , it might might have been bloat cause his poo was white and stringy. Do you have small BN and are they still there.

[mtchye]

Hi guys,

Sometimes with gut stuff it can be very hard to diagnose accurately without a faecal smear. You could have intestinal parasites, or a bacterial infection. Greshakei is right in that metronidazole is the most commonly used antibiotic against the bacteria that commonly infect the gut (and sometimes externally too).. It is by vet prescription only though and not that cheap.. It can be dosed into the water at a rate of 250mg / 40 litres or fed orally (not much of a chance seeing as the fish has stopped eating)...

Another frequent cause of loss of appetite which may seem strange is gill flukes. This sort of irritates a fish and theyseem to want to eat at first but mainly spit out the food.. it then progresses to non eating..

A good med to try is praziquantel. This will take care of the flukes and any tapeworms if that is the cause.
IF you see little red worms coming out of the anus you may also have an infection of camallanus - an intestinal round worm. This can be treated with levamisole.

Both the above treatments are very safe and won't harm your filtration.

Might be worth a try anyway.. The camallanus in particular are very insidious and may often show no symptoms at all besides the fish losing weight. However with a camallanus infection unless in the very late stages, the fish seems to still eat.

Not too much help, but maybe some things to try there..

Visit the:
Perth Cichlid Society Forums

[alan]

het mremants,
On top of all the advice above, which sounds to be very helpful, you may also want to try feeding the fish some DAPHNIA. This helps to 'flush' the fish and is very helpful for relieving constipation. Again, this is only a personal opinion and is not an accurate treatment. Using this treatment is a risk that you can choose but I believe that it will relieve your fish.............
cheers, ALAN

[wysiwyg]

If you catch your daphnia from the wild be careful that you don't introduce camallanus worm into your tank. I agree that for worming/gill flukes use praziquantel and for bloat try either octozin or flagyl (metronidazole)

wys

Edited by: wysiwyg at: 12/15/03 10:10 pm

[mremants]

Well thnx for the help, i've looked this up and even the experts can't agree weather intestinal infection is a parasitic or bactirial.

Un-fortunately due to the fact I was algae treating at the time, and I couldn't treat it over another treatment.

May my salvini R.I.P

By the way my OTHER one has a problem now it seems to have a small scar/scratch. pinky/white.