sharon
Mon Apr 21, 2008, 01:33 PM
pH 6.2
Temp 30 degC
NO2 – nil
N03 – 20ppm
NH3 – nil
Hello, I have had my pair of discus (blue turquoise) for almost 4 years, encountering only a couple minor health problems until now. The male is the more timid and smaller of the pair and the female the sturdiest health wise. I have been treating the male for fin rot in his tail for several weeks now. I have tried Melafix/Pimafix (no improvement), tetracycline (2 doses – minor improvement but they both went off their food) and also 4 or 5 treatments of Fungus Finrot (active constituent Malachite Green – some improvement). I have been speaking with a local discus breeder for advice. After no success with the above he suggested I try Stress Guard for a week. I did so but only for about 5 days as the condition was visibly worsening not only in the male (over half his tale had gone back to the base and the base itself was looking very nasty) but also the female who had only a very minor occurrence to begin with. As the next step I was advised to approach a local vet for a course of doxycycline. Just prior to starting this medication the male stopped eating and then started to turn very dark, almost black and had what appeared to be a webbing of mucus over his body. He then started headstanding. This was 5 days ago. In conjunction with the antibiotics I started to steadily lower the pH and increase the temp (I read about this on this forum for treating bacterial infections). He is no longer dark and the mucus has gone but he is now looking very pale, still not eating, fin rot not improved and still headstanding. Yesterday I progressively lowered the water in the tank to half and have been gently coaxing him to the upright position periodically throughout the day. He does, on and off, swim about but will always end up head down and this is where he spends the majority of his time when left alone. I also administered a dose of Epsom salts 1.5 tsp/50l H20 last night and 1tsp/50l tonight. I’ve thrown a lot at this poor little guy and his mate trying to make him better but I’ve not got it right. I hate to see him suffer. Is there anything I can do for him or should I end his suffering? I gave the last dose of antibiotic today, and called the vet. He suggested we try another dose since there has been no improvement but I am sceptical about its efficacy in this case. And then there is the headstanding which I am really worried about. For any advice you provide, thank you.
Temp 30 degC
NO2 – nil
N03 – 20ppm
NH3 – nil
Hello, I have had my pair of discus (blue turquoise) for almost 4 years, encountering only a couple minor health problems until now. The male is the more timid and smaller of the pair and the female the sturdiest health wise. I have been treating the male for fin rot in his tail for several weeks now. I have tried Melafix/Pimafix (no improvement), tetracycline (2 doses – minor improvement but they both went off their food) and also 4 or 5 treatments of Fungus Finrot (active constituent Malachite Green – some improvement). I have been speaking with a local discus breeder for advice. After no success with the above he suggested I try Stress Guard for a week. I did so but only for about 5 days as the condition was visibly worsening not only in the male (over half his tale had gone back to the base and the base itself was looking very nasty) but also the female who had only a very minor occurrence to begin with. As the next step I was advised to approach a local vet for a course of doxycycline. Just prior to starting this medication the male stopped eating and then started to turn very dark, almost black and had what appeared to be a webbing of mucus over his body. He then started headstanding. This was 5 days ago. In conjunction with the antibiotics I started to steadily lower the pH and increase the temp (I read about this on this forum for treating bacterial infections). He is no longer dark and the mucus has gone but he is now looking very pale, still not eating, fin rot not improved and still headstanding. Yesterday I progressively lowered the water in the tank to half and have been gently coaxing him to the upright position periodically throughout the day. He does, on and off, swim about but will always end up head down and this is where he spends the majority of his time when left alone. I also administered a dose of Epsom salts 1.5 tsp/50l H20 last night and 1tsp/50l tonight. I’ve thrown a lot at this poor little guy and his mate trying to make him better but I’ve not got it right. I hate to see him suffer. Is there anything I can do for him or should I end his suffering? I gave the last dose of antibiotic today, and called the vet. He suggested we try another dose since there has been no improvement but I am sceptical about its efficacy in this case. And then there is the headstanding which I am really worried about. For any advice you provide, thank you.