Post by blackpearlaquatics on Dec 11, 2012 4:06:22 GMT -5
I am the owner of a small tropical fish store and I take pride in my fish health and water quality.
I love fishkeeping and I always strive to improve my husbandry. Carl, I have found your Aquarium Medication section to be the best reference on the internet. So at the risk of sounding snobby, I would like to keep this thread very straightforward:
Controlled Variables:
I am assessing freshwater tropical fish as this is the problem area. My 750 gal Cichlid system has zero problems.
Water quality is fresh-fed R/O @ 100gpd with 0 everything. The 850 gal system runs 45 ppm Nitrates.
This system has been running for a year.
My water temp is maintained at 78 degrees.
Redox 300-400 mhz
TDS: <35
I usually have a 300gph 8' tall sterilization-quality ozonator tower running, but it is under repair this week.
Foods: high-quality gelatin-based prepared foods.
Assumptions:
Farm-raised tropical fish are often reared and distributed using heavy regimens of antibiotics or arrive with parasites & weakened immune systems.
FYI- A local PetSmart manager informed me that Standard procedure is to treat their water heavily with Maracyn upon the arrival of each fish shipment. I do not want to sell antibiotic-laden fish to my consumers. Furthermore, I doubt that the antibiotics would withstand oxidation from my ozonator.
Problem:
(note: not all fish arrive in an afflicted state. But when they do, they decline quickly without swift action. * denotes acceptable improvement or limited success ** denotes complete turnaround)
Tetras- Body Rot, body rot, and body rot, with occasional tail rot.
Not appearing to respond to Metro food. Have also tried 1tsp/600gal potassium permanganate treatments with little success. Cases vary. 5-85% mortality rates.
*Barbs- Mouth Rot
Responding very well to Metro prepared gelatin food by following seachem's instructions. Results still need verified. Estimating 90% efficacy. Results need verified.
*Livebearers- Fin & Tail Rot
Need constant grazing to maintain health. Sometimes batches of fish respond to Metro. I believe more aggressive oral treatment is needed? (My TFS mentor, who lives in a neighboring town, claims that metro prepared food is solving his livebearer problems)
Irridescent Sharks- Fin & Tail Rot, Eye Cloud
I am estimating 75% mortality rate with this batch. Poor response to Metro food thus far. More aggressive oral treatment needed?
Rainbow Sharks- slight listlessness, lack of appetite, Sudden Death
50-85% mortality rate. Is highly aggressive oral treatment needed?
**Angelfish- Thin stomachs, clear feces
Treated with Metro prepared gelatin food by following seachem's instructions. 95% efficacy.
*Clown Loaches- Slow decline, Emaciation, clear feces
Not on system. Treated sucessfully once with Prazi. Treated unsuccessfully once with prazi due to aquarium crash. Daily 50% water changes were not enough to save them. Latest batch responding well to Metro food. 100% efficacy. Results need verified.
**Plecos-tattered fins, emaciated stomachs.
Constant grazing recommended. Treated with Metro prepared gelatin food by following seachem's instructions. 75-85% efficacy.
*High-fin banded loaches- Clear feces, cloudy eyes, hazy fungus patches on skin
Responding well to Metro prepared gelatin food. Also important to have high flow, low nitrates, and cool temperatures. These fish are in 76 degree water on a seperate aquarium.
Danios- slight listlessness, Sudden Death, occasional visual ID of body rot.
Not responding to Metro food. Will more aggressive oral treatment be needed?
Bristlenose Plecos- Body rot, fin rot, rapid decline.
50-100% mortality rate. Water treatment may be necessary.
So based on these results, I would like to know your suggestion of what antibiotic I can administer orally to my affected fish. It appears that mouth rot and livebearer shimmy disease are responding to Metro. I still have problems with body rot and fin rot.
All advice with orally-administered medications is welcome.
I love fishkeeping and I always strive to improve my husbandry. Carl, I have found your Aquarium Medication section to be the best reference on the internet. So at the risk of sounding snobby, I would like to keep this thread very straightforward:
Controlled Variables:
I am assessing freshwater tropical fish as this is the problem area. My 750 gal Cichlid system has zero problems.
Water quality is fresh-fed R/O @ 100gpd with 0 everything. The 850 gal system runs 45 ppm Nitrates.
This system has been running for a year.
My water temp is maintained at 78 degrees.
Redox 300-400 mhz
TDS: <35
I usually have a 300gph 8' tall sterilization-quality ozonator tower running, but it is under repair this week.
Foods: high-quality gelatin-based prepared foods.
Assumptions:
Farm-raised tropical fish are often reared and distributed using heavy regimens of antibiotics or arrive with parasites & weakened immune systems.
FYI- A local PetSmart manager informed me that Standard procedure is to treat their water heavily with Maracyn upon the arrival of each fish shipment. I do not want to sell antibiotic-laden fish to my consumers. Furthermore, I doubt that the antibiotics would withstand oxidation from my ozonator.
Problem:
(note: not all fish arrive in an afflicted state. But when they do, they decline quickly without swift action. * denotes acceptable improvement or limited success ** denotes complete turnaround)
Tetras- Body Rot, body rot, and body rot, with occasional tail rot.
Not appearing to respond to Metro food. Have also tried 1tsp/600gal potassium permanganate treatments with little success. Cases vary. 5-85% mortality rates.
*Barbs- Mouth Rot
Responding very well to Metro prepared gelatin food by following seachem's instructions. Results still need verified. Estimating 90% efficacy. Results need verified.
*Livebearers- Fin & Tail Rot
Need constant grazing to maintain health. Sometimes batches of fish respond to Metro. I believe more aggressive oral treatment is needed? (My TFS mentor, who lives in a neighboring town, claims that metro prepared food is solving his livebearer problems)
Irridescent Sharks- Fin & Tail Rot, Eye Cloud
I am estimating 75% mortality rate with this batch. Poor response to Metro food thus far. More aggressive oral treatment needed?
Rainbow Sharks- slight listlessness, lack of appetite, Sudden Death
50-85% mortality rate. Is highly aggressive oral treatment needed?
**Angelfish- Thin stomachs, clear feces
Treated with Metro prepared gelatin food by following seachem's instructions. 95% efficacy.
*Clown Loaches- Slow decline, Emaciation, clear feces
Not on system. Treated sucessfully once with Prazi. Treated unsuccessfully once with prazi due to aquarium crash. Daily 50% water changes were not enough to save them. Latest batch responding well to Metro food. 100% efficacy. Results need verified.
**Plecos-tattered fins, emaciated stomachs.
Constant grazing recommended. Treated with Metro prepared gelatin food by following seachem's instructions. 75-85% efficacy.
*High-fin banded loaches- Clear feces, cloudy eyes, hazy fungus patches on skin
Responding well to Metro prepared gelatin food. Also important to have high flow, low nitrates, and cool temperatures. These fish are in 76 degree water on a seperate aquarium.
Danios- slight listlessness, Sudden Death, occasional visual ID of body rot.
Not responding to Metro food. Will more aggressive oral treatment be needed?
Bristlenose Plecos- Body rot, fin rot, rapid decline.
50-100% mortality rate. Water treatment may be necessary.
So based on these results, I would like to know your suggestion of what antibiotic I can administer orally to my affected fish. It appears that mouth rot and livebearer shimmy disease are responding to Metro. I still have problems with body rot and fin rot.
All advice with orally-administered medications is welcome.