Lily
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Post by Lily on Jul 8, 2016 18:50:26 GMT -5
OK, Thank you devonjohnsgard and Carl. I must've gotten confused; though 2 rounds of Triple Sulfa was all that was needed. So, should I take a break and then do 4 rounds in a row? If so, for how long the break?
A concern is I am going on vacation again early next month for 10-14 days. Husband will be here but he is afraid of taking the fish out; Medicated Wonder Shells is the best I can expect the fish to get when I'm gone.
nancy
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Lily
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Post by Lily on Jul 8, 2016 18:54:03 GMT -5
P.S. Should I stop with the Methylene Blue baths now, or keep going until I start up with the Triple Sulfa again?
Carl-- Is it useless for me to keep swabbing Crushy's (Cloudy Eye?) eyes with the Methylene Blue (or any other product), since you think it is due to old age?
I wanted to mention as well, that, unfortunately, Dorothy (the big orange goldfish) has had that red stuff in her gills for some time. I'm talking probably a year or more ago is when I first noticed it. I thought it was odd but had no idea it was due to illness. :-(
Does this mean that my 8yr old fish are pretty much doomed?
Nancy
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Post by Carl on Jul 9, 2016 11:12:43 GMT -5
P.S. Should I stop with the Methylene Blue baths now, or keep going until I start up with the Triple Sulfa again? Based on what you noted, yes, just use the Medicated Wonder Shell along with Triple Sulfa. Any and all medications, including Triple Sulfa) should always be used for at least their full recommended treatment regimen Probably if no improvement. Or at least try the Eye Fungex Hard to say, as there are so many possible variables that I do not know. Switching to a more strong treatment as I noted earlier in the thread may help, but it may not Following EVERY step in the Disease Prevention article has helped many clients over the years, whether it be persons with healthy fish to start out with, or those with weak and problematic fish Reference: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Disease.htmlPlease also note that from my perspective, it is often difficult to help or give the best possible answer, since unlike a medical Dr., I have no chart to follow what has and has not been done, history, and health records; along with tests. Even with my customers I would make "fish doctor" calls for when I ran my aquarium maintenance company, I still had charts and knew what was and was not being or had been done (along with history too). Best I can help is with "educated guesses" based on a very little data and some pictures. Carl
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Lily
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Post by Lily on Jul 19, 2016 13:31:48 GMT -5
I need some clarification again... :-(
So from June 6-10th I did a Triple Sulfa treatment (as directed on package): Two days of med to tank, one day break, finished with two more days of prescribed doses. I did not, however, do the "final" water change until TWO days after the last dose.
Then from June 20th-25th, I did another full round of the prescribed Triple Sulfa treatment, much like above. my fish had MB baths on July 6th and 7th, and I believe one more day but I forgot to write it down. Crushy (with Cloudy Eye or something--Carl, I believe you said what he has is an infection that, with old age, is likely to not go away) had two eye swabs along with the baths (did not have eye swab on first bath; it was too difficult).
Also, while I was away last month (last week in June), my husband put in a medicated Wonder Shell (prior to that I had added, about a week before, a Non-medicated one). The shells have since dissolved and the carbon filters are now being used again. NOTE: I did a 5-8% water change 2 days ago, and I think my not-so-old BioWheel filter has died. (I'm using a Fluval70--this is with a 60 gallon tank). I am supposed to be going out of town again in just 12/13 days, and I need advice. When devonjohnsgard said I needed to do 4 rounds of Triple Sulfa, did that mean the full 4 days (per each round)--as I did, twice (week of June 6th and then June 20th) -OR- did he mean that I need to treat 4 times in 4 WEEKS? (there had been some discussion of my doing 5 b/c I had forgotten a dose the one time)
I just want to make sure. I'm going out today to find the best test kit I can to test the parameters (in the meantime, I will also take some of the water along with me to get tested at the PETCO or PetSmart).
With every water change I use Prime Seachem, plus typically I add aquarium salt. I've been using Prime for the 8 years I have had these fish, and the aquarium salt I began a little later in the game (perhaps 3-5 years in).
I typically feed them Omega One medium size goldfish pellets, and sometimes frozen brine shrimp as a treat. Over the years sometimes I would give them a small chunk of orange or lettuce... Also peas when they occasionally (especially Dorothy) wasn't looking so balanced.
I'm concerned b/c Carl had basically said that Crushy's eye illness is likely terminal, what with advanced age. These fish are 8 years old. I'm going to try and post a video of the two of them a little later today. I don't want these fish to suffer, and at the same time the thought of euthanizing them is painful (just had to have my dog put to sleep in April to due cancer). Anyway, I hope someone can view this, tell me perhaps what I can do with the time I have left before leaving July 31/Aug 1 (again, husband will be here but I know he will do as little as required). Is there time for Triple Sulfa (I read that 3 attempts should be tried before moving on to another med--Carl, I believe you had suggested trying/adding other meds not too long ago). I would need to reorder that. I have one unused Medicated Wonder Shell left. I just don't want to cause other problems for these fish if they are not going to improve, yet at the same time I want to do right by them and if it's possible, give them what they need and a chance to recover or at least have a better quality of life.
Thanks, nancy
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Lily
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Post by Lily on Jul 19, 2016 13:41:54 GMT -5
Yikes..I'm getting forgetful... I somehow missed the "Page 2" today; see that I'd voiced some of these concerns before.
Just wanted to add that the MB baths really stressed out Dorothy. Is it normal after a fish is placed in a bucket for them to go limp for 10-15 seconds approximately and appear dead? She did that when she went back in the aquarium, too.
If I keep treating Crushy with the MB (bath and in eyes), how long should I wait until I might see improvement?
Is the Eye Fungex the special request product? If I use that, for how long should I give it?
Nancy
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Lily
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Post by Lily on Jul 19, 2016 17:33:45 GMT -5
Had the water tested at PetSmart...
Ammonia--good Chlorine--none Alkaline-- Low-Moderate pH-- "perfect" Nitrate--Getting high, around 40 (I just did a 5-10% water change on Sunday) Nitrite--perfect Hardness--high; told fairly normal for this area
A moss ball was suggested to help control the Nitrates... Would that be safe?
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Post by troybtj on Jul 19, 2016 20:10:00 GMT -5
I wouldn't bother with a Moss Ball for high Nitrates. Standard plants would like it, but regular water changes will keep it lower just as well. Just stay on the water changes, especially the vacuuming of gravel to lower Nitrate production.
If you are going out of town for a couple weeks, change water immediately before leaving and right when you get back, if there is nobody to care for them.
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Post by coco on Jul 20, 2016 8:47:32 GMT -5
Had the water tested at PetSmart... Ammonia--good Chlorine--none Alkaline-- Low-Moderate pH-- "perfect" Nitrate--Getting high, around 40 (I just did a 5-10% water change on Sunday) Nitrite--perfect Hardness--high; told fairly normal for this area A moss ball was suggested to help control the Nitrates... Would that be safe? Nanc, you really should buy your own API master test kit. You can get one at Petsmart or Petco for aprx $20-30. I wouldn't rely on a LFS employee to give you your results. That way you can keep a journal of your actual results, and not just "good" or "perfect". You can have the actual numbers. It also helps the people on this forum better understand what's going on in your tank.
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Post by Carl on Jul 20, 2016 9:35:59 GMT -5
Troy & Coco made some good points. A 5 in 1 test strips is a reasonably accurate (for what you need) and simple to use "tester" that i would recommend: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquariumtestkit.html#5in1I agree with Troy as per the water change. Then using SeaChem Prime & StressGuard Using another Medicated Wonder shell while gone would also be a good idea (one day after the use of StressGuard) Unless any success has been noted with the Triple Sulfa, I would not use for now. Even if it did help, it is best to be around to make full treatments as directed. The Eye Fungex is a special order item that you need to send a request to the AAP email for an invoice (other items can be placed on the invoice too) info@americanaquariumproducts.com Carl
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Lily
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Post by Lily on Jul 20, 2016 17:47:55 GMT -5
Many thanks to all of you.
Yesterday I purchased a box of Tetra 6 in 1 Easy Strips. The EasyStrips check: Chlorine, Alkalinity, Nitrite, Hardness, Nitrate and pH. Should they suffice?
I did see a master kit (can't remember brand), but didn't know if that would be too overwhelming for me. Are the results with a master kit more precise?
If I get the Eye Fungex, should I use it before I leave at the end of the month (and if so, how often and in what manner)? Directly to Crushy's eye, and/or a special bath outside the tank?
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Lily
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Post by Lily on Jul 20, 2016 17:49:36 GMT -5
I'm going to try to upload the video I made the other day now. If it doesn't work here, I will try to send it to you (Carl) or someone else there who assisted in placing my fish photos here the last time. Thank you.
nancy
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Lily
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Post by Lily on Jul 20, 2016 18:06:57 GMT -5
It's telling me that my file is too big... I think I have successfully sent stuff via a Facebook link. Currently uploading it there; going to see if then I can add as a link here. Otherwise, I'll have to take some still shots and send them.
Nancy
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Lily
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Post by Lily on Jul 20, 2016 18:22:12 GMT -5
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Lily
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Post by Lily on Jul 20, 2016 19:00:10 GMT -5
I don't know if that above link is working...it isn't for me. Carl (or someone else here), if you go to my FB Profile you will see this video; I'm tagging it as public for now. (In my photos/videos section) I think this is going to be too big to e-mail...
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Post by Carl on Jul 21, 2016 8:55:11 GMT -5
Nanc; the video is not viewable and video files are generally too large to upload directly to the forum. I would suggest YouTube. The Fungex is added directly to the eye every day (directions are provided) The Test Strips you purchased are relatively generic and serve your purpose I did find your FB page: www.facebook.com/nancy.reedkooryYour large red goldfish certainly shows signs of age and is mishapened, but is not suffering any malady I would use anything other than StressGuard or Medicated Wonder Shells for (not at the same time). No visible Septicemia and the red gill is a shrunken, missing plate (nothing you can do for this). The poor shape, besides age and genetics is most often from diet. What are you feeding? I would suggest the AAP Herbivore or Sanyu Gold Resources: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/ParadigmFoods.html#herbivorewww.americanaquariumproducts.com/SanyuGoldfishandKoiFood.htmlCarl
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Lily
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Post by Lily on Jul 21, 2016 10:57:19 GMT -5
They've been eating Omega One medium size Goldfish pellets and as a treat, San Francisco Bay Brand Brine Shrimp. Thank you so much for the recommendation. I've tried to stick with Omega One b/c I thought the ingredients read the least junkiest of the other brands.
I'm so glad you were able to view the video. Would you please explain/describe a little more about Red Gill being a shrunken missing plate? Dorothy (orange fish) has a ton of red, fuzzy stuff inside her gills; didn't show up well on the video.
By the way, Dorothy's breathing isn't as fast as it was last week; has slowed down a bit. I'm hoping this is a good thing, as last week she appeared to be practically "panting..."
Many thanks again, Nancy
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Jul 21, 2016 12:40:14 GMT -5
From what I see, it's just long term poor diet, maybe long term not the best water. It's not sick, just misformed at an older age. Omega One is not super junkie. Not the best. Over produced. Goldfish need a food which fills them up for their slow digestion. A flake doesn't really do this. Here's a good resource: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/ProperGoldfishFeeding.html
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Post by Carl on Jul 21, 2016 15:15:03 GMT -5
Omega One is not super junkie. Not the best. Over produced. Goldfish need a food which fills them up for their slow digestion. A flake doesn't really do this. Omega One: Questionable protein source for the price point sold (as per Fish Food expert Clay Neighbors) and poor protein optimization. This can result in kidney damage over time which in turn can result in toxins in the fish body Carl
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Lily
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Post by Lily on Jul 21, 2016 18:04:54 GMT -5
Thanks, Carl and devonjohnsgard. My fish are each at least 6" long.
Would you know which size Sanyu pellet would be best for them? What they get right now is too small... I've tried what was recommended in both PetSmart and a WaterGarden place once or twice: Larger pond pellets. The fish did not want to eat them. I think they were Tetra brand but I'm not sure...
I stopped with flakes a long time ago...I read that they are not good for Goldfish...something about it not being good for the fish to keep coming up to the surface of the water; something like that...
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Lily
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Post by Lily on Jul 22, 2016 0:17:26 GMT -5
I'm confused as to which Paradigm food would be best suited to my Goldfish; any recommendations?
Forgot to mention--though it has been quite a long time... I used to sometimes give the Goldfish peas as well. I lightly steamed them, peeled off the outer skin and dropped them in the tank (maybe 1-4 peas total at a feeding). I used to use it occasionally b/c I heard it helped w/swim bladder (of which Dorothy often showed signs. She often acts a bit dopey and uncoordinated after water changes...
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