help save my fish!!

[bdafishman]

I started medicating for

fin and tail rot about 5 days ago. I did a test last night and my ph was really low. I used some

ph+ and called it a night. I was using Maracyn 2 and Copper safe. Today I lost 2 fish. And I

have others that are swimming around with their mouths wide open and breathing rapidly like they

are not getting enough oxygen. Please help with suggestions.

[fishmaven]

First off, do a water

change. If you have filters on the tank with dirty cartridges either rinse or change them. If you

have an extra filter, not being used, you could add it temporarily to the tank. In periods of

stress or when suffering from a disease of any sort the fish's demand for oxygen goes up.

Hydrogen peroxide at the rate of a teaspoon for each 10 gallons of water in the tank would be of

benefit.

When treating for disease I'd do a water change each day. In a store

environment I'd do more than one a day.

Using copper sulfate and some antibiotics

are problematic. Some pH additives also consume oxygen. Yucky water is more toxic at a higher pH.

If the fish aren't acting weird don't try raising the pH during your treatments.

Maracyn 2's active ingredient is minocyn or minocycline. It's a synthetic tetrocycline.

It has a shelf life and shouldn't be used if the product is expired. For some reason it becomes

toxic, causing kidney failure among other things. I'd quit using it.

Try using salt

at 1 heaping tablespoon per 5 gallons of water and use in combination with your FW coppersafe.

[tanganyikanhunt]

I have another

suggestion as to your problem with tail rot. Hikari is making a product called "bio-

bandage". I have been using it to treat tail rot on a wild caught lamprichthys. He came in

with extreme ammonia burns but this area of his tail turned black and in desperation I bought the

stuff and use it.

The advantage is that I don't have to treat the entire 100

gallon tank and the medicine goes directly onto the affected area. Although catching lamprichthys

daily probably isn't the greatest idea (they are very prone to stress death) he seems to

appreciate being treated and there is a stop to the infection and his tail is growing out. When he

first sees the net he goes through the motion of freaking out but when it is apparent he is caught

he almost always swims into the net and takes his medicine. It takes about 30 seconds and I am

seeing improvement.

Hope this helps!