Chinese Algae Eater In Big Trouble - Updates!

[RandomWiktor]

My two year old chinese algae eater seems to be dying, and I don't know why. I woke up to find him thrashing all over his tank, slamming into things, rolling over, breathing fast, and generally acting like something gave him the worst scare of his life. It reminded me of the symptoms of poisoning, so I ran a water test, but his ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/pH etc. are all WNL. I'm wondering if something toxic didn't get into his tank, so I've moved him into a smaller hospital tank with a higher temp, stress guard, a small amount of salt (less than 1/2 dose), and high aeration. But he still seems to be doing poorly. His breathing is unbelievably fast, but I can't find anything wrong with the gills. And he keeps rolling onto his side, swimming all over like crazy, and rolling over again. It looks as though he is dying. If anyone has ANY ideas on how to help him, it would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[RandomWiktor]

You know what? Nevermind. I think I figure it out. I believe it is hydrogen sulfide poisoning; even though he isn't behind on water changes, there was an unusual amount of waste that he had kindof "hidden" under his log. The water has the classical smell you'd expect with this, and the disorientation and difficult breathing are textbook symptoms. I don't know if he'll recover since I obviously didn't catch it soo enough. Wow. I feel like the most horrible fish owner ever.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Sorry to hear of this- hope he pulls through for you. I know how much care you've lavished on him, you really must not beat yourself up about this.

 

[RandomWiktor]

Well, he's still alive. I thought for sure he was gone when I left for my appointment; he was completely on his back, breathing rapidly, and in very poor color. However, I got home and he is looking in much better color. His breathing is still abnormal, but not as severely so, but he still seems horrifically disoriented. Its like he has no sense of where he is going, what is "right side up" etc; he'll swim all over and slam into things, roll over, etc. but he also is capable of righting himself and clinging to his rock. Its unlike anything I've seen... and its very depressing. I'm so bummed. Here I finally get him into a proper sized tank, and he's fricken dying because he was able to hide waste under his caves. Bah. I feel so royally crappy about this that it isn't even funny.

I've been reading on this type of poisoning, and it sounds like it can cause some nasty long-term effects. So, even if he recovers, it sounds like there is a high chance of long term health effects and nuerological damage. I'm worried that even if he lives, he'll just have to be euthanized. =(

 

[RandomWiktor]

Just an update - Reebum is still alive today. I thought I'd lost him this morning; he was rolled over on his back and gasping for air. I added a small amount of anti-biotic as he's badly slashed up his face and sides from thrashing around. Now, a few hours after adding anti-biotic, I've found him still looking rough, but with one huge improvement: He rights himself after a few seconds when he flips over. Before he'd lay on his back for hours as if it was normal. Now he seems a little less disoriented and at least aware that he should be on his belly, not his back.

 

[WILDER]

Good luck he still sounds in a bad way, they look like they are getting better, then they take another turn for the worse, i lost a plec a month ago same symtoms, fingers crossed with yours, good luck.

 

[RandomWiktor]

Well, Reebum is still acting poorly, though not as severely so; he is managing to stay upright for longer amounts of time every day. He still is spooking abnormally easily, however, and has really injured his face from smashing into the glass. It looks like someone took his poor nose and rubbed it with sandpaper.
I still think his breathing is abnormally fast, which is just so strange since the water he is in happens to be VERY well aerated. Do you think his gills may have suffered permenant damage?

 

[WILDER]

They can breath heavy with a bacterial infection as well as parasites, has his colour changed.

 

[RandomWiktor]

His color is good, and the gills look excellent, but I do have him on a medicine for internal infections just in case. Today he is doing surprisingly well. He still seems mildly disoriented, and I think his breathing is still someone labored, but he seems to be doing well enough. He hasn't flopped over once today, though his face looksl ike heck from slamming into things. I think I will get him back into his tank so he can benefit from good filtration and hopefully have more room to avoid smashing into things.

 

[WILDER]

Good luck, fingers crossed.

 

[RandomWiktor]

Just writing back to tell you all how Reebum is doing. After several days in a hospital tank, and a round of Maracyn TC just in case he had any kind of infection from the wounds or poisoning, his breathing became more normal, so I returned him to "home." Allthough he has survived, he seems to have suffered some lasting damage; he has some nuerological symptoms, spooks increadibly easy now, and is hypersensitive to his environment. I wonder if his gills were damaged, because he immediately starts gasping again if he doesn't have both filters and the bubbler going full blast. As far as nuerological goes, he has a "bob" now; pretty much all day, while he is resting, he'll bob down on one side at a fairly rythmic interval. It has not adversely affected him, but I strongly suspect it may be the result of some brain damage. He is also very easily frightened and becomes very panicked and disoriented over minor things; I'm so glad he no longer lives in the kitchen with all the hustle and bustle.

Anyways, HUGE THANKS to everyone who showed support and helped give advice. I will keep you posted throughout the poor little bugger's (hopeful) recovery.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Oh poor little thing! Still, he is alive, and he may improve once he gets over the shock. He may just need time. Keep us posted! All good wishes.

 

[WILDER]

Me too, good luck.