Help My Gourmai

[WILDER]

Is the issolation tank next to the main tank. If so uncover the sides so he can see her.

 

[rebrn]

Unfortunately it is not, I don't have room to put the isolation tank next the the main tank, I already tried that. He is actually doing a little better now. He came out to see me when I checked on him, and gave him a treat, he actually took it from my hand, first time for that. But if I am not by the tank then he is hiding, he comes out when I go to check on him and stays out for a little bit then goes back. I think he'll be ok, hopefully it will only be for 5 days then she'll be back with him. So much for the theory that fish don't have long memories

 

[WILDER]

Bless him.
Let me know how the fish get on if you don't mind.

 

[rebrn]

I will definately keep you posted. Thanks again for all the help

 

[rebrn]

Well nearing the end of day 2 with meds, she does seem to be doing a little better. She is not listing to one side as often, even when she goes to the surface for air (which I understand is normal for Gourmais - labyrinth fish similar to Bettas) she no longer goes into a vertical position, but does still list to one side ever so slightly. Also she does still go a little off kilter when she swims through the filter or airstone current, but is is able to right herself (well even in the main tank she was always able to right herself) She is most definitely eating, this evening I actually caught her in the act, so she is not waiting for the lights to go out anymore, that is good. Still no obvious outward sign of what it might be, except for the odd swimming which does seem to be getting better. But obviously she must have had some sort of internal bacteria as the Maracyn two seems to be working.

So now that it seems definite that there is something wrong with her and not some sort of birth defect, should I treat the main tank with Maracyn two? Again the fish in the main tank are not showing any symptoms, all swimming normally. But now I am concerned that perhaps the bacteria is in the main tank and they just haven't shown any symptoms yet. Mind, she was in the main tank for a little over 2 weeks with the symptoms and still the other fish show no signs. I do have enough of the med to treat the main tank (if not I can buy some more) but I have snails in there and not sure if Maracyn two is safe for invertebrates.

Should I just wait and see, or should I prophetically treat the main tank?

 

[WILDER]

It's up to you if you medicate the whole tank. If you do decide to medicate you can add her back to the main tank.
Match ph and temp.

Feed her food soaked in garlic to boost her immune system.
The fish with a weaker immune system are more prone to desease.

 

[rebrn]

OK thanks, I think I'll keep her in the iso tank for maybe another day or 2 before I decide to treat the main tank. The fish in the main tank still seem fine, and I hate to treat them unnecessarily. The male is doing much better although he is still a little sulky he does come out of hiding straight away when the lights go on looking for food so he is still eating. The girl is doing good, I haven't seen any odd swimming patterns today thus far. I did have to do a small water change yesterday evening as the ammonia in the iso tank rose to 0.5 ppm, I knew that would happen because the filter is not fully cycled. I am trying to do a little as possible because I don't want to take out the meds from the water. How badly will it effect the treatment if I need to do water changes? So far it has only been one, and I did as minimal as possible, I did less than 25%, just enough to get the poop off the bottom of the tank but it was enough to get the ammonia down to 0 ppm.

Also, I noticed a small thread like white worm free swimming in the iso tank. I had them in the main tank during cycling, and a couple after the cycle was complete. I assumed they were planaria, but now that the girl is sick I am wondering if it might be something else. The worm was really thin, it really looked like a piece of thread, or hair, white maybe an inch long at the most. I took it out and haven't seen any since. It was NOT on the fish, it was free swimming in the tank. Just want to confirm that this is in fact planaria.

Finally, when you say soak her food in garlic, should I just get garlic juice? Is there any specific type I need to get or will any type of liquid garlic be fine? Would it be better to puree garlic cloves and soak her food in that? I am not sure if I have ever seen garlic juice at any stores near me, but then again I haven't actually looked for it either.

Sorry for all the added questions, just want to make sure I am doing everything right. I was blasted yesterday by my neighbours friend for having Pearl Gourmais with Zebra Danio, he said that was why she was sick and that the Zebras were stressing her to death. But I swear when she was in the main tank, the zebras were not bothering her. In fact every time I saw her swimming she was swimming peacefully with the Zebras, and they never harassed her at all. In fact the Zebras always swam away from the Gourmais, if anything, I would say the Zebras were afraid of her not the other way around. Well any way he made me feel really stupid and guilty so I just want to make sure I don't do anything else wrong.

Thanks again.

 

[WILDER]

How big was the worm.
Thread like white worms can be anchor worm, camallanous worms.
Anchor worm can also have a y shaped tail.
Have you added any live plants lately to the tanks.

You can buy foods with garlic in them. Or use the garlic juice. Fresh squeezed garlic is the bsst.
Then soak the food in the garlic.

 

[rebrn]

It was an ich tops, very very thin, even thinner that an peice of thread. I didn't notice any destinctive marks on it (tail shape etc), if I see another one I will try to find a magnifying glass to get a better look. I first noticed them in the main tank during the fishless cycle when the nitrates went off the charts. After the big water change at the end I still had some but not nearly as many as before. I added the fish because I thought they were planaria and the next day I had none, so I assume the fish ate them. I thought it was odd to find one in the iso tank, but I did take some media from the main tank filter and added it to the iso filter so maybe it came from there.

As for the garlic, I have lots at home, so I will squeeze a few cloves for her.

Thanks again.


Edit: I looked up pictures of planaria and anchor worms, it definately looked more like the planaria, but I couldn't find any pics of the camallanous worms.

Edit 2: Just saw a you tube video on planaria and anchor worms, it definatley looked just like the planaria

 

[rebrn]

Just a quick update at the end of day 3, she seems to be doing about the same, despite a power outage this evening, poor thing sick and no filter for 4 hours. Anyway, she seems fine. She is still eating, but won't eat if I am watching her, but at least she is eating. I haven't seen anymore worms in the tank. I am fairly certain it is planaria that came from the borrowed filter media from the main tank. It is weird though I thought once your water stats came back to normal the planaria went away, but apparently not, I still see one on occasion in the main tank, I dig them out every time. Any way, she seems good, and the male is less sulky today but I am sure he will be glad when she is back with him.

 

[rebrn]

I have been doing research on planria, and now I am not so sure that is what it was, as they have never stuck to the glass always free swimming. I didn't want to start a whole new post for it, so hope you don't mind the add-on here. I found a couple of clips on you tube that show the worms I have seen in my tank. I think it might be "white worms"? I found that name on a web site and it seems to be the best description: microscopic white worms that swim in an eratic "s" pattern. They are apparently harmless and fish like to eat them. But here are the links to the videos I found (all on you tube say they are planaria):

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2qA_eljza4 (the head on this worm looks much larger than the ones I have seen, but could be just a focusing issue with the camera)

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NmcXUN9iw4&feature=related (the big squiggly worm in the glass)

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5WmpywHhC0&feature=related

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSoqgPJqwVA&feature=related

Those are just a few of the ones that showed up when I searched for planaria.

Thanks again, and sorry for the add-on in this post. I can repost separately if you think that would be better.

 

[WILDER]

I had a few of the worms once, they soon vanished.

I wouldn't worry it only when you get infested with them that they can start to harm the fish.

Just wanted to make sure it wasn't the other worms mentioned in previous posts.


Let me know how she gets on if you don't mind.
Good Luck.

 

[rebrn]

Thanks wilder, just wanted to make sure they were harmless espically as I have seen a few of my fish eat them.

 

[WILDER]

That's fine.
Good Luck.

 

[rebrn]

So today is the last day of treatment, I just added the last dose. I haven't really noticed the odd swimming behaviour today or yesterday, So tomorrow (monday) I will do a 50% water change on the tank, per the instructions on the med, and leave her in isolation until Tuesday. Is that long enough, or should I just put her back in the main tank tomorrow? She still isn't a great eater, she will eat all the food I give her but off the bottom, but doesn't come to the surface to eat. Should I be concerned about that?


Additional information Edit: I have noticed that yesterday and today she seems to be swimming faster than she used to not sure if this is out of bordem, the iso tank is only 10 US gallons, where the main tank is 55 Gallons, plus I don't have anything to stimulate her in the iso tank, just bare no plants decor etc. Should I be worried that there is something else going on or is it safe to assume she is bored?