I Can't Figure Out Whats Wrong

[Robyn1058]

I have a tetra that got popeye 10 days ago. At first I started her with tetracyline but it was suggested to me to stop that and start epsom salt. So I started that about a week ago. Today I was checking her and she has a huge bottom lip. It looks like she's been punched. It sticks out and her mouth stay open alittle. She eats fine, she active, but I've never seen or heard of anything like this. She is in a 10 gl qt tank, ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 10 and PH 7.8. I'm stumped. Should I stay with the epsom salt or go back to the tetracyline? Since I'm not sure what is wrong with her mouth I'm not sure which way to go here.
Thank you for any help.

 

[*Fishkies*]

Is there white inside her mouth? Or anything stringy hanging out? Or is there white on the bottom of her lip on the outside?

How long did you treat with the T.C.? I would go back to using T.C. and not the salt. As T.C. is specific for treating pop-eye.

Oh!! And hello and to the forums!!

 

[Robyn1058]

Is there white inside her mouth? Or anything stringy hanging out? Or is there white on the bottom of her lip on the outside?

How long did you treat with the T.C.? I would go back to using T.C. and not the salt. As T.C. is specific for treating pop-eye.

Oh!! And hello and to the forums!!

Thank you so much for the warm welcome! No there isn't any white inside he mouth and nothing hanging out. The outside of her lip looks, not really white but maybe off white. She's silver so it's really hard to say. I thought maybe some kind of fungus but it's not fuzzy and this just popped up over night. I've been watching her all day and it's not getting any worse but I know this can't be good for her. I only treated her with the t.c. about 3 days before I switched to the salt. Would you suggest anything else besides the t.c. or should I start a full treatment of that?
Thank you

 

[*Fishkies*]

I would do the full treatment of T.C. as this will treat the pop-eye and get rid of it.

Pop-eye Diagnosis

Take a look at the above link, and feel free to click on the link inside that area, that says about archived comments about popeye and if you read the 4th part down. It mentions treating with T. C. to get rid of Pop-eye.

So good luck!!

 

[Robyn1058]

I would do the full treatment of T.C. as this will treat the pop-eye and get rid of it.

Pop-eye Diagnosis

Take a look at the above link, and feel free to click on the link inside that area, that says about archived comments about popeye and if you read the 4th part down. It mentions treating with T. C. to get rid of Pop-eye.

So good luck!!

I've now done a full 5 days of T.C. It seemed to take care of the popeye in one of the fish but the other one didn't respond to the meds and now she looks bloated. I was thinking dropsy but I don't really see any scale protruding and she's active and eating. Now the other one has gotten rid of her popeye but she has a fat bottom lip that keeps her mouth hanging open. Between the two of them they look like they belong in a circus. I have no idea what the fat lip is, I did see her run into the glass about 5 days ago but I would have thought that would have healed by now. Do you have any ideas what I could use that would treat popeye and dropsy? This is the only qt tank I have and I'm not sure if I should keep the one with the fat lip in this tank when I put more meds in for the popeye/dropsy, since I don't know what the fat lip is I don't want to put her into the other safe tanks. I'm so confused! Thank you for any advice and help.

 

[*Fishkies*]

Check This out it will determine if the fish has dropsy. Dropsy is very hard to treat and usually the fish may not make it. However, The fish may also just be constipated. Try feeding peas. Put a few in a dish with water heat them up for a few seconds like 15 and then pop the pea out of the shell and mush it up a bit and give it to the fish that looks bloated. Also you could try treating with salt here too for the bloated fish.

The fish who has the "fat lip" Does the mouth look red?

Do they seem interested in food?

 

[Robyn1058]

Check This out it will determine if the fish has dropsy. Dropsy is very hard to treat and usually the fish may not make it. However, The fish may also just be constipated. Try feeding peas. Put a few in a dish with water heat them up for a few seconds like 15 and then pop the pea out of the shell and mush it up a bit and give it to the fish that looks bloated. Also you could try treating with salt here too for the bloated fish.

The fish who has the "fat lip" Does the mouth look red?

Do they seem interested in food?

The one I think has dropsy is eating and active but I am going to try the pea in hope it's constipation. She didn't look like this when I started the T.C. so maybe she just can't poop after all that.

The one with the fat lip...I can't say it's red...the part I call the outer lip seems a pale pink color. I can see into her mouth and it is the same pale pink color. They both were eating fine except I didn't notice them eating yesterday after I scared the heck out of them trying to take a picture. I'll watch them more tonight when I feed them again.

I'll stay with the epsom salt for now unless things get worse and then I'll go into my "panic mode" again.

Thank you for your time and info.

 

[OrganizedChaos69]

Lol hmm I never heard of the epsom salt treatment. Where did you hear this? I know epsom salt is used for humans in baths and ingested to force diahrhea.

 

[Robyn1058]

Lol hmm I never heard of the epsom salt treatment. Where did you hear this? I know epsom salt is used for humans in baths and ingested to force diahrhea.

I'm with you...I never heard about it either but I went to 2 different fish forums and it was suggested by 2 different people so I tried it. So far they are still alive and don't seems to be bothered by it. I'm game for anything that works and doesn't cost a fortune. I tried tetracycline and it didn't do anything so I figured I had nothing to loose.

 

[Robyn1058]

Check This out it will determine if the fish has dropsy. Dropsy is very hard to treat and usually the fish may not make it. However, The fish may also just be constipated. Try feeding peas. Put a few in a dish with water heat them up for a few seconds like 15 and then pop the pea out of the shell and mush it up a bit and give it to the fish that looks bloated. Also you could try treating with salt here too for the bloated fish.

The fish who has the "fat lip" Does the mouth look red?

Do they seem interested in food?

I've tried the peas for the last 2 days but neither one of them are eating now. The one that has the fat lip...I was checking real close and it seems like it's alittle disclocated to the right alittle. Her mouth just kind of hangs open all the time like she can't close it anymore. Maybe that's why she's not eating anymore. The other one is still bloated but she's still active, but not eating either. I tried putting some flakes in for them but they just kind of watch them float by them. I'm hoping just hoping she has to poop and doesn't have dropsy but I'm not sure anymore. Is there something else I should be doing for them or try feeding them?
Thank You

 

[*Fishkies*]

Well if they are not eating, that is usually not a good sign. It may just be their time. The one who has the mouth problem seems like she should be put down. As she may be in pain if she can't move it or has no control of it.

As for the one who possibly has dropsy if it is dropsy then it is unlikely he will heal or get better from that problem. As others have had experience with dropsy they have never had much luck. However I hope things work out for the fishies possibly....Good Luck.

 

[Robyn1058]

Well if they are not eating, that is usually not a good sign. It may just be their time. The one who has the mouth problem seems like she should be put down. As she may be in pain if she can't move it or has no control of it.

As for the one who possibly has dropsy if it is dropsy then it is unlikely he will heal or get better from that problem. As others have had experience with dropsy they have never had much luck. However I hope things work out for the fishies possibly....Good Luck.

I know your probably right about both. I just don't know if I have the heart to do that. I'm crying just thinking about it. She still looks okay but it's got to be hurting her. I've heard a few way to uthenize(?) but none of them seem like some thing I can do. I know the dropsy is usually fatal but I'm still crossing my fingers for her. I'm to the point right now that I'm never getting any more pets again. I just don't have the heart for this.

 

[*Fishkies*]

I understand how you feel. I had my boyfriend put my first fish to sleep, I couldn't do it. But don't worry they go quick, and in the end it is better for them when suffering. I have done the freeze water, as for small fish it is quite quick. However the clove oil is like an anthestetic so it puts them to sleep, but there isn't a way to wake them up. So to me the clove oil seems like a more peaceful way, however the freezed water seems faster. What ever you choose, i'm sure will be good. Best of luck in the future with your fish!

 

[The_Dude]

freezing the water seems like it would hurt. Like frost bite. But I wouldn't really know. The no feely-sleepy time method with the clove oil seems to be the best for any fish in suffering.

 

[Robyn1058]

freezing the water seems like it would hurt. Like frost bite. But I wouldn't really know. The no feely-sleepy time method with the clove oil seems to be the best for any fish in suffering.

I woke up this morning and the one with the fat lip was in bad shape. She was just laying on the bottom struggling. I had my husband put her in a cup with ice cold water. I didn't have any clove oil. He said she died withing a few seconds. Of course I was crying like a sissy. The other tetra with the bloated belly is still doing fine. She's active as ever but I still haven't seen her eat, it's been about 3-4 days since I've noticed her eat. I'm still treating her with melafix and keeping my fingers cross.