Med. Resistant Illness Killing Off Apistogrammas.

[FishFanatic04]

I ordered 6 apistos, and brought them home March 3rd. Only 4 are left alive, after euthanizing one this morning. The first one died 3 days after bringing them home. Since then they have been dropping about one a week. I moved them into a hospital tank after the second death and treated my big tank with Clout. The fish there seem fine {except for some very pale cories.}

I have treated with quite a few medications, one at a time, for the full doses. Quick cure first. Then a bacterial med. Then Kordon's ICk Attack{also cures fungals} Then Clout. Clout is the strongest parasite med I could get. This is all with the temp at 85 degrees and I started doing a salt dip everyday last week.

My lFS said they don't know what it is. They also said they they just think my tank was too new. Well...That's ridiculous since they aren't in the new tank anymore.

In order:

Pale
Flicking/flashing
white-stringy poop
Hiding more in caves
Darkening in color {not in a good way}
(added gasping at the surface}
Stop eating
Spine curves
Breathing slows
{Dead or euthanized.} By this point they look like they are suffering badly.

The last 2 of the 6 are at different stages. One is hiding in the caves and darkening. The other is pale. I haven't noticed any flashing since I no longer sit there for 30 minutes staring in trying to figure it out when there is nothing left for me to do.

 

[snazy]

I posted on your other thread too. Check if it could be hexamita. It causes most ot the symptoms you just mentioned: darker fish, lack of appetite, stringy poo, lack of appetite, fish losing weight, fish becoming listless, gasping at the surface or hiding, etc..
Try the JBL Spirohexol if you think it could be hexamita and the fish are no longer eating.
It's a one off treatment so it's easy and no hassle and not affecting the filter in my experience.
Hexamita kills slowly so the fish die in stages, not altoghether.

 

[FishFanatic04]

I really appreciate your response. I have been so lost and even though I was researching constantly, I missed hexamita because it is too closely related to hole in the head {i answered in my other thread too}

I really think this is what it is. I don't think I will be able to get that treatment. I am in the US and it didn't even come up on a search. Only one on ebay, but coming from the UK and I'm sure the remaining 2 apistos won't last that long.

 

[snazy]

There probably is a tablet equivalent of them in the US.
Metronidazole or fendbendazole soaked in food as well is recommended if the fish are still eating.
If not eating, there must be other equivalent medications to the tablets I suggested that treat hexamita

 

[FishFanatic04]

Any opinions on this. Would like to place an order today, I already know I won't find anything good locally.

metronidazole

 

[Tolak]

Metronidazole, sold as Metroplex by Seachem. 40mg/gallon, in a hospital tank, daily 50% water changes & remed. Metro, originally designed for use by humans, works best at warmer temperatures, with apistos you could bring it close to 90F. After a few days sprinkle a bit on some frozen brine shrimp, feed this once daily. Continue for 10-14 days. Make sure to increase aeration at these temperatures, as warmer water holds less O2

I also like to add epsom salt to the water with this treatment, as this helps get the digestice system going. Hexamita is often considered a normal part of the digestive floura in many fish, most often cichlids, much the same way humans have certain bacteria as a normal part of the digestive system. When some stressor is involved, such as being moved to a new tank, aggression which is common with cichlids, and so on the natural immune response drops, allowing these internal protizoans to go unchecked by the fish's immune response. This is very similar to a human who might overextend themselves, skimping on sleep & a healthy diet, only to be rewarded by catching whatever minor cold or flu that may be making the rounds.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Would it be worth half-dosing my 75g just in case since two of the apistogrammas died there. There are the 4 kuhlis and 4 cories there, and the cories are not exactly as active as I would like.

 

[snazy]

It should be fine. Metronidazole also doesn't affect the filter so it's worth a try. I've used the seachem metronidazole powder, but this one is the same thing

 

[Tolak]

http/www.nationalfishpharm.com/products3.html Metro is at the top. Their hotline is an awesome thing, if you talk to Brian plan on spending some money on an extended long distance call, I always do.

 

[snazy]

I'd say with metronidazole you want the full doze and maybe a bit more rather than half doses. It shouldn't be a problem with corys and khulis but I can't guarantee a 100% for you

 

[FishFanatic04]

Thanks so much. I bought these fish on March 3rd as stated above and they started dying on the 6th. It's been the longest month.

I am buying it now. I may dose all of the possibly affected fish then, I would rather make sure they are healthy then play around with sick fish for months. I am just so glad to have an answer.

 

[Tolak]

If the fish are eating you don't have to dose the water, just the food for a few days. This is commonly done in my fishroom for fish that seem to be a bit slow to eat after settling in.

 

[snazy]

No problem. Hope you sort it out as soon as possible. They should at least stop dying if the treatment works but it will take a good while for them to recover from the visible signs. Watch the stringy poop. That's what you want to stop to be sure they are getting better.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Last question then....for now

IS the 100 grams a good size? A little overkill is fine, I may as well have a full pharmacy since I have hardly put any fish in my tanks, and plan to add some when this is over. I have learned the hard way that buying new fish comes with all kinds of extra fun.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Overkill. I read it.