Milo's Unwell :(

[hodgeheg]

He looks half dead (in fact I have to look very closely to check if his gills are still moving)

He developed white spot last week after a water change, and I think this is possibly what caused him stress

I put the first dose of treatment (interpet no 6) in on Friday night and the second today (as per the instructions). After the first treatment he perked up a little and all trace of white spot disappeared but it's come back again and he's really not himself

I've just tested the water using the API master test kit and I got these results:
Ammonia - 0
NitrITE - 0
NitrATE - 20 (which is what it comes out of the tap at)

And temp is 80F

The other tank inhabitants are 1 cherry shrimp, Cabomba and Amazon Sword.

What on earth could be wrong with him? Is it just the white spot that's making him so lack lustre? Apart from the spots I can see no other physical forms of illness.

 

[kizno1]

you could try a bit of aquarium salt. put the temp ut to 86 slowly just a little bit up a day. and lower the water level to 4" so he dosnt have to swim as far to get air. good luck

 

[hodgeheg]

Ah, thank you! I'd forgotten about aquarium salt! I have some so I'll add that and lower the water level thank you

 

[kizno1]

let us know how it gose

 

[hodgeheg]

Well reducing the water level certainly livened him up! But I think it was more in fear

He isn't hanging at the top now, so I presume he was just doing it before cos the water level was too high to swim back and forth from the bottom.

 

[kizno1]

yh it just means he aint wasting as much energy keep going up for air. good luck.

 

[jasminekiddell]

Right, you need to black out the tank ok? Cover it with something dark, it will take stress to a minumum making the parasites (white spots) die off because they can't live without the light. My boy had it and after a day of no light his spots dissapeared lol, well along with treatment and a bit of salt! Goodluck!

 

[loraxchick]

did you continue medicating AFTER the spots disappeared? it is essential to do so as the parasite only fell off the fish and is still around only to reinfect him if the full course of meds was not followed. sometimes whitespot takes 2 rounds to fully treat.
some other good advice was give too...add aquarium salt, and raise the temp to 86 if you are able while re medicating. keep dosing the tank for a week AFTER the spots disappear from the fish. blackout is good idea too as mentioned above the parasite can not live without light.
is he still eating? does he flick himself on objects in the tank?
good luck!
cheers

 

[hodgeheg]

He's not eating much but he isn't flicking.

Yes I know to keep treating after the spots have disappeared - I understand how the med works

I'll black his tank out and move the plants in there to my community tank.

Thanks everyone, I'll keep you posted

 

[JustFrozen]

you prolly know this too but may be helpful for others with the same prob - make sure you dont have carbon in your filter as it will nullify the meds

edit: oh and good luck i hope he pulls through!

 

[hodgeheg]

Yep I took the carbon out when I first got the filter and replaced it with a fine filter pad cos I don't like the carbon that much.