Muggsy Needs Help.

[SlimyReef]

Hey guys, was gonna stop by the shop tomorrow but I thought I'd throw this out there and see
what you can come back with. Have a large FF Cat which has been with me a long time. Can I say
he's my best pal? Maybe, but all my fishy fellows are best pals too. Or at least that's what I
tell them when they're looking down.

Anyways, speaking of looking down, My FF(Muggsy) certainly has been. He seems to move fine, but
is often on his side, as if he were avoiding contact with his belly which seems slightly swollen
and maybe is sensitive. His rectum, for lack of a better word, looks wretched. Red and nasty and
the feces just kinda oozes sometimes redbrown sometimes whitishbrown. he's still eating, and the
best part is he perks up when i'm close by. But it's obvious he's ill.

What do you think the guys at the shop are gonna tell me? What do you think should be done? I have
collected several samples of his excrement for the guys to analyze. It's not pretty, but I think
it's necessary. pray for Muggsy

 

[loraxchick]

internal parasites? do you ever see threadlike red bits hanging from his vent?

 

[SlimyReef]

internal parasites? do you ever see threadlike red bits hanging from his vent?

I cannot believe you said that because in coming here to make an update, that's exactly what I'm starting
to see. The guys at the shop gave me some Inter Anti which I've had success with before. But there are
reddish threads appearing. I wouldn't say red though, not really pink either. Definitely not as dark as maroon,
or sangria or carmine. And not as light as tangerine or persimmon. I'd call it a more orangish tawny hue.
Another change is his waste is no longer oozing out, but more whisping, like a fog. Almost like he's running
out. But Muggsy is still eating and acting fairly normal. Muggsy loves to eat!!

 

[loraxchick]

anti internal parasite meds. something that contains metronidozole and/or praziqentil. hes got worms, basically. treat the entire tank. sometimes can be a pain to get rid of.
all the best.
cheers

 

[SlimyReef]

*update*
Muggsy seems to have perked up and the swelling is down a bit, but his rectum is still in a terrible state.
Also it seems like his eyes are bulging out a bit. But he is swimming more and even does his tricks. There's
this thing I do where I'll twirl my fingertip in the water and then Muggsy will do a circle. I'll do a figure
8 and so will Muggsy. I tap my finger on the surface and he bops up and down. But those bulgy eyes look like
they want to just pop out of his head

 

[loraxchick]

are you medicating him with anything? get some epsom salt for his popeye. will help draw fluid out of the tissues. he might have secondary bacterial infection but give epsom salt a try first. 1 teaspoon/5 gal if treating the tank. 1 teaspoon/gal if using as a dip-can leave the fish for up to 30 mins 2x a day. keep up with waterchanges. make sure hes got the cleanest environment possible.
cheers

 

[SlimyReef]

*a turn for the worse
Alas, Muggsy is floating on a raft composed of possible death. This can't be happening. I've tried
everything, treatment, salts, everything. His once bulgy eyes are ballooning out, his belly has reswollen
to kool-aid man proportions. And his rectum is like a volcano of putridocity. When I am near, he cheers
up and swims swims swims, but if he could talk he'd say: Help me! But when I am away, he just floats,
sometimes to the surface, until he gets close to the filter and gets spun all about and swims off.
My buddy is in trouble. I pray.