My Ornate Bichir Is Dying, Please Help Asap

[jeez2474]

he started getting random blotchy spots on him where his color was fading. I noticed this and kept an eye on him. Over the course of a week i noticed more blotchy faded spots. I had my water tested at the LFS and it was fine. I have been doing melafix treatments for over a week. Today he is immobile, his entire body is faded. Blood is visible under his scales on the lower part of his body. I have been asking the LFS what it could be but they dont know. Out of desperation i have added anti fungal/bacterial/parasite treatments into the water.

PLEASE HELP

i feel so bad for him.

as of right now he is on his back, and just now noticed the redness, blood it looks like under his scales. In the picture you can see the faded color, the only part of his body that isnt faded is the tip of his nose.

 

[WILDER]

Size of tank in gallons or litres.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

What colour are the blotches.
Blood beneath the skin is septicemia, hard to cure once it has advanced.
He dosn't sound good if he's on his back I would prepare for the worst.
Can you issolate for treatment,.

 

[jeez2474]

his tank is 40sh gallons.

Im not sure on the exact readings, fish store said everything was fine, except that i was overfeeding alittle. (i was worried he wasnt eating)

I removed his tank mates earlier today, all he had in there was a parrot fish, pleco, and an angel fish.

I just flipped him onto his stomach, and within the last 2 hours i can see blood under his scales. He wasnt bleeding before i left for work.

The blotches were clear, they just made his skin seem faded.

 

[WILDER]

I would take a sample of your water to the lfs and tell them to write the readings down for you.
Does he try to rub himself on things in the tank.
You will need a bacterial med if the blood is beneath the skin.


Faded patches on fish beneath the skin can be columnaris.

 

[jeez2474]

No, he never tried to rub on stuff before. I have been putting melafix(an antibacterial fish remedy) in his tank for a week.

 

[jeez2474]

here is a more current picture, you can see the redness on his tail

 

[CFC]

Melafix is worthless as a medication, its the fish equivalent of you putting a bit of savlon or germolene on a graze, good for stopping infection of clean wounds but useless if you already have blood poisoning.

The symptoms do sound very much like septicemia in which case you will need a strong full spectrum anti bacterial medication like Interpet number 9, but to be honest in 99% of cases once you can see the symptoms of septicemia its already too late.

 

[WILDER]

Melafix is no good its only treats external wounds.
I would get your water tested as septicemia can be caused by dirty tanks, and bad water quality.

 

[jeez2474]

I must say, i am impressed with how quickly i was helped.

Thanks for the info. No one is open right now so im just gonna go to bed and hope for the best in the morning. First thing is to go get some interpet#9, assuming he is still breathing.

once again, thanks for the help

 

[WILDER]

Get your water tested fast.
Anti internal bacteria med by interpet does treat septicemia but only works on mild cases, so good luck bless him.

 

[jeez2474]

well i was at the pet store as soon as it opened and the best thing they had was Maracyn-Two made by mardel, its for dropsy, septicemia, popeye etc.

i did a 40% water change then added the treatment

Hopefully its not too late

 

[WILDER]

The med fine.
Hows he doing.
Did you get your water tested.