Parasite Sick Puffer

[Fella]

So, after a quick look at my little guy under a strong light, I've seen some parasites on him. Coupled with his flicking and flashing, and cloudy eyes, I'd like to treat it ASAP (no pun intended).

The tank is 20 gallons.
He is an SAP (Colomesus asellus).
He has cloudy eyes (being treated with melafix currently, today was the first day of dosing) and is flicking and flashing occasionally. His cloudy eyes means he is unable to eat, and he currently cannot eat snails. He can however see foods that drop behind him, as only the front of the eye is clouded.
In the tank I recently noticed some tiny little skipping bugs like minute beetles with antennae, and some white worms that move like (but are much smaller than) bloodworms. They are both very difficult to see with the naked eye.

I feed frozen bloodworm, and he is currently also accepting high protein fish pellets.

I live in the UK, so, I'm looking to get the most appropriate medication for him. As he if a puffer, anything copper based is obviously out, so what is recommended?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[black angel]

If they look like tiny greyish things that wave about in the water then they could be Gyrodactylus a type of fluke.
My male Betta had them on his side and the top of him, he was flicking as well and ive successfully treated him with Sterazin which is malachite green. I dont think theres copper in it but as theres no list of ingrediants its hard to tell.
As for the cloudy eye that might be due to the flukes as well as my betta still has that too.
Hope that helped

 

[Fella]

Hey Black angel, thanks for replying. It's great to get a reply so soon, even if they're just words of encouragement.


I don't think they look like that but it's possible. How is your Bettas eye doing? Is it clearing up at all?

A quick google search turns up this as well -

"Composition: Malachite green does NOT contain copper. It is chemically
well characterised - it belongs to the triphenylmethane family, as
below:"


Sounds promising so far. I really want to kill these crappy little bugs at the bottom of the tank as well. THey're both hideous, and I'm sure detrimental to my puffer's health.

 

[black angel]

the skippy thing might just be tiny crustaceans that live quite happily with your fish and cause no problems. there was a thread about them but will find it tomorrow as its late and im bushed.
The worms could be planaria maybe? again not harmfull.

Go with the sterazin as that will kill the bugs as well, but isnt the puffer scaleless like the loaches? Never seen one in real life so cant really tell but use it at half dose and it should work ok.
Another way is salt but i dont know how sensitive the puffer is to that.
good luck with it and keep us posted.


My bettas eyes are still cloudy but he is better in himself at least but i think hes gay, hes shown absolutely no interest in the females at all.

 

[Fella]

bump. His pectoral fins are a little red now...

 

[WILDER]

You might have a bacteria infection on top, not the writer of this information below.
Beetles



Symptoms:

Fish die without any obvious signs apart from small puncture wounds.



Cause:

Freshwater beetles. The adults and larvae of some freshwater beetles can kill fish as large as themselves by sucking the juices from the victim’s body.



Treatment:

There is no direct remedy other than emptying and disinfecting your aquarium in order to eradicate any beetles.

 

[Fella]

Thanks Wilder, I was hoping you'd see my cry for help

The beetles are tiny though, thankfully there are no punctur marks, they're minute.


I'll continue dosing melafix and add half dosed sterazin once I can get hold of some.


*sigh*

 

[WILDER]

The fin does it have red streak or blood like streak running through it, this is the problem with parasites they can cause bacteria infections.

 

[Fella]

The fin does it have red streak or blood like streak running through it, this is the problem with parasites they can cause bacteria infections.

Yeah, thats exactly how I'd describe it. Streaky near the top of the pectoral fins.

Poor guy. Apart from occasional flashing though, his behaviour hasn't changed. Because he can't see food I'm having to spend quite a long time feeding him (food has to go behind him so that he can see it with his cloudy eyes), but other than that, he's quite chirpy, which I think should be quite promising in the long term.

Thanks for the advice though Wilder, I'll keep you updated.

 

[WILDER]

I'm abit worried as it sound like he has come down with septicemia.

No the writer of this information below.
Septicemia



Symptoms:

Fish may have reddening at fin bases, blood streaks throughout the fins and body, small hemorrhages around the eyes. Dull listless behavior and lack of appetite may also be present.



Cause:

Systemic bacterial infection caused by various bacteria, including Aeromonas, Pseudomonas and Vibrio. The illness is often brought on by poor water quality or as a result of parasitic infestations or other infections. These bacteria enter the blood stream and circulate through the tissues causing inflammation and damage. Inflamed blood vessels in the skin and at fin bases stand out. Blood vessel and heart tissue damage cause hemorrhaging and consequently leakage of body fluids into the abdomen, which may lead to Dropsy.



Treatment:

Water conditions must be improved for all fish in the tank, regardless of how many fish are infected. Check your water’s Treat with Kanacyn or Tetracycline as well as with a medicated food if the fish will eat. If parasites are suspected, all the fish in the tank should be treated with antiparasitic medication. Using salt to help restore osmotic balance might be helpful.

 

[Fella]

I'm abit worried as it sound like he has come down with septicemia.

No the writer of this information below.
Septicemia



Symptoms:

Fish may have reddening at fin bases, blood streaks throughout the fins and body, small hemorrhages around the eyes. Dull listless behavior and lack of appetite may also be present.



Cause:

Systemic bacterial infection caused by various bacteria, including Aeromonas, Pseudomonas and Vibrio. The illness is often brought on by poor water quality or as a result of parasitic infestations or other infections. These bacteria enter the blood stream and circulate through the tissues causing inflammation and damage. Inflamed blood vessels in the skin and at fin bases stand out. Blood vessel and heart tissue damage cause hemorrhaging and consequently leakage of body fluids into the abdomen, which may lead to Dropsy.



Treatment:

Water conditions must be improved for all fish in the tank, regardless of how many fish are infected. Check your water’s Treat with Kanacyn or Tetracycline as well as with a medicated food if the fish will eat. If parasites are suspected, all the fish in the tank should be treated with antiparasitic medication. Using salt to help restore osmotic balance might be helpful.

Ok, thats not terrible news (obviously things aren't looking too great for him), but the treatment of melafix alongside the sterazin anti parasitic is all I can do right, other than increase the water changes? Since he's been ill I've upped to %30 every other day.

Any other ideas?

 

[WILDER]

Don't wan't to add anymore meds as you already have two in, just hope the melafix helps, fingers crossed and good luck.

 

[Fella]

Don't wan't to add anymore meds as you already have two in, just hope the melafix helps, fingers crossed and good luck.

Yeah, the Sterazin isn't in yet, Thursday is the earliest day I can get any so it'll probably be added friday. Fingers crossed!

Thanks for your help Wilder.