Red Dot (spot)

[mikev]

If they have red spots i would get them onto a internal bacteria med, good luck.

Thanks! (After some googling and checking what you wrote, this is is probably it).

Q1: Maracin? Or should I try to find tetracycline/erythromicin?

(I cannot use salt too much: loaches).

Q2: I was planning to move all the fish from this tank to a new bigger one anyway. Should I do this now (except for the one showing symthomes), or assume that the rest may spread infectio/need meds too and treat them all?

 

[grumpymole]

i would try to treat them all first just in case, then move them
maracin is okay but tetracycline is better.

 

[WILDER]

I would only advise tetracycline if you can issolate the fish to a hospital tank, as it a strong antibiotic and will wipe the bacteria colony out in the tank.

 

[mikev]

Thanks for your replies!

but tetracycline is better.

I wish I listened to you instantly. The problem did not appear urgent, so I tried milder stuff first, and suddently yesterday the fish went into a total collapse (refuses to swim). I treated the tank with the normal dosage of Tetracycline and also gave the fish a two hour bath of twice the normal dosage (poor guy was so weak that I used my hand to move him...)

What this obviously achieved was to eliminate all the red streaks on the fins --- so it was a bacteria, and I probably wiped out the bacteria. I'm not optimistic about the fish: he is still alive (24 hour later), but does not seem to improve.

I would only advise tetracycline if you can issolate the fish to a hospital tank, as it a strong antibiotic and will wipe the bacteria colony out in the tank.

Interesting. The marking on the package say it would not "harm the biofilter". The guy in lfs (who is quite experienced) says, like you, "don't use it". As it happens, this tank will need to be emptied and moved soon anyway (and I want to change the filter), so wiping out the colony is not such a big issue, but I'm monitoring and so far ammonia is holding at 0.

(Not every antibiotic kills every bacteria, so **maybe** TC is actually safe).

 

[WILDER]

Good luck as antibiotics do take a while to kick in.

 

[mikev]

Good luck as antibiotics do take a while to kick in.

Thank you!

I think *TC* actually did its job (all red streaks were gone in six hours--impressive). It is the residual damage now. Any great ideas on how to deal with still a very letargic fish? (or simply leave it alone for a while).