Sick tetra

[rdd1952]

In doing my weekly water change I noticed that one of my serpae tetras is extremely swollen, has bulging eyes and a somewhat tattered tail. He is also all but standing on his head. The tank he was in (have removed to a q-tank) is planted so I had not noticed him until today. From looking at the symptom chart in a box or Maracyn, I think it is popeye. The bloated body could be dropsy but there isn't any pine-coning of the scales, red streaks or spots or bleeding. I read a couple articles on popeye on the web and some said to just monitor rather than treating with antibiotics but I think he is pretty bad and may not have time to be monitored. I have started treatment with Maracyn 2. Anything else I should do?

My water parameters were as I would have expected, ammonia and nitrite at 0, nitrate at about 15 with pH at about 6.4. This was after the water change of about 25% but the tank has been running since December so I wouldn't think they would have been any different before the change other than the nitrate would have been a little higher.

Also, I have looked all other residents over pretty closely and all others look to be fine.

 

[cyprinut]

When I'm treating just about anything, before I reach for meds I always add a heaping tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons, predissolved and over a half day period. Don't know if it's bad advise or good with a tetra (and maracyn) though... it's the only thing else I can think to try.

 

[WILDER]

You have alot of bacteria deseases there, popeye is very closely related to dropsy because of the build up of fluid, i would issolate and try a stronger med like tetracycline as the bacteria infections are mounting up and you need to fetch the big guns out.

 

[rdd1952]

Thanks for the replys but he didn't make it through the night. I didn't think he would because he looked so bad. I remember looking at all the fish pretty well on Sunday and didn't see anything wrong. Maybe i just didn't see that one. As I said, all other fish and shrimp in that tank appear to be fine.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry rest in peace little fellow.

 

[Briarmoor]

Sorry about your tetra. I have had the most trouble with dropsy or some other kind of wasting disease with my phantoms. I don't know why. I thought it was because my pH was higher than they liked, but yours seems very good. Let me know if you figure out what happened.