Ok I tried the syringe and the paste that didn't go over well, it all floated out into the water.
So I gave her a pellet and she ate it right down!!!! So I gave her 2 more. She ate them like a little piggy that she is!!! I'm so happy. The other day when I tried she spat them out. This is a great sign........Whew..................finally a breather.

I tested the tank and here are the levels:
Ammonia-1
NItrites-.25
PH-7.6
Nitrates-20

I put in ammonia clear tank buddies from Jungle Labs. for the ammonia.
Should I do anything else? I could add some gravel from the main tank, but with the nitrates at 20 is this necassary?
Also I have Ammo-chips but it says not to use them with salt, It will release the ammonia back into the tank. Is this true?
How do you deal with a hosptial tank cycling while having a sick fish?

Since the ammonia is at 1ppms I would do a water change of 20% then add the med back into the tank hun. Only todays med part again since you will be taking them out this way it gives her a little bit of a break....might take one more of the meds but shell be happier

Im so glad she ate

Now I can

Oh I forgot, I was reading that link above.
Do you think it is important to see if she has parasites? I have access to a microscope so if you think I need to look, just guide me and I'll see what I can do.

How do they act when they have parasites? Jester has always sorta scratched on the gravel. And I have noticed today he is doing it more than normal.

I really think it was the egg episode, but I was thinking if it is parasites and they both had them the egg eipsode could have weakened her immunity and whamo. Dropsy.
Am I thinking too much????? I so don't want to go thru this again, when and if I can pull her thru.

Sounds good.

Hope you enjoy your dinner. I'm getting ready for bed. Yippeeeeee she ate.......still very happy.

The scope part I havent been threw, I think Ranchugirl has she might be able to help with that part if you want to venture into that part. But I think we should just look at what is now......one small step for goldfish and one Giant step for your baby

Sounds good to me. I am more than happy to go by word for word what you say, you have gotten me thru a very rough road. I don't change the plan half way thru, when you got a good thing rolling you roll on the same way.
Hopefully I can keep this heater from going bonkers tonight. It is suppose to get cold here tonight and so far tonight I had to mess with it 3 or 4 times to keep it on. The hubby said he would get up thru the night to make sure she don't freeze or fry.
I have so learned my lesson about good reliable heaters. They are worth their weight in Gold.

Laurie - keep us posted - I'm so glad she was able to eat something finally!!!

Jenn

*fingers crossed that you heater keeps on pluggig away!*

Thanks Jenn, we are not out of the woods yet, but eating is such a good sign.

Laurie,Sapphire being a piggy was the best news that I heard all day!!! That is definately a positive sign!!!! I really haven't had anything else to the post because Koko is doing a great job,herslf. I mean Dede has been thru it twice with her!!! Still crossing fingers and praying.Hope she has a good nite!

Thanks Sharon, please feel free to post even support. It helps ME more than her, but she is counting on me, so your support in a way helps her.

This morning I got up to a very cloudy tank!!! Couldn't even see her. I'm hoping it is a bacteria bloom. I tested and ammonia-0, nitrites-<.25, and nitrates-10, so we have alittle change from last night.

She only ate 2 bites this morning, but still she ate. Not as ravenous as last night, but hey.
Still having a hard time with the stupid heater, it was 84 this morning, so I tried readjusting it, so we'll see. I hate it bouncing around on her.

She is "swimmin" alitte more this morning, good sign.

Koko, when should I see the swelling go down? I assume it is the last symptom to go, but a time line if you can give one would be great.

Yay for Sapphire being a piggy! This is indeed great news! You're such a good fish mom Laurie! She'll pull through this and so will you!

Keep up the excellent work!

Thanks Lisa, I try very hard.

Thank you for all of your support.

I have a question, at the top of the tank there is all these bubbles. Does the Maracyn cause that? It almost looks like suds, but when the air hits them they pop.
It sorta looks like a "bubble nest" from a betta, only huge. Would the meds do this? Or should I be worried? Yesturday I noticed it a little but today, whoa. There is alot.

Laurie - I haven't had that happen from the Maracyn's but I have had it happen with Melafix. I forget why but it was benign (I checked out all of my tank params & all were OK).

Hopefully your bubbles will be nothing as well - Is she still doin' better???

Jenn

Her condition is the same as this morning.

This bubbles have me baffeled. I don't know why they are there. I smelled them and felt them, just to make sure they weren't soap, even though there is no way it could be. Also checked the PH to see if it was thrown off and nothing.
So the only thing I can figure is it is the Maracyn2. Maybe it with the combo of the epsom salt????????

When I saw dedes go down it was about 2 weeks but you should see a slight sign in about a week the last few days is were is comes in more clear.

Heater is coming its way hun

Thank you Thank you.

Oh gosh 2 whole weeks!!!! Man that is a long time. The poor thing. I still see a slight improvement from yesturday.
The tank is so cloudy that I can barely see her. Only when she comes to this side of the tank do I see her.
I did a 30% water change this afternoon. All looks good.

I work tomorrow so I may not get a chance to update until late, we'll see.

Everyone have a good night!!!!

Jenn

Good Morning every one,
Sapphy seems alittle better this morning!!!! She is alittle more active, even though she is still upside down most of the time. She is making more of an effort to be upright.
She didn't like me force feeding her this morning. I think it is a good sign, she is a stubborn little thing and that attitude is returning.
Also she seems alittle less swollen, even though she is still big, just not as bulging at the seems.
She does however have 2 blisters above her anal fin. This is new, and I'm alittle concerned, what are these things????

The tank water is clearer, although this morning the "bubbles" I have referred to had an orange tint to it??????????? What is this and what caused it?
The bubbles have me worried, but she seems to be better so it couldn't be bad, right??????????

I would also like to thank everyone for their help and support of our fish.

Hey Laurie - is your water really cloudy from the Maracyn??? (My fishies water turned a yellow/orange shade) Is this is color of the bubbles????

I'm so glad she's feeling better!!!

JEnn

I'm not sure why the cloudiness. I was assuming it was a bacteria bloom. The night before the cloudiness started the ammonia was 1 and the nitrites .25 and nitrates 20. Then the next day the water was blurry and no ammonia, no nitrites and the nitrates were at 10.
I assumed the bacteria let loose. I did a 30% water change yesturday and now today it is much better. Still cloudy but better. The orange/rust tint to the bubbles started today. Once again.......

She is slowly on the mend so I'm just going with it. The water doesn't seem to be hindering her.
I'm so thrilled to see her responding to the treatment.......Thank God for Koko, she really knows this stuff.

yep! ive heard a few different people talk about the bubbles forming. im thinking that its nothing to worry about. i too have had it happen and i think it has something to do with the amount and size of the bubbles being created by a filter pouring back into the tank or the aerator.

you are 100% correct about the "bacteria letting loose". thats precisely what a bacterial bloom is. free-floating notrosomas and nitrobacter.

i suppose the blisters could be from the rise in ammonia. now that its been eliminated, they should diminish.

laurie, that is such wonderful news of her progress. however little, progress is still progress. she very lucky that shes in such capable hands with you!

Thanks Toothy. I do feel very proud. I have come a long way in a short amount of time. Thanks to you guys here.

Glad to hear you have had the "bubbles" thing. I was worried, but since she seemed to be ok with it, I didn't panic.
I didn't know that ammoina could cause blisters. Could you explain that alittle more?

OK, this morning there is marked improvement!!!
She is less swollen and is eating like a pig, on her own too!! I am so grateful for eveyone's input and support.
Today I will do the water change and carbon the tank. Boy it has been a long week.
The swelling above her eye is less as well. I'm so relieved.

Laurie

PS the heater got here and will be a great relief as well. Thank you!!!!

OH WOW LAURIE! THATS STUPENDOUS (is that even a word, sp??) NEWS!! Go YOU!!

Wow Laurie, what a relief to hear that!! You are doing an excellent job with Sappy!....

Thanks guys I'm trying my best.

She is better even tonight. I would have to say even a little less swollen than this morning!!!! She is ravenous, which is fantastic. As soon as I put a couple pellets in she is right side up diving on them. I am so pleased.

Yeah!!! Yeah!!!! Yeah!!!!

Jenn

This is so cool......Dede says See Sappy you can do it,

Laurie! Congrats! Glad to hear Sapphy is doing so much better!
You must be so relieved! Whew.

i dont really know too much about the mechanics of ammonia and the burns that they cause on fish but i can tell you that anyting involving a burn of sorts has the propensity to cause blistering. also, bacteria at the site of a burn can also cause blisters by infiltrating the slime coat and skin. this is evident by the blisters that commonly form in and on the tails of fish suffering from finrot.

ill bet your sooper happy right about now!. bringing a sick loved one through tough times can certainly cause a feeling of total satisfaction. when i first came here and started learning (kokos university) my comet was on his deathbed. i couldnt sleep or eat right for a few months. once i figured out what was happening and took steps to aleiviate the problem (water quality and flukes), lurch slowly started to improve. once he was back to his old self, i was grinning from ear to ear everytime i walked into my room and saw him happily swimming to me begging for food! ill tell you, that feed me dance is the epitome of why i enjoy goldfish so darn much..............

Thanks Lisa and Paul.
I don't think the blisters are ammonia burns I could be wrong though. My gut tells me that it has to do with the dropsy. The reason I think this is, where the 2 blisters are those scales are where she "swelled" the most, I really thought she would POP if touched there. They are slightly shrinking and no black. The ammonia was at 1 for just a day and has been 0 since Sun or Mon??? So if it was ammonia burn wouldn't thye have started turning black yet?

She is still my little piggy. She eats about 3 pellets 4 times a day right now. And all by herself.
She is such a cute little thing.
We start the Maracyn tomorrow. Koko do I add the salt back into the tank or leave it just with the Maracyn? Tonight we are going to do another 50% water change so that will remove the rest of the salt in there.

you want to add the salt back to the tank, do the first dose then the second one two days latter.

Are the blisters white kinda like a zit?

Sorta, The are more clear with a hint of cloudy hue to them. They are much smaller than they were when she was so swollen.

Thanks for the salt guide.

Laurie - I'm so glad to hear all is still going well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jenn

A quick update.................ALL of her scales are laying FLAT!!!!! No more pineconig!!!!!!!!11
I am so excited. I just got thru feeding her and watching her and she Looks normal. She is still upside down about 50% of the time but other than that no ill effects.

Koko you are a wonder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much.

I will continue her treatment as planned. Happy dance.

Hey Laurie,that's great news girl!!!!!! Looks like Sapphie is a tough gal,and gonna beat this thing! Thank God!!! What's she doing this morn?

Hi Sharon, she is being a PIG big time. Every time I go anywhere near the tank she is begging for food. By the time this is all done I'm gonna have a heck of a time weaning her back on the 2 meals a day. She gets food about every 2-3 hours. JUst 2-3 pellets at a time.
I'm making sure to not give her too much, don't want her to get constipated.
She is still upside down alot. I'm starting to think she will be that way. I think she likes it. She can and does swim normal and can "sit" noraml but I think it is comfortable for her to be upside down. She has always been a "plump" girl and I think the belly (even though it is normal size) is still big, so flipping over is more comfortable.

She is a goofy fish.

This is so cool Hun......

Now the problem is going to get her but to right side up. Dede has this problem too, what I have done for her is....

1. temp is kept to the 78f
2. Nothing but gel food for her. so in that since all the goldfish get this stuff to.
3. Keep the nitrates down to 20-40ppms. I have to do a water change of 50% every week in her tank.

This has made it for her and since I have done this for her she only gets like this maybe once a week. Then see poops and shes back to normal


But I'm so glad shes back Hun.....Keep up the good work and the plan we got......Whats the temp now on her?

Well I am hoping that she didn't take a turn for the worse......
She is more swollen today. I'm not sure why this is. Her attitude is good and she is eating still like a pig. No pineconing, but she is more swollen.
The cycle in the tank had a little mini thing happen and I have another bacteria bloom, so I am hoping it is just that, that through her for a loop. I am going to test and see what things are today.
Last night the temp was really mild and her tank was reaching 84 degrees so I turned it down alittle and I guess I turned it to far cause it is reading 74 degrees. So I will slowly increase it tonight.

I knew I was bragging to much, but I so seen the imposible happen and was so pleased. Now I have to wait and see what is next.
I will do the 2nd dose of the salt tomorrow and see how that goes.

Hun don't turn down the heater Hun. Let her sit at the 80F mark threw this whole thing. Turning it down to soon can cause the fish to start all over again and she will need to be at a higher temp for most of her live. this is the only way they can live

Oh gosh, the rest of her life!!! I didn't know this. OH man, there goes my tank. I guess it will have to be hers.

The temp is slowly climbing back up. Sorry I didn't think I turned it down that much. I was leaving for work and I know you said anything over 85 was bad and it was 84. I thought since we were warm today the house would get hot as well, I was wrong.

Now since she will have to live in warmer water, will I ever be able to have other fish with her????

man, thats awesome news, laurie! kokos the dropsy queen! i guess dede has taught her well. huh, koko?

i sure hope her new swelling goes back down when her temp comes back up. were pullin for you and saph, laurie!

We might be able to get her to live in temps of 78-76 but I don't think she will be able to go any lower but we will try. Dede cant she will get sick again, I had tried with her three times and every time she got sick on me so her tank sits at the 79F mark and is fine.

Paul I guess you can say that Dede had taught me allot with this, I was very determined to not let another one of my fish die from this. I had lost 3 of them from this problem.....she was the last one that has gotten it that bad and is still around

Well the tank temp is sitting at a hard 79-80 degrees, and she is better. Still swollen slightly but not as big as yesturday.
I guess this means higher temps forever. Oh well, she is here and that is what matters.
As for the higher temps, I am ok, but will I ever be able to put another fish in there with her???

Oh sure hun, Dede has her Friend Domino with her.

but we might be able to get her down later but as of right now shes still fragel and I dont think it would be wise........


What part are we on the treatment, we do we stand hun?

We are on the Maracyn treatment day 3. The last dose goes in on Tues.
So far so good. Her attitude is great. I think she is getting board with nothing or know one in there. When I go in the kitchen she is up wiggling her little body, saying "here I am, here I am". She is so sweet.
The second dose of the salt went in tonight. I was a day off. Yesturday was horrible at work so when I got home, I collapsed.

This is so great to here your doing a great job hun.....I know about the fish getting board Dede got that way too. But they just need to hold on

Has her eyes gone down any?

Laurie that's great to hear that Sapphire is doing so well! Koko is a goddess!!! She started helping me and Louie with his popeye,and Sapphie right after,and everyone seems to be doing really good. I know that louie is probably lonely in the Iso tank,but i'm going to leave him in there until his eye looks normal again. I don't want to take any chances....