Ammonia/NitrITe 0
NitrAtes 40
pH 7.5
20 gallon with Aquaone cannister 750L
Water changes haven't been too frequent the past months due to illness
Was 4 x 2" butterfly tail telescopes - now only 2
Prime, Seachem Gold Buffer, Cycle, Myxacin antibacterial by Waterlife
Fish eat Nutrafin Max flakes and pellets
symptoms include pop-eye (in one fish), lethagy, loss of appetite, bottom sitting, reddening of the skin and tail shredding.

So I lost 2 of these telescopes of the past month. I tried treating them in hospital tank with triple sulfa and after some improvement returned them to the tank. This was before my operation. Now one of the remaining fish is lethagic, loss of appetite and has a shredded tail. I am treating the whole tank with Myxacin antibacterial as it doesn't crash the cycle.

I really think I need to strip this tank down, discard the gravel and filter material and start over. It hasn't helped, I'm sure, that water changes have been infrequent but there is nothing I can really do for another two weeks until I recover.

I guess there is nothing further to suggest but if anyone has any ideas, feel free to post.

Annette I am sorry to hear you are having losses at your house.

I am not familar with your meds and such down there. So I am afraid I may not be of much help. Your water looks good now, maybe the nitrates a little high. But other than that.

Do you have medicated food down there? If so I would do a heavy round of that. See if you can't kick it from the inside out.

I hope some others have more suggestions for you.

Thanks Laurie, no medicated food I'm afraid.

The sick one has taken a turn for the worse and developed dropsy symptoms. John has set up a small hospital tank and I will treat it with triple sulfa and just hope for the best.

I'm really concerned for the remaining healthy fish, I so want to trash and strip this tank down. Do you think I should risk moving the healthy fish to another healthy tank or is it likely that the fish will carry germs and contaminate another tank?

I got these four all together from the same batch and they were such a nice bunch, I've kept for a year up to now without any problems.

I would think that if it is indeed a bacteria they will take it with them to another tank.
Sorry I can't be of more help. I think I would treat the whole tank not just the one who is sick. I mean if you really think it is a bacterial infection causing it................tough call though.

I am treating the whole tank with Myxacin but not with triple sulfa as it will cause the cycle to crash. The healthy fish is still doing ok.

The dropsied fella in the ht is swimming about and has eaten a couple of pellets, maybe he will get over this. I'm thinking of doing a bucket-to-bucket acccomodation for him if he survives, I don't want to put him back in the tank.

Well hang in there. I am sure you are doing all you can do. It is such a shame you don't have medicated food for them. Keep us posted, good luck I hope he makes it.

Annette, have you tried mixing up a medicated gel food? I remember when Maddie had septicemia and wasn't doing all that well with either TC or triple sulpha until I made up some food with the meds in it.

Maybe this might help?

I hope he pulls through this