Hi Laurie,

Today is my last day on Maracyn 2, fish are holding up fine. Goldie still has some red spots on her which the M2 didn't seem to take care of. Still would like to post to this thread when I get some photos later today of Goldie. If you need to move this thread though, it's ok by me. Thanks for asking.

Hi,

Dave, Jenn, or Anyone who might know

I finished my round of M2 today. Goldie has had these spots since I started the M2 treatment. I thought perhaps the M2 would take care of this, but she still has them. What is this? should I worry about it? Please see photos below. Thanks for your reply!
This is her worse side. She has more on her body, but this area is most prominent.

Better view.

This is without the arrows so you can see it better.

I will hazard a guess, but bear in mind it is ONLY a guess- these look like the red areas my two got from ammonia exposure. If that is the case, they will fade some, in time, Nemo's are already much less noticeable. Again, a guess, I may well be wrong here.

The red spots I would be concerned about are any that appear as if they are under her scales, rather than superficially as it seems in these pictures.

She's a pretty fish. :-)

Dave

Hi Dave,

Thanks once again for being here. And thanks for your reply.

Goldie is 7 inches, I've had her for 3.5 years. She is kinda cute, huh? Thanks for asking.

I was looking at photos of her from 2 weeks ago and she had the spots back then too. They don't seem to be underneath the scales, but on the surface. I'll keep an eye on her spots.

Actually, yesterday was my last day of Maracyn 2. I have not done a water change, or put carbon in as of yet. I tested my water just now, here are the results:

Ph 8.0
Nitrates: 10 or 20 (hard to tell) Not quite as dark as 20, more like 10 I think.
Nitrites: 0
Ammonia: 0.1 (hagen) .25 (QDS)

I've noticed through the treatment of M2, when my Nitrites are at 0.1 my Ammonia is at 0. When my Nitrites are at 0, my ammonia is at 0.1. Does that mean I'm having a bump in my cycle? Do you think my cycle is ok, or is that yet to be determined?

Dave, since you think the red spot is ok and will fade in time, would you recommend doing another treatment of Maracyn. Not the 2 but just regular Maracyn?

Yikes, too many questions??

Hi Cisco,

You're likely having a little bump in your cycle - Maracyn 2 is a great drug but is notorious for that. Just keep up with your monitoring and water changes, and Prime as necessary and you'll be fine. It will not have completely killed your cycle, in most cases, just slowed it down.

I'm not confident enough of my diagnosis to tell you with any certainty whether to proceed with the course of Maracyn, so I think we need to let some others chime in. Go ahead with the carbon, they could use a break from the meds in any case, and keep up your water changes and monitoring. As you know, perfect water quality goes a long way in helpling sick fish. Has there been any recurrance of the "shakes and shimmys? Poop looking normal?

Do you have them on any medicated food? Sorry but I can't remember.

Glad they all seem to be doing OK :-)

Dave

Thanks for keeping us updated. I think it is best to leave it in the 911 a few more days, and then we can move it. I just like to keep the 911 threads active that way if there isn't any movement we know we can transfer them. Keep posting away.
Dave is doing some great helping with your fish, I hope it makes it.

Hi Laurie,

Thanks for your post and letting me know about me posting here. Yes, I agree Dave is doing a wonderful job!!

Dave, (Thanks once again)

Well, no one has chimed in yet about the next treatment if I need one, but hopefully someone will come along with their expertise. Yes to your question that my fish are on Medi-gold. I put them on it on Friday.

More questions though! You are going to get tired of me, but I truly thank you for your patience.

I did a 40% water change on Monday because the Nitrites were at .01 %. So, shall I do a 50 % water change to get most of the meds out tonight? Then put the carbon in?

Shall I keep the salt level at 3% or start lowering it?

Shall I keep the temp. up or start lowering it?



P.S. Dave, I read all of your post on Dory and Nemo. You are so dedicated! Kudos!! I wish you continued success.

I'm sorry your fish died.

He was very cool looking.

I hope the rest stay healthy.

I would leave temp and salt as they are for a few days, do the water change and put in the carbon. No reocurance of the darting and flashing, I take it?

I am going to be a little sparse around here these next few days. Both of our dogs became seriously ill last night and one died at about 2 this morning - boom out of the blue. The other is at the vet now for toxicology screens. poor Gabby.

Hopefully someone else can pick up this thread and help you from here, for the next while.

Dave

Dave! My heart goes out to you. I am so sorry to hear about your dog Gabby. I hope your other dog makes it. It sounds like poisoning? I'm so, so sorry. Thanks for all of your help here and all the best to you. Gabby

Thanks,

We don't know yet, tho some sort of poisoning is certainly likely. They will do a necropsy on Gabby, and hopefully that will shed some light on something that right now makes no sense. We're all pretty torn up at the moment, as you might imagine.

Boo, thank goodness, is stable at the moment, and apparently out of imminent danger, tho he's got some other physical issues that are going to have to be attended to once this crisis is over.

Dave

Awwwwhhhhhhhh Dave, I feel really bad for you. Here you try so hard to save your fish, and you lose your Gabby. It's hard to lose our pets, I know how you feel. When I lost Cheeks, I know he was "just a fish", but I cryed all day Friday. I have two dogs too. I can't imagine losing either of them. Hang in there Dave, I wish all the best for you and Boo. Please keep me posted on how you are doing.

Laurie P,

thanks for keeping the thread up, but I think everything is ok for now. No need to be in 911 anymore.

Cisco,

I am glad your guys are doing well; I take it you decided to do no further treatment at this time. I think that is good, it sort of leaves the Maracyn "in reserve" if you do really ened it down the road. Please continue to watch your tank and its cycle daily until you detect no daily changes, then every other day, etc. Your cycle will soon be back to normal, I am sure.

Thank you for the kind words on my dog, Gabby. I already miss her something fierce. Her older brother, Boo, was seen by a specialist this afternoon, and I think we have a fighting chance for his survival. But through all this, I spent 4 rough hours from when Gabby passed until the vet opened, holding Boo and watching Dory. And she's swimming beautifully at night!

Just got to get her used to light again, I hope.

Dave

Hey Dave,

Thanks for updating me!! I'm glad Boo is going to make it and glad Dory is doing well. Poor Gabby tho. Was it poisoning? Did you find out anything?

Yes, Dave, I decided to not treat my tank further. My fish seem fine for now. I did a 40% waterchange last night and put a new carbon filter in it. I didn't re-salt, because I didn't write down if I put salt in the last waterchange or not. Ugh! I think I will need to breakdown and buy a pinpoint salinity monitor. So, I really don't know how much to put back in now. Will I be ok?

I'll be away this weekend, so hope my tank will be ok. I'll see how they look when I get back and if I see something's wrong I will probably do the regular Maracyn, or I might to General Cure. OrandaBeauty used it on her fish and cleared everything right up. General Cure is for parasites, not bacterial. I know you are busy with your "family", but if you want to put in your two cents, it is certainly welcome.

Take care,

Cisco

Thanks! Salinity monitors are good things, I think you'll be fine with even the standard el cheapo swing arm hygrometer for marine tanks - they are under $10.

And I do agree that a parasite treatment might be next in line if there is any other problem surfacing when you return. My Nemo is going on Jungle Labs parasite food himself, today.

Nothing was obvious from the autopsy, but they put a rush on the toxicology scans for Gabby, so we'll know whatever there is to know in a few days. Boo is apparently holding his own, and gettting good treatment, so I am optimistic for him, he's not yet out of the woods, tho.

Dave

I'm sorry to hear you don't know anything yet about Gabby and that Boo still isn't out of the woods. I'm sure it's not easy having patience during the wait. Hang in there!!

Is there a particular type of hydrometer I could get? Are they hard to use? Which one would you recommend? $10 sounds better than $114.00. Thanks Dave.

Cisco

I've used this one before, although I now use a refractometer. If my math is correct, .1% salt equates to 1 part per thousand, .2% to 2 parts per thousand, etc.

Hydrometer

This is what I use:

Refractometer

They are both very quick and easy to use.

Dave

Thanks again!! It's good to know I don't have to spend so much money. I like the one you have, I'm going to look more into it. If I need more help on using these, I know who to ask!! You are a great help Dave. Good luck with the "gang". Hope all is well............

Cisco

That refractometer is very well made and should last a lifetime. Takes about 6-10 drops of water to do the test, then you just rinse it off for the next time. That particular model comes with calibration fluid which you use once at the start and then once a year or so - mine has never drifted out of calibration. I think you'll like it.

Boo is doing much better, and may get to come home as early as tomorrow. We'll see. Dory is doing well today also.

Dave

Thanks Dave,

I do think I will get the monitor you have. So glad that Boo and Dory are doing ok. You are doing a fine job!! My Goldie and Calico are doing well too. I have not replaced the salt and no further meds. as of yet. They are looking great, with the exception of Goldie's red "surface" spots on her still. She's acting great, she is such a piggy!! So is Calico!!

I'll keep watching them closely for a while!!

Keep up the good job Dave!!

Cisco

Oooh - I wasn't able to be on for a few days I'm glad your fish are doing better!

Parkerdt - that is horrible. I knwo how we just were when we went though a major sickness with one of my cats. I feel so badly for you. I've always felt that it's losing one of the family. My heart goes out to you! I hope your other dog is pulling through!!

Jenn

remember to put some aquarium salt in the tank when fish are sick.
the extra electrolytes help survival chances greatly!

R.I.P. Cheeks

How is the gang doing today, Cisco?

Dave

Hi Dave,

Thanks for checking in. I just got home from over the weekend. I haven't had a chance to do any water tests, but the gang looks good. Thanks for the info on the refractometer. I'll get that one for sure!!

Alldone----as for the salt, thanks for your input. I'm not sure yet if anything is still wrong with my tank since I treated with Maracyn 2. Just watching to see. In the meantime, I'm not putting any salt back in, cuz I'm not sure what exatctly I have in there until I get my refractometer. And if there isn't anything wrong anymore, shouldn't the salt content be taken out completely?

Dave hope all is well with Boo, Dory and Nemo. Keeping my fingers crossed for Boo, sounds like Dory is on her way to full recovery? I hope so.

Cisco

Thanks Cisco!

They all look well this morning. I am optimistic about both Dory and Boo, Nemo is fine, gonna give him a round of parasite food tho to make sure he stays that way!

Dave