Hi gang I am sure it is surprising to see me posting about a sick fish huh? But sometimes we too need to bounce things off one another. This is my problem now.
Some of you may know what is going on but here is a nut shell.......

First the answers to the questions.

46 gal tank, est 2 years ago. (recently moved but brought 1/2 tank of water with it).
3 fish (and a pleco in the tank). All orandas ranging from 7-9 inches.
Filter is a 400 emperor with biowheels.
50% water change weekly (last night as recently).
Cycle water conditioner.
NO new fish.
Primarily fed Progold with occasional veggies.
Ammonia and nitrites both 0 (tap 0)
Nitrate at 20 (tap 0)
Ph is 8.0 (out of tap is 7.6-7.8)

CB is very sick. He is close to dying on me. His history (readers digest version).........
He has been battling a bacterial infection for over a year. I would clear it up with Maracyn's and Medigold only to have it return a month or so later. Then 6 mos ago he got it again, I treated him a full month on Metromed and it subsided for 6 mos. and I thought it had gone. It showed up a couple days before the move along with signs of dropsy. I did all I could.........epsom salts and metromed and within a couple days he got better. So much better that when I moved he joined the fish in the main tank. (he had previously had his own tank).
CB has always had SBD problems and did better without friends in his tank to compete with for food. But like I said after the move he was great. I haven't seen a SBD sign since.

Here is what is currently happening. 3 days ago I noticed he was slightly clamping his fins, acting sluggish and his fins were starting to fray. (his fins are extrodinarily long and beautiful so it is very apparant when they aren't up to par).
I had made a mental note right before the move that the other 2 (in the main tank) were showing more than occasional signs of parasites. (yawning and scratching). And planned on treating them when we got settled in.
Yesterday CB was slightly swollen and starting to pinecone. Not thinking I put in 0.1% salt instead of epsom. Last night was a water change so I should be running at 0.05% concentration.
Today he is maintaining his own, but his tail fin is almost gone from fraying and splitting, he is also very pineconed and is disoriented and lethargic.

I have added since last night a full round of Parasite Clear and plan to do another tomorrow after a 25% water change. And everyone was started on Metromeds (will continue this for a full month).
Is there anything else I am missing?
How about adding the epsoms? Is is safe to add them now with only 0.05% reg salt? Or is that still too much?

I doubt he will survive if infact this goes into full dropsy. I am sure that he was compromised with a parasite the others are able to hold off. But will it be in time? (just thinking aloud).

Does anyone know when a parasite is reacting to the meds, can that make a fish pinecone?

Oh no Laurie - poor CB

Internal parasites can definitely cause dropsy just by the very nature of the damage they can do inside. I'm glad you're feeding Metromeds because I've learnt so much about metronidazole recently and it's a good treatment for both bacteria and some internal parasites.

Is he still eating at all?

Before adding the epsom, i'd try and get as much salt out of the tank as possible - and another 70% waterchange should dilute it enough that you can then add the epsom....

I'm so sorry you have to go through this - but hopefully CB will pull through this

The most obvious symptom to me is the fin fraying he's suddenly showing. What would be the cause of it? Is it like finrot or like physical damage? I'm automatically assuming (because it's you!) that it wouldn't be finrot and hence not a water quality or bacterial bloom issue, so could he be being harrassed by the other fish at night and the stress of not being able to rest has weakened his immunity?

Logic tells me that whatever caused his fin fraying is the original cause, if not the ongoing problem..

Edit: I just re-read and saw this bit - "..(and a pleco in the tank)". A possibility to consider with his long fins and all.

Laurie just wishing CB all the best, you are doing all the right things and there isn't anymore I can suggest. With all that radical fin fraying it sounds to me like the root cause of the problem is bacterial.

Thanks for the support guys.

The pleco is a rubberlip and is docile now that is fed on a regular basis. LOL (wasn't feeding him properly earlier this year).
I can't say it is "harassing behavior" for the tail. Smudge has nosed him around alittle since he has gotten so ill but all is well otherwise with that.
Water is hasn't been an issue as you can see, the above is pretty much a given except towards the end of the week the nitrates climb to 40.

I wonder if it isn't the parasite causing it or the bacterial infection as you both have said.
But in all other bacterial outbreaks he has had there were no fin involvment, so why now? Any thoughts?

He is holding his own today. SBD is in full effect but I am craming him with Metromeds. Appetite is great, although he has a hard time eating well right now............I am attributing it to the parasite.

I am holding off on the epsoms for now, while he is still pineconed and swollen it isn't worse. No better but no worse, so we'll see there.

UGH, I am at a loss. Other than seperating him (which I so don't want to do at this point) not really sure it will help anyway, and hitting him with Maracyn again........but then again just didn't see a response in it with the original infection so again?????????????? why do it.

~sigh~ I guess at this point it is just a wait and continue to see what develops.

Im so sorry that CB is ill Laurie! Im hoping that he pulls though.

The fins is a tough one especially as i've had fish share similar problems with both parasites and bacteria. The difference between the 2 was easy to distinguish though - the bacterial fin rot started off with a grey coating around the edge of the fins and 24 hours later, they basically disintegrated before my eyes while fin rot from parasites was more containable. The fins just wore away around the edges as opposed to the entire fin shredding

Is there any possibility that parasites could've been introduced? I suspect though it may be a recurrence of the same illness but is showing different affects. This happened to my celestial who was ill off and on for over a year - each time there was some variation on the symptoms but in essence it was bacterial. I always suspected she had a compromised immunity which is why the illness kept returning, either that or some internal organ damage...

I'm hoping metromeds will do some good otherwise i'd go with the maracyns - worth a try no?

Thanks Jen.
I suspect that parasites have always been in that tank. Haven't introduced anyone in over a 1 1/2. Jester has always "scratched" to a certain degree, but no other problems. So I chalked it up to "him". But when Smudge started yawning more I thought maybe there is and they have been able to hold them at bay.
CB would never be able to though, he is too fragile.

He is maintaining again today. So hopefully we'll get him thru another battle. I just don't know how many more the poor guy can indure.

Have you tried something a bit more "powerful" than the Parasite Clear? I have had a lot of luck clearing really nasty parasites with repeated treatments of Prazi Pond. Parasite Clear has Prazi in it, but really a very small concentration. Some things are combatted much more efficiently with the Prazi Pond Powder. In fact, I swear that many parasites may be kept at bay with other treatments, but never truly erradicated. The PRazi has the ability to totally get rid of some things.... at least a lot better than Parasite Clear or Prazi Pro - both which contain far less of the active drug.

I, too, am fighting a bacterial infection that willjust not go. I have been rotating Medigold and Metromeds, along with Maracyn I and II, and Furan. I conquer it, and then it pops back up again. My one celestial is very floaty today - and I have just started a Furan rotation....

So frustrating when you cannot seem to clear a fish of a problem, huh.....

Laurie, I can't help at all really. I just wanted to let you know that I hope CB pulls through, You really know what your doing and have some wonderful advice from other's..I am just hoping for you that he get's better!!

Well I thought I would let you all know he didn't make it. I have a thread set up in the obits for him. Poor baby, he was a fighter.

I just saw the other thread Laurie-I'm sorry. I've been working all week and only on for a bit and didn't realize about CB.

Oh, yes, you can say that again!

Laurie, sorry to hear about CB. It sounds like you've given it your best shot for quite some time. He was lucky to have you, hun.

Thanks guys.

You couldn't have done anymore than you did for CB.He had a wonderful life having you as such a caring owner.My heart goes out to you

Sorry about CB Laurie. I know how hard you tried to save him. You tried your best.