Red Blister To PopEye

Question
Hi Chris,

Thanks for providing me with the update on the Tetracyclene.  I thought that it did not cover the full spectrum of bacteria.

Today both gouramis are still alive.  The smaller one that had the blister is not moving as much and not really eating at least while I watch him.  I am continuing to treat with melafix and tetracyclene.  This smaller one has a dark area near his front fins and gills that is a stripe that extends down to the front of his lower fin.  The other one had the same marking but not as dark.  

I did a 20 percent water change this morning.  They are both floating near the surface. I'll go out to the store today and see about getting medicated fish food.  You might mention how to make it.  Do I soak the flakes in antibiotic and then let them dry?

Thanks,

Michael
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Followup To
Question -
Hi Chris,

Well sometime yesterday, the blister on my gourami burst and now he has popeye and his buddy my other dwarf gourami has it too.  Both were not themselves and I removed them to a 10 gallon "hospital tank.  I have Melafix at the recommended dose and Tetracycline at the recommended dose.

They were still eating a bit today but are not moving much but the tank is much quieter than the main tank.  I'm not sure if I am dealing with the negative strain or the positive strain of bacteria and so I am not sure if my medication is correct.  I know that the Mardel Tetracycline is for the negative strain.  I don't believe that you can treat for both at the same time.

I'm running Melafix for three days in the main tank but see no problems with the large Gouramis or any of the smaller fish at the moment.

Please pass along any hints that you have.

Thanks,

Michael

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Followup To
Question -
Hey Chris,

I'm dropping the amount of water change to 25 percent per week.  One of the problems that I have with Melafix is that I have to shut down my filters so that the carbon does not absorb it.  The below gravel system keeps going to put some oxygen in the water.  I ran the treatment for three days.  He still has his blister but it is changing a bit.

The fish is still swimming around as normal.

I now have a 10 gallon tank set up and running as a "sick ward" and to keep new fish for a week or two before putting them in the main tank.  What do you think of putting the little guy in there and treating him with tetracyclene?  Can I use the Melafix at the same time?  Salt levels and temperature match the main tank.  
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Followup To
Question -
Hi,

I have a one month old 55 gallon freshwater tank that I have been slowly adding fish and live plants to.

I have two larger Gouramis and two dwarf Gouramis along with a school of neon tetras, a small school of red eye tetras,golden white clouds, and a few coy catfish and algae eaters to eat the algae and junk.

One of the dwarf Guramis has a red blister near his mouth.  I'm not sure if he had it when we got him or not.   He eats well and acts ok but I am concerned that he has a problem.  I have alittle aquarium salt in the tank, (2 teaspoons per 10 gallon) and have treated the tank with Melafix twice.   The temp is about 70 degrees.  I've added a siphon so that I can do a water change easily.  Currently 40 percent every other weekend.

Is this some sort of growth or does he have an infection or infestation

Thanks,

Michael
Answer -
Hi Michael;

Redness usually indicates bacterial infection. It may also be from irritation related to toxins from "New Tank Syndrome". Make a water change and keep using the melafix. It really is good stuff. Watch to be sure it gets better as time goes by.

When making water changes it is easier on the fish to make smaller ones more frequently. Replacing 25% every week helps keep the water chemistry from changing too much each time.  Forty percent every other week isn't "bad", it's just easier on the fish to replace less water at a time. Whichever schedule you decide to use, vacuum the gravel every 3 to 4 weeks once the tank has been set up for a couple of months.

Hope he feels better soon...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins
Answer -
Hi Michael;

Keep using the Melafix. It is compatable with all medications and treatments. Don't worry so much about the carbon. Carbon is really not a necessary element anyway. It should be used for a week and then thrown away. It is good to use once in awhile for removing old medicine, color from driftwood, bad odors, etc. It absorbs all it can and fills up in less than a week. That said, your carbon is probably not going to reduce the effectiveness of the medication significantly. It's already full of other stuff. I've read studies too that indicate carbon re-releases toxins back into the tank after it gets full. I don't use at all anymore because of that. It's just my personal preference.

Shutting down the filters really is not good. It kills the beneficial bacteria in the media from lack of oxygen and will pump polluted water into the tank when you turn them on again. If the filters are emptied of water after you turn them off it is better, but you still lose a significant amount of bacteria. It would be better to remove the carbon part of the filters when you need to use medication. If it is enclosed in the filter pads just cut them open with scissors.

I really think your gourami will get better on his own with the water changes, continued filtration, and use of Melafix. Keep up the good work!

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins
Answer -
Hi Michael;

Tetracycline is good for both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. If the pH of your tank water is above 7.5 it won't be effective so you will have to treat with medicated food instead. It is much more potent when taken internally by the fish anyway. There are some available at most fish stores or you can make your own with the tc you already have;

Scroll to the bottom of the page at this link;
http://www.aquariumhobbyist.com/artoffishkeeping/disease.html

One thing I change when using this formula is to let the mixture cool a bit before adding the Tetracycline. Heat can break it down and it won't be as effective.

I hope they feel better soon.....

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

Answer
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Hi Michael;

I'm glad they are holding their own. Keep doing water changes to help avoid ammonia buildup. I would do 25% daily.

The medicated food from the fish store is ready to use so it's easier than making some. You might not want to treat the water with TC if the fish will eat the medicated food. It might overdose them.

The link I included has a recipe and instructions to make your own if you want to. Make the amounts smaller since you only have the two fish. It becomes a jelly like substance once it sets. You refrigerate it and should freeze what you can't use in a couple of days. Here is the link again (you have to scroll down to the bottom of the page once you get there);

http://www.aquariumhobbyist.com/artoffishkeeping/disease.html

Chris Robbins
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