Sick Fish Lucy

Question

Lucy - Red Devil   QUESTION: Hi Nathan,
Hope all is well.  I have been trying to ask you a question for days! Waiting 4 days for your questions to clear.  Need your help again!  Can you believe my fish has been sick for about 3+ months.  I thought she was better the last time I wrote you.  She's not.  She has not eaten for over 3 weeks. Can get her to eat anything.  Pellets, flakes, frozen brine.  She has the why stuff on her again..but now she is turning brown! I remember from last time this is from the wrong medication.  I had been mixing meds since we didn't know if she had bacteria or fungus.  She also now has reddish welt like spots on her side.  she is very stressed.  She wont come to the glass to see my anymore in fact she is terrified of me now.  She goes nuts when I look at her in her hiding spot. She darts all over the tank banging into the wall and splashing.  For the past two days I did two water changes to get the meds out and put the carbons back in to clean the water and hopefully cure her brownness.
What do I do?  I think she dying... and I'm heart broken.
The guy at my fish store us useless...
I attached a photo but this is the photo I took two weeks ago.  I try to get another one more recent and send tomorrow.  Thanks for having them add photo uploading.

Best,
Suzanne

ANSWER: Hi Suzanne,

That seems to be a mixed infection. There may be both bacteria and fungus that is infecting Lucy. If she is close to death, there may not be enough time to cure her.

You will need to take drastic action immediately. Change 50% of the tank's water right now.

Add both Maracyn and Maracyn-2, if possible. Also add a fungus-combating medication. It is OK to add all three at normal dose because the active ingredients are all different.

You will also need to do 10% water changes daily, even though you have medication. Re-dose the new water as you put it in. This means that if you change 5 gallons out, add an additional dose FOR the 5 gallons of new water, and put it in.

Remember to take out CARBON from the filter.

Just one quick tip - If I'm unavailable, then you can go to the "Freshwater aquarium Plants" category, a subdivision of the Animals/Pets > Pet Fish category. You can ask me any urgent questions there. (I am an expert in both categories).

Good Luck, and Happy Fishkeeping!



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Nathan,
Thanks as always for the advice.  Are you sure she won't keep turning brown if I mix her meds?  She also seems to be turning dark along her underside.  With all the water changes won't this also affect the ammonia levels and stress her more?
What can I get her to eat?  Would she eat a Feeder fish?  I have never given her any - I think it's cruel to the other fish but would if Lucy would eat it I guess.   What about the sponge in the filter?  Could this be putting the bacteria or fungus into the water?  I think I changed it a month or two ago.

Thanks for letting me know about your other category.  Speaking of plants.  I see some of my blanks have blk spots on them.  They are plastic but seems strange to have blk dots all over the plants.   I want to take them out and wash them but think I will stress Lucy.  

Best,
Suzanne

Answer
Hi Suzanne,

Turning brown is a side effect of the medications. It is necessary to use medication, as her condition is worsening. The active ingredient in all those medications are different, and so you won't have to risk overdosing or using the wrong type.

It would also  be wise to add a stress reducer/slime coat enhancer such as Stress Coat/Aqua Plus/Aqua Safe (this is actually just a water conditioner).

Once you add that, it would be OK to take out the plants and clean them. The black dots are a type of algae, and are harmless.

Before putting in the meds, do a 30-40% water change.

If you're worried about the ammonia levels (this should be OK in an established tank), then you can perform 10% water changes daily, AND replenish her meds in the new water you add in.

This means: 100 gallon tank - 10% water changed daily = 10 gallons
         Dose the NEW water with a dose for 10 gallons
         Add the new, properly medicated medicine water into the tank
You will already be taking away 10% of the meds, so you will be putting 10% of the meds back in.

The sponge is an unlikely cause of the infection, but it can harbor unwanted bacteria, in addition to the beneficial bacteria. However, when you treat the tank, any unwanted bacteria should be wiped out.
Remember to clean it once every two weeks in a bucket of dechlorinated water.

I highly doubt that she's not been eating for 3+ weeks. It's uncommon for a fish to survive that long, especially when sick. She may be getting bites to eat, but she's just not eating when you're watching.
I personally don't recommend feeder fish (especially feeder Goldfish), but if that's what it takes to get her to eat, it may be necessary. Keep in mind that Lucy may not be able to pursue the feeder fish if she's sick and lethargic.

Good Luck, and I hope Lucy recovers!