Guys not again!! Please help me with my dojo!!!

[LUVaLOACH]

Hello everyone,

As most of you know I lost 6 baby clowns about a month ago and it broke my heart. Now my female dojo is sick. I am going to post the PICS.

Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
PH-6.8ish
Nitrate-20ppm

I have what I believe to be fish TB in the other tank and I am scared that somehow I transfered it to this tank, however the symptoms of my dojo are nothing like what is going on with the guppies.

She (my dojo) is darting all over the place and not eating. Breathing a somewhat labored. Not sure if you can tell from the PICS but her barbels are red and seem very aggrivated. I added some Melafix just now and I am going to head to the LFS for meds when I get some feedback from you guys.

I have never posted PICS so I hope this works! Here goes.

[loachmom]

Hi Kris,

I really don't know what is wrong with your loach. Sorry she is sick.

I think water changes are a good way to start when you don't know what to do. Good water quality can help a host of problems.

Hopefully someone will come along that can give you some better advice.

[mistergreen]

hey luvaloach,

It could be TB, sometimes it present itself as a skin infection.
But it could be a regular bacterial infection too... Time to get some antibiotics.


bookmark this link.. it's really helpful.
http://www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html#External

[LUVaLOACH]

Hi Kris,

I really don't know what is wrong with your loach. Sorry she is sick.

I think water changes are a good way to start when you don't know what to do. Good water quality can help a host of problems.

Hopefully someone will come along that can give you some better advice.

Thanks Loachmom...I am now thinking that I was wrong about the guppys having TB. After some researching I believe they had columanaris (sp). The only thing that throws me off is that I didn't see spinal deformities as a symptom of columanaris. Other than that it sure sounds like it and if this is the case then I have transfered it to the other tank with my dojo's. I am going to be so upset if I loose them.

I was kinda waiting to see if I got any replies before I went to the LFS but time is ticking and I want to get her some meds right away. I am sure when everyone gets home later they will chime in, or at least I hope.

As for the water changes I am with you...I do 2 a week on all tanks. The guppy tank with the fry just got so dirty so fast I let it get away from me. Those fry are dirt little boogers...lesson learned.

Thanks for your reply,
Kris

[janma]

I had two hillstreams with similar white patches, all I did was quarantine them and since I can't get my hands on antibiotics I gave them vitamins for fish. They are well now and all the white has gone. Still don't know what it was precisely. Hope you find a cure too.

[LUVaLOACH]

I had two hillstreams with similar white patches, all I did was quarantine them and since I can't get my hands on antibiotics I gave them vitamins for fish. They are well now and all the white has gone. Still don't know what it was precisely. Hope you find a cure too.

Janma, Thanks. Where did you get the vitamins for the fish? I am getting ready to head out to the LFS in a few as she is not doing well. Let me know when you can, and what vitamin it is if you don't mind.

Thanks,
K

[loachmom]

As for the water changes I am with you...I do 2 a week on all tanks. The guppy tank with the fry just got so dirty so fast I let it get away from me. Those fry are dirt little boogers...lesson learned.

I know what you mean about the fry tanks getting so dirty. I think it's cause we have to feed them so often.

I hope your dojo gets better. She's very cute.

[janma]

It was Sera Fishtamin,
Dunno if its available over there but the LFS probably has some similar if not better.

[LUVaLOACH]

Well, I just got back from the LFS and she was laying on her back on the bottom of the tank. I thought she was dead but she darted off. She completely stops breathing and then will gasp and start again. I don't think she is going to make it. I added the meds and the vitamins and I am going to go back upstairs and try to keep her breathing, maybe put her closer to the output so she can get more oxygen. I feel silly b/c it's just a fish but she is so cute. I am going to do all I can for her, however, I doubt she will make it through the next hour.

There is no doubt that I transfered whatever this is to this tank from the other. I believe it is columanaris but who knows. I will be anxious to see what others have to say later tonight.

I'm just so sad and I know her male companion will be as well.

Thanks,
Krista

[LUVaLOACH]

Well, first of all I need to correct myself, it is my male dojo who is very sick and he is putting up a good fight right now. He was laying on the bottom of the tank and would stop breathing and I would scoop him up and put him hear the water output for more oxygen and he would get going again.

Now I have him in a breeder net in the corner of the tank and he is just laying there resting and sometimes on his back, but breathing. I know I should probably put him out of his misery but just can't yet. I wanted to give the antibiotics and the vitamins a chance.

He is one of my daughter's favorites so we have decided to sleep up there tonight (the tank is in her play room) and I will keep a close eye on him. If I don't see some more improvement I will end it for him. At first I thought it was just the spot on his face but now that he is on his back I see that he has several very painful looking ulcers. Guess I missed those cuz usually all I see is his head sticking out of the sand.

Just an update, if anyone has any ideas from the PICS please let me know.

Thanks,
Kris

[Icewall42]

Weird... I've never seen that before except when my clowns lock lips, but that's just wear and tear. I really don't know :/ Antibiotics would have been my first guess, so I hope it helps.

I believe I had columnaris on my dojos before, they died quick with spine deformities...

[LUVaLOACH]

Weird... I've never seen that before except when my clowns lock lips, but that's just wear and tear. I really don't know :/ Antibiotics would have been my first guess, so I hope it helps.

I believe I had columnaris on my dojos before, they died quick with spine deformities...

Thank you for your post Icewall...you basically confirmed my thoughts. I thought I had fish TB in my guppy tank due to the spinal deformities and most of them have died. I must have somehow transfered the columanaris to the other take on my hands b/c I used a seperate syphon and buckets once I found out the guppy tank was infected. I just didn't see anywhere where it said that spinal deformities were a symptom of columanaris but I now believe it is.

My dojo is not doing well and to be honest I should put him out of his misery, I just keep hoping that if he makes it through the night the antibiotics and vitamins will have a chance to kick in. He is looking bad now. Red streaks in his fins and laying on his back. I just don't know what to do.

Thanks again,
Kris

[KLKelly]

Edit my post. I'll add a new one shortly.
What antibiotic did you pick up. I'm a big fan of the maracyn plus treatment - works on columnaris on the rainbows and the popeye for the dojo.

Poor guy. I hope he pulls through for you. Hugs.

Karrie

[Icewall42]

I totally understand the helplessness you must feel... that's hard decision, even for a fish. My inclination is always to wait and see and hope the fish gets better. I just wanted to say that that waiting actually once paid off. I was totally sure one of my skunk loaches was going to die, because he was discolored, shimmying, and had an arched back with a sunken belly. I was certain he was a gonner, and I waited a long time for him to go (I thought he'd go any day). Finally treated him with a ton of antibiotics, and slowly but surely, even after his fins were rotting off, he got better. It took a long time, weeks even, for him to compeltely recover, but slowly he got better. Now, he's his perky self again, with a full tummy and good color.

So, you just never know. I would kick myself if somehow it was revealed to me that a fish would have lived if I hadn't put it down. On the other hand, you don't want the fish to suffer.

I'd say wait it out just a little bit longer... if he doesn't make it, then hopefully he'll go to a better place and he won't suffer anymore

[KLKelly]

I asked a friend on another forum who is a moderator on another forum. She happens to also have a dojo in a tank with confirmed tb exposure for feedback on your post.

Here is her reply: "I just looked at the first pics, didn't read the whole thing. I actually think columnaris is a good possibility. It can make these characteristic white patches. I would definitely keep this fish in pristine water and feed medigold if he's eating. Salt the water to 3 tsp per gallon, dojos can handle that fine."