Oscar problem

[Sarah Navarro]

Hi all,

My Oscar has always been pretty healthy since I got him. He is now starting
to develop large white patches where his fins hook on to his body and in the
gill areas. It doesn't look like fungus, but I'm not sure. He is in a 100
gallon tank with a large pleco and an adult convict cichlid (both of which
show no signs of anything). Oscar is eating fine and acting normal, but I'm
getting a little worried as this white stuff is spreading. The water
parameters are testing out fine. I am using a Fluval 404 on this tank.
Temp is at 78. Any ideas? Thanks.

Sarah

[Elaine T]

Sarah Navarro wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> My Oscar has always been pretty healthy since I got him. He is now starting
> to develop large white patches where his fins hook on to his body and in the
> gill areas. It doesn't look like fungus, but I'm not sure. He is in a 100
> gallon tank with a large pleco and an adult convict cichlid (both of which
> show no signs of anything). Oscar is eating fine and acting normal, but I'm
> getting a little worried as this white stuff is spreading. The water
> parameters are testing out fine. I am using a Fluval 404 on this tank.
> Temp is at 78. Any ideas? Thanks.
>
> Sarah
>
>
It wouldn't be true fungus unless he hurt himself. You need to describe
what you see better. How white are the patches - are they translucent,
very white or somewhere inbetween? Is the texture waxy, slimy, or
fuzzy? Is the white coming off to reveal reddened areas? Is there any
pitting on his head or lateral line erosion? Any reddening at his vent?

If you could post a picture, that would be ideal.

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Sarah Navarro]

Can I post one here? It's not a great picture, but it might be helpful.

Sarah

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
m...
>>
>>
> It wouldn't be true fungus unless he hurt himself. You need to describe
> what you see better. How white are the patches - are they translucent,
> very white or somewhere inbetween? Is the texture waxy, slimy, or fuzzy?
> Is the white coming off to reveal reddened areas? Is there any pitting on
> his head or lateral line erosion? Any reddening at his vent?
>
> If you could post a picture, that would be ideal.
>
> --
> __ Elaine T __
> ><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Jim Anderson]

In article >,
says...

> Can I post one here? It's not a great picture, but it might be helpful.
>
> Sarah
>
>
My ISP, and most others, strips attachments from all non-binarie groups,
that is groups with binarie in their name.

--
Jim Anderson
( 8(|) To email me just pull my_finger

[Larry]

On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 23:18:08 GMT, "Sarah Navarro"
> wrote:

>Can I post one here? It's not a great picture, but it might be helpful.
>
>Sarah
>
>"Elaine T" > wrote in message
m...
>>>
>>>
>> It wouldn't be true fungus unless he hurt himself. You need to describe
>> what you see better. How white are the patches - are they translucent,
>> very white or somewhere inbetween? Is the texture waxy, slimy, or fuzzy?
>> Is the white coming off to reveal reddened areas? Is there any pitting on
>> his head or lateral line erosion? Any reddening at his vent?
>>
>> If you could post a picture, that would be ideal.
>>
>> --
>> __ Elaine T



go ahead __
>> ><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
>> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com
>

[Elaine T]

Jim Anderson wrote:
> In article >,
> says...
>
>
>>Can I post one here? It's not a great picture, but it might be helpful.
>>
>>Sarah
>>
>>
>
> My ISP, and most others, strips attachments from all non-binarie groups,
> that is groups with binarie in their name.
>
You can use alt.binaries.aquaria, Sarah.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Sarah Navarro]

okay, I'll post it there now. Please let me know what you think. I hope
it works, I've never posted a pic before.
"Elaine T" > wrote in message
om...
> Jim Anderson wrote:
>> In article >,
>> says...
>>
>>
>>>Can I post one here? It's not a great picture, but it might be helpful.
>>>
>>>Sarah
>>>
>>>
>>
>> My ISP, and most others, strips attachments from all non-binarie groups,
>> that is groups with binarie in their name.
>>
> You can use alt.binaries.aquaria, Sarah.
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Elaine T]

Sarah Navarro wrote:
> okay, I'll post it there now. Please let me know what you think. I hope
> it works, I've never posted a pic before.

OK. It worked, plus your description helps. The indentation makes it
sound like bacterial ulcers. Does this make any sense when you look at
your fish? He is getting sicker, thus the finrot and clouding eyes. I
don't know whether there is another underlying problem causing the ulcers.

My personal first choice for a fish with ulcers would be a bath
treatment with both kanamycin and furanace. However, this must be done
in quarantine since furanace will do bad things to filter bacteria.
These antibiotics in combination are also VERY good for Flexibacter, my
second guess at what's troubling your fish. If you do this, feed
regular food.

Since he's eating, if you don't have a quarantine tank your second
choice is to try a medicated food. Start soaking his food in a slurry
of cooking oil and Furan 2. Switch to oxytetracycline if there's no
improvement at all in a few days. It's ideal if he only the oscar gets
the food, but I suspect you will need to feed it to both the oscar and
the convict. Feed for 10 days even if the fish looks better sooner.

Here's an article on medicated food.
http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/treatments/medicatedfood.htm

You could also add kanamycin alone to the display tank along with
medicated food. Frank, alt.aquaria's guru, says that it doesn't hurt
nitrifying bacteria. I've never tried it myself to know for certain.

HTH, and as always curious to hear what other people think is going on
with the fish. NetMax?

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Sarah Navarro]

I have been feeding him medicated food containing terramycin (don't ask me
why, it's what I found locally and I am desperate to help him) for about a
week now. I just saw medicated food and bought it hoping it would help. I
appreciate your comments and will try to locate some of this stuff tomorrow
when I go into Fresno. Thanks, Sarah

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
om...
> Sarah Navarro wrote:
>> okay, I'll post it there now. Please let me know what you think. I
>> hope it works, I've never posted a pic before.
>
> OK. It worked, plus your description helps. The indentation makes it
> sound like bacterial ulcers. Does this make any sense when you look at
> your fish? He is getting sicker, thus the finrot and clouding eyes. I
> don't know whether there is another underlying problem causing the ulcers.
>
> My personal first choice for a fish with ulcers would be a bath treatment
> with both kanamycin and furanace. However, this must be done in
> quarantine since furanace will do bad things to filter bacteria. These
> antibiotics in combination are also VERY good for Flexibacter, my second
> guess at what's troubling your fish. If you do this, feed regular food.
>
> Since he's eating, if you don't have a quarantine tank your second choice
> is to try a medicated food. Start soaking his food in a slurry of cooking
> oil and Furan 2. Switch to oxytetracycline if there's no improvement at
> all in a few days. It's ideal if he only the oscar gets the food, but I
> suspect you will need to feed it to both the oscar and the convict. Feed
> for 10 days even if the fish looks better sooner.
>
> Here's an article on medicated food.
> http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/treatments/medicatedfood.htm
>
> You could also add kanamycin alone to the display tank along with
> medicated food. Frank, alt.aquaria's guru, says that it doesn't hurt
> nitrifying bacteria. I've never tried it myself to know for certain.
>
> HTH, and as always curious to hear what other people think is going on
> with the fish. NetMax?
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Elaine T]

Sarah Navarro wrote:
> I have been feeding him medicated food containing terramycin (don't ask me
> why, it's what I found locally and I am desperate to help him) for about a
> week now. I just saw medicated food and bought it hoping it would help. I
> appreciate your comments and will try to locate some of this stuff tomorrow
> when I go into Fresno. Thanks, Sarah
>
Terramycin is oxytetracycline. If that's not helping, then see if you
can find Furan-2 for DIY food. Alternate names for Furan 2 are
Nitrofura-G and Furazone Green. It is a mix of nitrofurazone,
furazolidone, and methylene blue trihydrate. The methylene blue is not
necessary if you're looking at ingredients.

Hope your shopping trip is successful.

> "Elaine T" > wrote in message
> om...
>
>>Sarah Navarro wrote:
>>
>>>okay, I'll post it there now. Please let me know what you think. I
>>>hope it works, I've never posted a pic before.
>>
>>OK. It worked, plus your description helps. The indentation makes it
>>sound like bacterial ulcers. Does this make any sense when you look at
>>your fish? He is getting sicker, thus the finrot and clouding eyes. I
>>don't know whether there is another underlying problem causing the ulcers.
>>
>>My personal first choice for a fish with ulcers would be a bath treatment
>>with both kanamycin and furanace. However, this must be done in
>>quarantine since furanace will do bad things to filter bacteria. These
>>antibiotics in combination are also VERY good for Flexibacter, my second
>>guess at what's troubling your fish. If you do this, feed regular food.
>>
>>Since he's eating, if you don't have a quarantine tank your second choice
>>is to try a medicated food. Start soaking his food in a slurry of cooking
>>oil and Furan 2. Switch to oxytetracycline if there's no improvement at
>>all in a few days. It's ideal if he only the oscar gets the food, but I
>>suspect you will need to feed it to both the oscar and the convict. Feed
>>for 10 days even if the fish looks better sooner.
>>
>>Here's an article on medicated food.
>>http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/treatments/medicatedfood.htm
>>
>>You could also add kanamycin alone to the display tank along with
>>medicated food. Frank, alt.aquaria's guru, says that it doesn't hurt
>>nitrifying bacteria. I've never tried it myself to know for certain.
>>
>>HTH, and as always curious to hear what other people think is going on
>>with the fish. NetMax?
>>
>>--
>>Elaine T __
>>http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
>>rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com
>
>
>


--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Sarah Navarro]

Elaine,

I was able to obtain both the kanamycin and furanace today at the fish
store. The Kanamycin says that it is not recommended for use with any other
antibiotic. Are you sure they are okay together? Also, do I use full
strength dosage for each of these medicines. I am going to put him in a 10
gallon quarantine tank during treatment. I will discontinue the medicated
food during treatment. I hope he will be okay in that small of a tank, but
hopefully it won't be for very long. I am off to get the quarantine tank
ready now. Thanks for your help.

Sarah

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
...
> Sarah Navarro wrote:
>> I have been feeding him medicated food containing terramycin (don't ask
>> me why, it's what I found locally and I am desperate to help him) for
>> about a week now. I just saw medicated food and bought it hoping it
>> would help. I appreciate your comments and will try to locate some of
>> this stuff tomorrow when I go into Fresno. Thanks, Sarah
>>
> Terramycin is oxytetracycline. If that's not helping, then see if you can
> find Furan-2 for DIY food. Alternate names for Furan 2 are Nitrofura-G and
> Furazone Green. It is a mix of nitrofurazone, furazolidone, and methylene
> blue trihydrate. The methylene blue is not necessary if you're looking at
> ingredients.
>
> Hope your shopping trip is successful.
>
>> "Elaine T" > wrote in message
>> om...
>>
>>>Sarah Navarro wrote:
>>>
>>>>okay, I'll post it there now. Please let me know what you think. I
>>>>hope it works, I've never posted a pic before.
>>>
>>>OK. It worked, plus your description helps. The indentation makes it
>>>sound like bacterial ulcers. Does this make any sense when you look at
>>>your fish? He is getting sicker, thus the finrot and clouding eyes. I
>>>don't know whether there is another underlying problem causing the
>>>ulcers.
>>>
>>>My personal first choice for a fish with ulcers would be a bath treatment
>>>with both kanamycin and furanace. However, this must be done in
>>>quarantine since furanace will do bad things to filter bacteria. These
>>>antibiotics in combination are also VERY good for Flexibacter, my second
>>>guess at what's troubling your fish. If you do this, feed regular food.
>>>
>>>Since he's eating, if you don't have a quarantine tank your second choice
>>>is to try a medicated food. Start soaking his food in a slurry of
>>>cooking oil and Furan 2. Switch to oxytetracycline if there's no
>>>improvement at all in a few days. It's ideal if he only the oscar gets
>>>the food, but I suspect you will need to feed it to both the oscar and
>>>the convict. Feed for 10 days even if the fish looks better sooner.
>>>
>>>Here's an article on medicated food.
>>>http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/treatments/medicatedfood.htm
>>>
>>>You could also add kanamycin alone to the display tank along with
>>>medicated food. Frank, alt.aquaria's guru, says that it doesn't hurt
>>>nitrifying bacteria. I've never tried it myself to know for certain.
>>>
>>>HTH, and as always curious to hear what other people think is going on
>>>with the fish. NetMax?
>>>
>>>--
>>>Elaine T __
>>>http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
>>>rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Elaine T]

Sarah Navarro wrote:
> Elaine,
>
> I was able to obtain both the kanamycin and furanace today at the fish
> store. The Kanamycin says that it is not recommended for use with any other
> antibiotic. Are you sure they are okay together? Also, do I use full
> strength dosage for each of these medicines. I am going to put him in a 10
> gallon quarantine tank during treatment. I will discontinue the medicated
> food during treatment. I hope he will be okay in that small of a tank, but
> hopefully it won't be for very long. I am off to get the quarantine tank
> ready now. Thanks for your help.
>
I've used them in combination on angelfish with finrot and had no
problem. I learned that combo where I worked, and we routinely used it
for Flexibacter infections and other external ulcers. Use both full
strength but change water if he shows any distress.

Aerate well, especially in 10 gallons and plan to handle ammonia with
zeolites or an ammonia detoxifier as you may lose biological filtration.


--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com