Damaged tail

[Jennie Kermode]

One of my weather loaches, Juniper, was seriously ill with an
internal bacterial infection six months ago. She pulled through, but
contracted a secondary finrot infection. Fortunately, the damage caused
by this was minor, and it was fairly easily treated. However, ever since
this she has suffered from repeated infections. Most recently, she got
fungus on her tail whilst I was away. Upon my return, I immediately put
her in the isolation tank with some methylene blue, and the fungus is
now gone, but her tail is now badly damaged, almost completely eaten
away at the top. I'm worried that it's an easy site for infection to
take hold and that another bout could quickly spread to her body and
kill her.
Is there anything I can do to help prevent further infections?
Should any topical treatment be applied to the damaged area? Is there
any way I can encourage healing? Juniper is fourteen years old, and I'm
concerned that her immune system may simply be getting weaker with age.
All of my other fish are in good health. They hold Juniper in high
regard, and no-one is biting or bullying her. My nitrate levels are
slightly high (we're working to reduce them), but otherwise water
quality is fine.
I'd really appreciate advice on this. I'm concerned that she's
nearing the end of her life and that there's nothing I can do.

Jennie

--
Jennie Kermode
http://www.triffid.demon.co.uk/jennie

[NetMax]

"Jennie Kermode" <"Jennie > wrote in message
. demon.co.uk...
> One of my weather loaches, Juniper, was seriously ill with an
> internal bacterial infection six months ago. She pulled through, but
> contracted a secondary finrot infection. Fortunately, the damage caused
> by this was minor, and it was fairly easily treated. However, ever
> since
> this she has suffered from repeated infections. Most recently, she got
> fungus on her tail whilst I was away. Upon my return, I immediately put
> her in the isolation tank with some methylene blue, and the fungus is
> now gone, but her tail is now badly damaged, almost completely eaten
> away at the top. I'm worried that it's an easy site for infection to
> take hold and that another bout could quickly spread to her body and
> kill her.
> Is there anything I can do to help prevent further infections?
> Should any topical treatment be applied to the damaged area? Is there
> any way I can encourage healing? Juniper is fourteen years old, and I'm
> concerned that her immune system may simply be getting weaker with age.
> All of my other fish are in good health. They hold Juniper in high
> regard, and no-one is biting or bullying her. My nitrate levels are
> slightly high (we're working to reduce them), but otherwise water
> quality is fine.
> I'd really appreciate advice on this. I'm concerned that she's
> nearing the end of her life and that there's nothing I can do.
>
> Jennie
>
> --
> Jennie Kermode
> http://www.triffid.demon.co.uk/jennie


I've found Dojos to be quite susceptible to fungus & external bacterial
infections. Perhaps a bit of salt in the water might be helpful, also
Melafix. I've also generally kept them in cooler waters (though I don't
know if that would help).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Daniel Morrow]

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Mid posted.

- --
You can find my public key at https://keyserver1.pgp.com
"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> "Jennie Kermode" <"Jennie > wrote in
message
> . demon.co.uk...
> > One of my weather loaches, Juniper, was seriously ill
with an
> > internal bacterial infection six months ago. She pulled through,
but
> > contracted a secondary finrot infection. Fortunately, the damage
caused
> > by this was minor, and it was fairly easily treated. However,
ever
> > since
> > this she has suffered from repeated infections. Most recently,
she got
> > fungus on her tail whilst I was away. Upon my return, I
immediately put
> > her in the isolation tank with some methylene blue, and the
fungus is
> > now gone, but her tail is now badly damaged, almost completely
eaten
> > away at the top. I'm worried that it's an easy site for infection
to
> > take hold and that another bout could quickly spread to her body
and
> > kill her.
> > Is there anything I can do to help prevent further
infections?
> > Should any topical treatment be applied to the damaged area?

You can dab the wound with mercurochrome. I did that 10 years ago
once or twice and it worked. Good luck and later!

Is there
> > any way I can encourage healing? Juniper is fourteen years old,
and I'm
> > concerned that her immune system may simply be getting weaker
with age.
> > All of my other fish are in good health. They hold Juniper in
high
> > regard, and no-one is biting or bullying her. My nitrate levels
are
> > slightly high (we're working to reduce them), but otherwise
water
> > quality is fine.
> > I'd really appreciate advice on this. I'm concerned that
she's
> > nearing the end of her life and that there's nothing I can do.
> >
> > Jennie
> >
> > --
> > Jennie Kermode

> > http://www.triffid.demon.co.uk/jennie
>
>
> I've found Dojos to be quite susceptible to fungus & external
bacterial
> infections. Perhaps a bit of salt in the water might be helpful,
also
> Melafix. I've also generally kept them in cooler waters (though I
don't
> know if that would help).
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>
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[Dr.]

"Jennie Kermode" <"Jennie > wrote in message
. demon.co.uk...
> One of my weather loaches, Juniper, was seriously ill with an
> internal bacterial infection six months ago. She pulled through, but
> contracted a secondary finrot infection.

Hi Jennie,

I'll second the suggestion to use Melafix by NetMax. I've used it twice with
success.

I'd look into your water quality and maintenance routine. Increase number of
water changes and gravel vaccuums possibly. If you have a fish with a
weakened immune system, having excellent water quality will help.

I'd ask someone that knows more than myself on this... Would a UV sterilizer
dramatically reduce the risk of bacterial/parasite problems?

Good luck,
Gary

[NetMax]

"Dr." > wrote in message
...
>
> "Jennie Kermode" <"Jennie > wrote in
> message
> . demon.co.uk...
>> One of my weather loaches, Juniper, was seriously ill with an
>> internal bacterial infection six months ago. She pulled through, but
>> contracted a secondary finrot infection.
>
> Hi Jennie,
>
> I'll second the suggestion to use Melafix by NetMax. I've used it twice
> with success.
>
> I'd look into your water quality and maintenance routine. Increase
> number of water changes and gravel vaccuums possibly. If you have a
> fish with a weakened immune system, having excellent water quality will
> help.
>
> I'd ask someone that knows more than myself on this... Would a UV
> sterilizer dramatically reduce the risk of bacterial/parasite problems?

re: UV, interesting question. In theory, it would work to reduce the
pathogens which were in the water column, and if these pathogens were not
actively reproducing, it could eliminate many of them. In practice many
bacteria are either air-borne (such as nitrifying bacteria) or live in
the substrate (or other locations unaffected by an inline UV). I think
it might be logical to say that the reduction would be dramatic in a
bare-bottom tank (one of the reasons, Q-tanks are typically bare-bottom),
and it would have a very positive effect in a non-bare-bottom tank which
had good maintenance, such that the substrate was kept clean, and the
water's composition (TDS, DOC etc) was kept clean through water changes.
The improvement might not make much difference to otherwise healthy fish,
but old fish such as the Dojo and Cards mentioned, would probably live
longer if there were less opportunistic pathogens floating around looking
for weaknesses, such as a dimished slime-coat and reduced immune system.
--
www.NetMax.tk

> Good luck,
> Gary
>

[NetMax]

"Jennie Kermode" <"Jennie > wrote in message
. demon.co.uk...
> On 2005-11-11, NetMax > wrote:
>> I've found Dojos to be quite susceptible to fungus & external
>> bacterial
>> infections. Perhaps a bit of salt in the water might be helpful, also
>> Melafix. I've also generally kept them in cooler waters (though I
>> don't
>> know if that would help).
>
> Thanks for all the advice. I now have some melafix on order,
> and naturally I'm being careful about water quality. I've considered
> swabbing the wound... Does anyone know if there's anything I could use
> for this which won't sting? Treating Juniper has been much easier
> because she's very co-operative (she figured out a long time ago that a
> visit to the isolation tank usually makes her feel better), and I don't
> want to lose her trust - I also don't want to risk further weakening
> her
> immune system due to psychological stress.
> My tank is unheated, and it's coming up for winter here. Our
> central heating is limited in its ability to keep the house warm, so
> the
> tank water will be getting colder over the next few months. My fish
> have
> always responded well to have a natural annual cycle like this, getting
> frisky in the spring when it gets warmer again and they get more
> daylight.
>
> Jennie
>
> --
> Jennie Kermode
> http://www.triffid.demon.co.uk/jennie


In regards to your concern about it stinging, it's my opinion that their
nervous system is sufficiently different from ours that they would not
interpret the sensation as anything more than discomfort, regardless if
it would sting or not.

I'm a little concerned about the temperature dropping though.
Experienced ponders are always anxious when the temperature drops, as
there is a narrow range where bacteria are active and the fish's
metabolism starts slowing down for the cold season. This makes them very
susceptible, for what is hopefully only a few days or a week. The danger
increases if the fish is already weak, damaged or inflicted with
anything. Research heterotrophic bacteria in pond applications, or I can
contact an acquaintance who writes for Koi magazine and ask for you.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Jennie Kermode]

On 2005-11-11, NetMax > wrote:
> I've found Dojos to be quite susceptible to fungus & external bacterial
> infections. Perhaps a bit of salt in the water might be helpful, also
> Melafix. I've also generally kept them in cooler waters (though I don't
> know if that would help).

Thanks for all the advice. I now have some melafix on order,
and naturally I'm being careful about water quality. I've considered
swabbing the wound... Does anyone know if there's anything I could use
for this which won't sting? Treating Juniper has been much easier
because she's very co-operative (she figured out a long time ago that a
visit to the isolation tank usually makes her feel better), and I don't
want to lose her trust - I also don't want to risk further weakening her
immune system due to psychological stress.
My tank is unheated, and it's coming up for winter here. Our
central heating is limited in its ability to keep the house warm, so the
tank water will be getting colder over the next few months. My fish have
always responded well to have a natural annual cycle like this, getting
frisky in the spring when it gets warmer again and they get more daylight.

Jennie

--
Jennie Kermode
http://www.triffid.demon.co.uk/jennie