On May 26, 5:39�pm, Mike Parks wrote:
Hello -

One of two dojo loaches that I've had for nearly a year has become
sick. *He lives in a 72 gallon tank with a school of black skirt
tetras, a school of Danios, some White Clouds and a largish
plecostomus (8").

This dojo is exhibiting the following symptoms:
- Lies on his side
- Does not eat
- Appears paralyzed from just behind his neck down to his rear fins
(not tail tail fin)
- Cannot move, except for "hopping"
- Tries to corner itself
- Has a white "rash" area on his side, near his rear fins
- Has a swollen body from just behind his neck down to the white rash
area
- Breathes shallowly and rapidly, occasionally slowing down his
breathing
- Eyes appear to be black-rimmed, and slightly downturned

I moved him to a 30 gal tank (filled with 10 gals water), and began
treatment with Maracyn-Two, thinking he may have Dropsy and/or Gill
Disease. *Another thought was maybe the plecostumus rammed him and
injured him? I'd like to save this old chap, and am wondering if
anyone has any advice. If he's too far gone, how would you deal with
him?

Here is a picture of him: *http://www.endofthestreet.com/helpdojo.php

Thanks in advance,

-Mike, Roseville, CA

Oh my goodness, the poor thing. He looks terrible.
I'm sorry, but I can't say for sure what he's suffering from, but the
white area looks more like a bacterial infection in the photo to me.
The body swelling is usually from bacterial issues as well.
Of course photos can be deceiving, so if the white - ish area is
fuzzy...like fibers or cottony, please get back as that would be
fungal.
You didn't mention it being fuzzy looking, and it didn't appear like
it was in the photo, but I just wanted to double check.
Personally, if it were my own DoJo, I would put it into a quarantine
tank, and treat it with Jungle brand's Fungus Eliminator. Just make
sure it's that one and not the Fungus Guard (same maker). The F.
Eliminator will hit both bacterial and fungal infections and is a
really good med.
Besides Quick Cure and some salt, it's the only other medication I
keep in my supplies.
Keep the water clean too.
Now in the original tank he was in, was there anything new added, lag
in water changes, anything you can think of.