Topic: more tail troubles! UGH!

[Butterfly]

Whenever I've delt with rot, maracyn has always been my "wonder" med.

How large did you say the tank was again? 2.5 gallons? I think the guy at the pet store told you the wrong measurements for cutting the pill. 1 pill of Maracyn is good for  10 gallons , so theoretically, 1/4 of a pill would be a dose for 2.5 gallons. That's what I use for my measurements.

Oh, and I just drop the pill into the water on change day. It'll eventually dissolve within an hour or so.

[supersixone]

my med of choice was kanacyn, but the company that made it went out of business  i'll have to find another kanamycin sulfate-based product

[angie02144]

well, we both read the box and figured it out....

the box says:

"First day, add 2 tablets per 10 gallons of water.  Second through fifth day, add one tablet per 10 gallons."

So today on day one, I cut one tablet in half for the 2.5 tank.....tomorrow and then on for five days, I will use 1/4 tablet.  I hope I can cut that size accurately!  Does that sound right?  I guess on the first day you use more.  

I took out the gravel and hamster toy from his tank....I left his plant so he wouldn't go nuts without his hammock to lay on!  It's so funny to watch him lay on the plant leaves!   I wanted to watch the tablet piece on the bottom so I can make sure it dissolves okay.

I am praying to all the gods, fairy godmothers, and all other things holy that this works for him.....I miss his tail sooo much!  It says on the box that this can be repeated only once if needed!

We shall see...
Angela

[Butterfly]

Hmmm... I never put more then 1/4 tablet in mine. And as far as the repeating goes, keep adding more with water changes until you see a definate improvement (clearish regrowth and whatnot). Don't keep him on it for a long, long time, but keep medicating him till there's no sign of rot left. If you go off the meds and the rot retuns again, start the meds up again. If you find the maracyn isn't helping or doing its job, then I'd suggest moving onto something higher, like tetracyclene (if you can find it) or perhps the furan-2, also kaynacyn, as Super suggested, works well. All three are broad-range anti-biotics that cure both gram -negative adn gram-positive bacteria.

Good luck, and don't worry - I'm sure he'll get better soon!

((hugs!))

[angie02144]

thanks for the support!  I guess the 1/4 is right but on the box it says to do more on the first day?  Who knows??!!!??

I will be patient  (deep, slow breaths!) and wait for the 5 days to be up and see where we are at that point!

I am sort of surprised the other two haven't been any trouble at all!  I wash the net and changing bowl with hot hot water after each use.  

Eggy had this problem from the beginning so it has just lingered into a big mess!  I keep going over to peek at him!

Angela

[firestar]

Did you guys know that Furan-2 is harmful to humans? It said on the package to use rubber gloves when medicating as to not get any on you as it's thought to be a cancer causing agent.

 

That's true.  Actually, quite a few aquarium meds "contain a chemical known to cause cancer in the state of California."  Does that mean everyone else is safe?

Wear gloves, be careful with it, and don't use these stronger meds if you're pregnant or lactating.  For everyone else, if you use your head and don't eat the meds, you'll be okay.

[angie02144]

thanks for the info, Firestar!  That's bizarre that they state "in the state of CA" as if the next state shouldn't worry about this agent in the meds!  Weird!  I just looked at the bottle of JFE and it says the same exact thing.  Wow, do people in CA have different immune systems???? (sarcasm)

I am far away in Massachusetts but I will make sure I still don't ingest it!

Angela

[frogsnbettas]

Some fish (like my Bo) are just more succeptable to fin rot that others... I would also see if you can find some Colloidal Silver.  Most likely I'd check on the internet, so you can get the higher ppm... like 550, not 10 ppm, like they have at GNC.  A couple drops per water change will do him wonders.  It's an immune booster for humans and other animals, and I use it for my fish.  It's wonderful.  

[Butterfly]

Angie, do you use a net to get your guy out of the water for changing times? This couple be a small part of the problem.

I myself never use nets as they are quite often harmful to fish's (especially bettas) fins and scales. It takes away their protective slime coating, and because they most likely are thrashing about in the net, their fins can become ripped or damaged.

I would sugest using a cup(s) for water changes. I use cheapo-delux-o styrafoam cups, and just scoop my little guys and gals when I'm changing their water. That way they're still in their old water, and usually have enough room to swim around a bit. I also find it doest stress them out as much.

Try that and see if there's any improvement.

[ruthcatrin]

Some of my boys I can catch in a cup, some of them I end up having to net.  If you're using a net try to pick up a brine shrimp net, they're generally finer and softer and less likely to cause damage.