Need Help ASAP

rykna

rykna

Active Member
I have run into a wall with Valiant. He is not getting better. The lesions are getting worse.
I am proposing a desperate, but potentionally effect treatment.
Neosporin is used to treat skin woulnds on horses. I have a medicataed solution that I used to cleanse wounds after surgery. It's called Hibiclens. Chlorhexidne Gluconate. A antiseptic/antimicrobial skin cleanser, the kind doctors use before surgery.
Input please.
 
rykna

rykna

Active Member
Originally Posted by Myrtle Beach
Go to LFS and look for meds.
Been there with Valiant...spent 40 bucks....not much help htere
 
shrimpi

shrimpi

Active Member
hibiclens is usuallyused as a antiseptic scrub.. aka a strong/microbe fighting soap.
How are you planning to apply it? I would not dump it in the tank, for sure.

hibiclens is made of "contains 4% w/v HIBITANE,Fragrance, isopropyl alcohol 4%, purified water, Red 40, and other ingredients, in a mild,
sudsing base adjusted to pH 5.0-6.5 for optimal activity and stability"
In preoperative situations they use it for 2min.
for cleansing and scrubbing, its recommended for 5-6 minutes.
I dont know how you could take your seahorse out to do this.
I dont beleive, even in desperate measures that it would be a good idea for marine applications.
 
rykna

rykna

Active Member
I was considering applying it with a q-tip. I'd have to rinse Valiant of before I put him back in to the QT.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Not professors....these are veterinarians who specialize in treatment of fish.
Professors rarely will have any such expertise at all and I wouldn't bother asking them (from experience...).
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
I know...but they are aquatic specialists. They work with ornamental fish - and might know proper treatments for them. I would definitely consider them the best option as specialists. They may know people in the aquarium industry, or know medications useful for treatment of fish infections, parasites, etc. Your question above is best answered by people in this field. I would strongly suggest contacting the guy at the bottom of the page to see if he has ideas or knows anyone who would know. That is the best bet, IMO.
 
rykna

rykna

Active Member
I contaced the college and left a message with Tim Miller and sent him an email.
Thanks for your help
 
poniegirl

poniegirl

Active Member
Neosporin is one of the top things to keep on hand and is absolutley OK to use on Valiant.
Rykna, I have to be honest. I have listened carefully and not said much because there really is no text book for ailing seahorses.
At least with Ich, you have ich, you know it, treat it.
With these guys it can be a layered ailment, and so little is really known.
My gut feeling with seahorses (plus a bit of experience) is this: You have treated this animal medicinally for a month +? If he is not cured, then there are so many possible reasons, yes?
1) More treatment needed
2) Not the ailment that was originally thought
3) The cure really has been effective and now he just needs some clean saltwater and antibiotic. The formalin is not really about Correcting skin issues.
Here is copied info:
Treatment
The best treatment for any parasitic disease is prevention by careful quarantine. If this is not feasible and parasites do emerge in the display tank, treatment options are wide. They must, however, be used in a quarantine tank.
Formalin is one of the most common and economical chemical treatments for external protozoans and flukes. It is best used as a dip per the instructions of the manufacturer.
Malachite Green is an effective chemical dye that can be used in treating most external parasites. Use as an extended treatment in quarantine per manufacturer's instructions.
Methylene Blue is a common medication with seahorses. Its therapeutic properties lessen some of the stress brought about by disease treatment. Use it as a dip or as a long-term quarantine treatment.
Freshwater Dips are extremely effective against gill flukes. Be sure to match the pH and temperature of the tank's water before proceeding with a dip of this kind.
BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN USING COPPER SULFATE WITH SEAHORSES!! Their scaleless skin is extremely sensitive to the abrasive properties of it and other metals.
I know you have not used copper...
But perhaps at this point the cure is the poison?
Again, I have deferred because I don't have the experience with treatments. But I do put a lot of faith in great clean water.
I'd say try some water changes (small and slow) and some neosporin.
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
Ryk,
I've been avoiding responding to this thread, because (obviously) I can't help.
I just want you to know that I'm thinking about you and I'm saying a little prayer for you and Valiant.
Lisa...
 
rykna

rykna

Active Member
Thank you for all you input and support.
This is what I have done...
I spoke with my father(he's a Dr.) about medications. Using formalin is similar to chemotherapy for people. The end result is to poison the body just enough to kill the disease, but not the patient. One thought he had about Valiant's recovery, was that unlike human patients. Valiant is being exposed to the "raditation" 24/7 due to being contained in a 15 gallon tank. This will potentially cause a fatal over dose of the medication. Hence, why his health is not improving.
My father also commented that one reason why neosporin is a good medical cream to use on fish( he therorized) is because of it's chemical make up. It is made to adhere to the skin and slowly be absorbed giving the wound more exposure to healing. This effect also keeps water from washing the medicated cream off, hence why he thought it a good skin medicine for fish. It will not wash off the patient and contaminate the water. He said that this would be the main reason he would not use the antibotic soap. It would either be absorbs straight through the skin-killing the fish; or pollute the water and kill the fish.
So after the conversation with my father I made sure everything was equal between the QT and DT. I treated Valiant with neosporin(looked like he had gotten snowed on). He seemed to almost enjoy it. I used a Q-tip to apply the cream. He held still while I did it. I could feel him relax in my hand...he was so itchy he leaned into the Q-tip.
After I medicated Valiant, I returned Flash and Valiant to the 90.
Flash was extactic to be home. But Valiant was very worn out from the med treatment. After a half hour he started poking around the rocks...still very lathargic. Most of the time he would lie still on the sand bed. I went downstairs and let an hour and a half go by.
I finally dragged myself upstairs....to my amazement Valiant was up and swimming around! He hasn't be out swimming for the last 2 days, just to come out and eat. I was so thankful to see him swimming. I fed him dinner and enjoyed watching him chase the mysis. I haven't seen him in predator mode for at least a week. I do not know what tomorrow will bring, but I feel better knowing my pets are happy.
Thanks again all for your help and suggestions.
happy fish, Rykna
 
rykna

rykna

Active Member
Originally Posted by PonieGirl
I will say every prayer that I can think of. He's a tough horse.
Thank you, God watches over all his creatures, great and small.
 
rykna

rykna

Active Member
Valiant is still among the living. I won't give up unless he does. We had a cat on our farm that lived to be 21. "Mrs. Calico", she was the sweetest cat I ever had. After I left for college my Mom looked after her. Eventually she got so old all she would do was crawl out of her bed for dinner. But she still loved to be held and her "purring motor" held out to the very end.
 
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