Oh Cr*p~ I think it's webbing

[cleve_seahorse]

yesterday morning I noticed what appears to be the dreaded webbing on 2 of my kelloggis-the medium 1 and the smallest.I immediatly pulled the one that didn't have it out of the qt into a spare 10g.The other 2 look like they went head first into a spider web....covering the head and body , it looks parasitic.The first course of action was a 11 minute freshwater dip , the white webbing came off. Put them back into the qt and 3 hours later started to come back....then a formalin bath.....6 hours later started to come back.....The only other course of action [ in my mind ] was hyposalinity....last night I started to drop the sg from 1.024 to 1.014....will drop it to 1.009 tommorow morning....I noticed theres alot less white stuff on them, and I can tell the parasites are bursting in there gills when they start shaking theres heads vigorously, and the white strings are literally pulling off there bodies....when at 1.009 I'll start triple sulpha to guard against infection....Awhile ago I wrote how my smallest horse ate but never seemed to grow , now I know why....I'm thinking she was the carrier of what ever is in my tank right now....I thinking its parasitic , no legions , no rot like vibro and both horses are eating / pooping normally [ thank god] Will post pics when hubby gets home ...oh and the big one in the new tank is showing no symtoms , but will be taking her out into the 10g for awhile to be sure

 

[meowzer]

WOW ......good luck

 

[teresaq]

so sorry to hear this. They were doing soo well. Hope everything turns out
TeresaQ

 

[cleve_seahorse]

Thanks , I'll update tom. morning to report how they look....it almost looks like very small white hairs....very small , almost like they formed a chain for the web effect , theres alot of dead floating in the water and on the bottom[ ewwww],....only some left on the horses head , gills and around the eyes

 

[reefnutpa]

Sorry to hear of this development

Unfortunately, I know of no cases where the seahorse(s) successfully recovered from "webbing". I can't offer any suggestions on treatment as everything has been tried in the past - hypo, formalin, copper, etc etc etc. Bummer of an ailment and quick moving.
Hopefully it's something else, and not "webbing", that will respond positively to one of the treatments you are trying.
Tom

 

[cleve_seahorse]

Thank you , am hoping its not the webbing....Thats why I'm covering my bases with low sg and triple sulpha....They look better tonight [ fingers crossed].... praying to the seahorse gods....It's a real p*sser in that they've been doing so well in that tank....eating , growing [except the littlest one] I took all the precautions I could think of , and now this

 

[dive girl]

Yikes, I haven't heard of this before! It's parasitic or bacterial?

 

[rykna]

How frustrating! I would be extremely grateful if you could give a step by step instructions for the 11 minute freshwater dip, the formalin bath, and the hyposalinity.
I'll be praying for you!
~Rykna

 

[cleve_seahorse]

Thankfully today they seem better ....still eating...My little one aka typhoid mary is completely clear , my larger one still has some around the head / gill area but body is free of any parasites....on to the treatment-
freshwater dip- usually a 8 to 10 minute procedure but i went 11 minutes due to the extent of the parasites- freshwater , gallon bucket, declored with prime , temp to match there tank water....put them in 1 at a time ....you could tell when the parasites were bursting as they were twitching and seemed uncomfortable....emptied the bucket after the 1st one and repeated for the other.Use a watch or clock that has a second hand to be sure of the time.
Formalin bath- formalin -37% concentrate , 3 gallon bucket , airline , saltwater [ 1.019 sg] and 2/3 teaspoon of formalin....dipped them 1 at a time for an hour each....after the 1st , emptied and repeated for the second horse....
lowering sg- This is usually a 3 day procedure , done very slowly to acclimate your fish. In my emergency situation to save my horses I lowered it very quickly [24 hours] not reccommended !! But I think it did save my horses[ at least for the time being] 30g qt....took a 3 gallon bucket of saltwater out , replaced it with declored freshwater [ not same bucket], making sure temp matched, I did 2 buckets every 1 1/2 to 2 hours....lowered it to 1.009 ...in an ideal situation I would match ph also , but in an emergency situation

The other 2 kelloggis are doing fine in their 10g, no signs of the parasite/bacteria....doing 2x daily wc .Going to feed my kids , be back with the triple sulpha treatment.

 

[rykna]

Thank you!!! Glad to hear your horses are doing better. Look forward to hearing more.

 

[novahobbies]

I've been following along as well, and I'm so glad to hear they're doing better. looks like you may have caught it in time.....keep up the vigilance, though!

 

[cleve_seahorse]

Bad news~ my bigger horse has alot more of the white stuff on her , still eating , but she doesn't look good...she almost looks frosted with powdered sugar...my smallest is clear, no white at all... my other 2 are clear , no change in looks or behavior....I just don't understand it....no other fish , no change, everything done on schedule since I got them mid-late dec[wc , filter cleaning , feeding etc] Kinda feeling down tonight as I hate to see my horse looking like that...but she's putting up a good fight so I will too.

 

[cleve_seahorse]

bad pic...but best I could do

 

[pete159]

are you planning on doing anything to help them?
get some neomycin and triple sulfa and start treating the horses in a 10g hospital tank.

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by pete159
http:///forum/post/2973345
are you planning on doing anything to help them?
get some neomycin and triple sulfa and start treating the horses in a 10g hospital tank.
Read the whole thread....

 

[cleve_seahorse]

Originally Posted by pete159
http:///forum/post/2973345
are you planning on doing anything to help them?
get some neomycin and triple sulfa and start treating the horses in a 10g hospital tank.
Hi , I'm doing everything I can to help my horses....I prazipro'd repetedly since december....There own 30q qt ,freshwater dips , since this outbreak lowered sg to 1.009 to kill parasites, formalin baths and triple sulpha....miss anything??? Typhoid mary is still clear , and my larger one is clearing up....maybe the formalin bathes every day??? [ declored freshwater in shallow bowl , formalin in the cap , and cotton swabs] I put My larger horse in the bowl for 2 min, then dip q-tip in the formalin and gently brush the white stuff off....reverse side and do it again...wear gloves !!!!!
I need a name for the suffering horse....any suggestions??? We have typhoid mary , ???? and whats the bigger horses name??? We need a name !!

 

[cleve_seahorse]

The other 2 are still healthy , showing no signs of this....feeling hopefull

 

[teresaq]

is the bigger horse a boy or girl??
I am pulling for you and your horse. I sure hope it pulls thru.
T

 

[cleve_seahorse]

Hi T , the bigger horse is a girl... My kids wanted to name her oreo after her white spots 3 days ago....I think thats a good name ....good news is thats shes looking pretty much clear of the white today....maybe the formalin dips???? maybe the lower sg???? but both are still eating.... I'm going to keep them in 1.009 for another 5 weeks [ fingures crossed] then slowly bring it up....This might be their tank for life....Not sure If i'll let them in the display, just to be on the safe side

 

[teresaq]

its wonderful she is getting better, and I agree. better to be safe the sorry.
T