sick little girl

[novahobbies]

Ever notice how these tings happen the most often when you're away?? I was gone for 4 days. I shoulda seen this, though: there was a teeny white speck on the gill plate of my female reidi when I left. I thought it might be one of her color change areas, but when I got back, the teeny speck was about a quarter inch in diameter, and there are a few white dots on the raised bumps along her body now. Doesn't look like an external GBD issue, and it's not "fuzzy" like a fungus might be. My guess is a bacteria of some sort.
I've got her in the hospital tank now. Had to get her out before the male showed any signs....so far he looks fine. Did a 40% water change on the display tank, will probably do another 20 or 30% before the female goes back in.
None of my LFS places had neomycin and triple-sulfa both in stock, so I'm trying Furan-2. it's a pretty heavy shotgun for gram-positive and gram-negitive bacteria, so we'll see. Right now the hospital tank is running with no carbon, just floss, and there's an airline bubbling in the other corner as well. She seems pretty active -- even snicked a large live feeder shrimp tonight -- so I'm hoping I'll be able to catch this before it spreads.
I was thinking of topically applying triple-antibiotic to the main lesion (it's not an open wound, thank goodness). Should I use the cream, or the ointment? I realize it will wash off pretty quickly, but is one variety more water-resistant than another? Hope someone can help!

 

[teresaq]

Sorry your little girl is sick. What is the temp in your tank. I have never treated horses, but have read lots.
Get your temp down to 68 degres, this will help slow any bacteria.
Hopefully Tom or Ann will see this.
TeresaQ

 

[novahobbies]

Ive got a fan blowing across the top of the hospital tank, right now it's t 70 degrees. I'll try chilling some seawater baggies to bring it down a lil more.
Morning report -- the lights aren't on, so I can't see the lesions too well, but the horse is fine....she came up to the glass to say hello to me when I added a couple mysis. She's eating like a....well, you know.

I'll take a closer look at the lesions when I add the next furan dose tonight.

 

[sueandherzoo]

Hey Rick - sorry to hear about your girl, but if anyone can pull her through and cure her, YOU can!
How in heck do you manage to be away for four days????? I have turned down so many trip plans and weekend getaways because of the seahorses -- I just can't bring myself to trust someone else to come in twice a day to care for them and check on all the parameters in all the tanks -- too risky for me.
Four days?????? Amazing!

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by SueAndHerZoo
http:///forum/post/3042315
Hey Rick - sorry to hear about your girl, but if anyone can pull her through and cure her, YOU can!
How in heck do you manage to be away for four days????? I have turned down so many trip plans and weekend getaways because of the seahorses -- I just can't bring myself to trust someone else to come in twice a day to care for them and check on all the parameters in all the tanks -- too risky for me.
Four days?????? Amazing!

Good luck with your baby...I know you can cure her.

SUE...I don't think I'll ever get to leave my house either

 

[joslinhome]

Originally Posted by SueAndHerZoo
http:///forum/post/3042315
Hey Rick - sorry to hear about your girl, but if anyone can pull her through and cure her, YOU can!
How in heck do you manage to be away for four days????? I have turned down so many trip plans and weekend getaways because of the seahorses -- I just can't bring myself to trust someone else to come in twice a day to care for them and check on all the parameters in all the tanks -- too risky for me.
Four days?????? Amazing!

you guys are so dedicated...i never thought people would not go anywhere because of fish. What more to do then feed, really. i admire yalls dedication and love for not only the hobby but the little munchkins too. Your fish are so lucky. As for me, i love my fish (although im new and we just getting acquainted), and i love this hobby. But darnit, I love my hubby and two babies more. We go on vacation about once a month or once every two months for about 4-5 days at a time in our motorhome. These mini vacates are so vital to our family. I would never give it up.

PS....can i make a mobile fish tank? lol...would be neat idea though to take my hobby with us. Like have a nano in the rv!!!

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by joslinhome
http:///forum/post/3042493
you guys are so dedicated...i never thought people would not go anywhere because of fish. What more to do then feed, really. i admire yalls dedication and love for not only the hobby but the little munchkins too. Your fish are so lucky. As for me, i love my fish (although im new and we just getting acquainted), and i love this hobby. But darnit, I love my hubby and two babies more. We go on vacation about once a month or once every two months for about 4-5 days at a time in our motorhome. These mini vacates are so vital to our family. I would never give it up.

LOL...We bought a 31' camper that we have used once

Not cause of the fish though....I only started this in July 2008...BUT now I have 3 sw tanks..one with seahorses, and the other has a ray that I hand feed every day..so unless I find someone to come to the house (which is near impossible in the rural area I live in) I have no clue what I am going to do

 

[novahobbies]

Originally Posted by joslinhome
http:///forum/post/3042493
you guys are so dedicated...i never thought people would not go anywhere because of fish. What more to do then feed, really. i admire yalls dedication and love for not only the hobby but the little munchkins too. Your fish are so lucky. As for me, i love my fish (although im new and we just getting acquainted), and i love this hobby. But darnit, I love my hubby and two babies more. We go on vacation about once a month or once every two months for about 4-5 days at a time in our motorhome. These mini vacates are so vital to our family. I would never give it up.

PS....can i make a mobile fish tank? lol...would be neat idea though to take my hobby with us. Like have a nano in the rv!!!
Seahorses need a little more care than regular fish -- they don't have good digestive systems, and pretty much HAVE to eat daily. When I leave town I have my aunt come over once a day for their mysis. I normally feed them twice a day, but when I'm gone they just have to deal with one feeding a day.
Regular fish are easier. Buy an automatic feeder and set pellet feeding three times a day, bing bang boom, you're done. Wish it was this easy with seahorses.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Sue!

She's doing a little better today, I'm happy to report. The small spots are almost gone, and the main lesion is much smaller. Still going to wait out the full treatment, and I'm nervous about the lack of biological filtration. I've been siphoning poop as I see it, but I'm only allowed very specific water changes or the antibiotic dosage concentration goes kablooey. First water change is 25% tomorrow afternoon.

 

[sueandherzoo]

How's she doing?
Sue

 

[novahobbies]

well today was the first water change allowed. I measured .25 amm before the water change, and a little less after the change, so I also added some amquel to help. She's actually doing pretty good! She's still totally unimpressed with the situation, of course. But her small white spots along her sides are now completely gone, and the main lesion is so small you have to know it was there in order to see it now. She still eats well and defecates normally (hey, we share everything, don't we??

) so I'm cautiously optimistic. Her last tratment is tomorrow, and I'll do a water change and observation on Saturday. If she's looking good still on Sunday I'll add her back to the tank; otherise, it's another round of antibiotics. I don't think I'll haffa do that, though.

 

[teresaq]

Thats wonderful.
T

 

[sueandherzoo]

What a relief, huh? And how exciting and encouraging to us other horse keepers -- it seems like whenever I read about someone trying to treat their horse for something it never ends well. I was beginning to think that once a horse shows any sign of illness they were doomed to be goners. You give me reason to hope, and a justification for the fortune I spent on stocking a horse medicine cabinet with stuff I haven't had to (and hopefully will never) use!

 

[novahobbies]

Well, we may have a success here. Last dose of Furan-2 was yesterday, and the spots were invisible when I dosed her. Today I'm doing a 25% water change, adding the carbon back to the hospital tank, and observing her for another 24 hours. If all goes well she'll be back in the tank by tomorrow night! BTW for anyone who's interested, I dosed the Furan-2 exactly how it's prescribed on the back of the box. I didn't see any alternate seahorse dosings on the .org site for Furan, so I hope I did it right. If anyone knows a different horse dose with Furan, pipe up!

 

[novahobbies]

BTW I want to say thanks for all the well-wishes and positive thoughts that have been coming this way -- I and my sick seahorse thank you all!!

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by novahobbies
http:///forum/post/3044494
Well, we may have a success here. Last dose of Furan-2 was yesterday, and the spots were invisible when I dosed her. Today I'm doing a 25% water change, adding the carbon back to the hospital tank, and observing her for another 24 hours. If all goes well she'll be back in the tank by tomorrow night! BTW for anyone who's interested, I dosed the Furan-2 exactly how it's prescribed on the back of the box. I didn't see any alternate seahorse dosings on the .org site for Furan, so I hope I did it right. If anyone knows a different horse dose with Furan, pipe up!

YIPPEEE....so glad to hear it...

 

[dingus890]

Originally Posted by novahobbies
http:///forum/post/3044494
Well, we may have a success here. Last dose of Furan-2 was yesterday, and the spots were invisible when I dosed her. Today I'm doing a 25% water change, adding the carbon back to the hospital tank, and observing her for another 24 hours. If all goes well she'll be back in the tank by tomorrow night! BTW for anyone who's interested, I dosed the Furan-2 exactly how it's prescribed on the back of the box. I didn't see any alternate seahorse dosings on the .org site for Furan, so I hope I did it right. If anyone knows a different horse dose with Furan, pipe up!
YAY! I'm so happy she is doing better. Congrats.

 

[novahobbies]

I got all worried yesterday 'cause she was curled up on the bottom of the tank, staring at the tank bottom. She scooted around but wouldn't leave the bottom. Then I realized -- the bottom of the tank is like a mirror in there, and she was looking at her reflection the whole time....think she's looking for another seahorse! Oh well, she'll be fine I think. She goes back in the display today!

 

[sueandherzoo]

Typical female -- always looking in the mirror.

She was probably primping to make sure no signs of illness remained -- wants to look her best for the re-union!
Sue

 

[novahobbies]

I'll be watching her carefully for the next couple of days, but she's back in the display tank for now. First thing she did: say hello to her male. Second thing she did:
poop.

gotta have priorities!!

 

[dingus890]

HAHAHA.. Su funny/cute! Hope she's doing well back home.