Swimming problem? PLEASE HELP

nitrex

Member
Basically I've been treating my flame angel for some type of parasite-ich, brookynella etc...with hypo and Desafin. I think I've rid the fish of the parasite, but now the fish has severe equlibrium problems. He is now starting to breath noramal and inspite of not eating for about 12 days, his color and body are excellent. He is now trying to eat. The major problem is he is fighting to swim upright constantly and has been since the first modified freshwater bath--SG 1.03 for half an hour with desafin which is a mixture of Formalin and Quinine.
This fish was just about dead after my modified freshwater/salt bath (SPG 1.04) and was barely breathing, in fact he laid on his side for two days before he decided he would attempt to really try and fight for his life. Now he is fighing, but I think I need to take a new direction with my approach. I am thinking I might try and raise the salinity in the tank, but keeping desafin in to keep any parasites from making another attack. Any thoughts would be helpful. This was my second attempt using hypo so I have little experience with it.
Some additional Info: It's been 11 days since treatment began, the water quality is excellent.
<img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />
 

nitrex

Member
I haven't dipped since the initial dip, too risky. The fish's health has been improving which may be a sign that his immune system is adapting to the desafin. I did just perform a 75% water change on sunday, but I added --again-- a very low dose of desafin.
The only reason I was adding the desafin was 1) I knew there was no way in hell I could give him another fresh water bath and 2) I was afraid the parasite already made some internal infestations and I needed to get them out asap, which hypo won't achieve--am I wrong? If I am not mistaken, hypo only works when the parasite is in its free floating stage and trying to multiply, correct? The outside pressure is too low so it can't convert the salt to water? I honestly think the Desafin is what really saved him initially, but it might be killing him like you suggest <img src="graemlins//confused2.gif" border="0" alt="[confused2]" /> ... any additional thoughts?
I added carbon to the filter this mornig to remove all desafin as a temporary solution (damm work thing keeps getting in the way--can you beleive that my boss expects me to show up for work when I have a dying fish <img src="graemlins//bah.gif" border="0" alt="[bah]" /> ). Tonight I'll change the water again and heed your advice...I don't know why I didn't think of that...thanx!!! :D
BTW, where can I get a refractometer?
 
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