Trigger Acting Blind

[robbins]

Looking for a little help. We have a 90 gal tank, fish only. We added two fish about two weeks ago and last week we noticed what appeared to be an external parasite on several fish. We currently do not have a hospital tank to transfer fish. So we treated the tank with formalin several time. All fish seemed to be doing better after the second treatment. However, our Trigger started to act lethargic. He becase worse as the as several days progressed. He has been laying on the bottom of the tank for 5 days very lethargic. He will eat if we place small amounts of food in front of his mouth. What has surprised us is now, he has started to swim around the tank, however he appears to be not seeing well and bumping into the tank sides and structures within the tank. We have tested the water and all apears fine. All the other fish are continually eating and seem fine. Trigger lays on the bottom of the tank all day, durring the evening he will swim aimlessly around the tank. Has anyone heard of Formalin causing blindness or damage to the eyes. If so why would this just effect one fish. Please help if you have any ideas. Thanks <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />

 

[robbins]

I understand that. However, maybe I have been missinformed for the past two years on the formalin treatment. What I was given by a marine biologist who owns a exellect looking shop was a treatment from "Aquarium Products" it is formaldehye at 37%. It states that is is for the treatment of Tropical and Marine Fish for external protozacide. It is one drop per gallon, treat ever two days until under control, 25% water change then one treatment in 10 days followed by another water treatment. I know that this treatment is harsh, however it has never effected the fish badly. I always provide plenty of oxegen and do the water changes as directed. The treatment always seems to works. I will look up the information you requested. As we all know one person's treatment is not the answer to another persons needs and I may have been misinformed.

 

[robbins]

I really appreciate your help Terry. I agree that treatments have changed over the years and continue to do so. The MB guy that had advised me on the treatment has a fish shop. He has always given me good advise and treatments, but I always have questioned the one I used. I will start working on a water change and will not be able to complete until tomorrow night. How much do you recommend? 30% or more? All the other fish seem okay, eating and and swimming, still a little scratching. I am still concerned about the trigger, thought I lost him a week ago. He lays on the bottom of the tank durring the day and swims aimlessly at night. He is still not eating on his own, he is a fighter and I would like to do what ever I can for him. Do you have any recomendations for him? Should I just continue to try to feed him and start the hypo in the tank? I am trying to perform a search to get more information on the hypo treatment and having some trouble. Is there any way you can direct me more information on the hypo treatment. From what I have read it is lowering the salinity in the tank and keeping it there for 30 days. Should this be done in gradual steps? Is there a certian way it should be performed? And does hypo work on other types of paristies?

 

[robbins]

Okay thanks alot, the hypo treatments sounds like a little more work but I would rather do that then meds, copper or form. I have a wet/dry bio filter systems. Is there any adjustments to the PH or do you keep at normal range? Is there any adjustments to the temp of the tank or dose that remain at normal limits? Soaking the food in garlic helps? And should I be doing that "yet another new treatment for me". Sorry guys I know this is old hat for you, but new for me. I would appreaciate any advise you can muster.

 

[robbins]

Thanks Ed!
I have had a saltwater tank for 6 years now and love learning something new.ime. I really appreciate your help. Just so you know I did order a pinpoint monitor today and should have it tomorrow. I hope everything works out okay, I just hope the trigger is going to get any better or if I am going to have a blind wondering baby to hand feed all the time. Thanks again.

 

[robbins]

Okay, thanks alot, I thought I had read that somewhere in the earlier posts. Thanks again for your help.

 

[robbins]

Just wanted to update everyone that helped. We lost trigger sometime in the night. Don't know how he managed it but he jumped out of the tank through a small opening in the back where the hood fits. We started Hypo slowly last night, maybe I stressed him out more than he was. Everyone else in the tank is doing well. He was acting pretty strange last night. Swimming on the top of the tank, face out of the water and spitting/shooting water out of his mouth. He was acting like the PH was off, tested it, is as 8.1 as it has been. We are still doing hypo for all the others and so far so good. Thanks again everyone we appreciate all you help and advise! <img src="graemlins//uhuh.gif" border="0" alt="[U-Huh]" />

 

[robbins]

I am sure you are right Terry B. I never doubted your remarks, your knowledge or your experiance. That is why I am on the board, to get help and information and learn new things. I thought that was what this board is all about. The treatment that I used may have been wrong based on your experience but, unfortunatly I don't have your experiance and I am trying to learn. Now that I know the process of hypo, that is what I am going to do from now on. Sorry if my questions and my mistakes in the treatments offendend you, never met them too.
Thanks again for you help.