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An Easy Hospital/quarantine tank
Topic Started: Oct 18 2009, 05:42:10 PM (170 Views)
Post #1 Oct 18 2009, 05:42:10 PM	Suzy
Hey, Guys! I thought this might be a good time to discuss hospital/quarantine tanks because we all need them once in a while, but I find it hard to keep a tank cycled and waiting empty. I find any tank I set up usually gets to be a specimen tank! I keep this empty 5 gallon tank handy for this sort of occasion, and keep a sponge filter in my sump, ready and already colonized with denitrating bacteria. I have used a bucket before and it works well, but this fish seems pretty low stressed, so I thought she would be ok in this tank, where I can visualize her symptoms. I add an airline for water movement, but no heater. Pathogens grow slower in cooler water. I use both a broad spectrum antibacterial med and an anti-parasite/antifungal. Hopefully, the pathogen will succumb but the fish won't.... Posted Image	Seahorse Whisperer Posts: 3,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: June 28, 2008
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny!
Post #2 Oct 24 2009, 05:49:29 PM	Suzy
Man, I hate having a sick fish..... Eight Bells is still in ICU. She has what appears to be external gas bubbles disease, which manifests by altering the fish's ability to swim normally. But, before treatment, she was floating and used great effort and energy to eat. Now, after a few days in ICU, she is very weak and unable to swim upright, but she is not floating anymore. She is still eating. So, if she still has symptoms Monday, I will inject live shrimp with medication. I have been not wanting to do that, because the stupid things won't sit still when you come at them with a needle, but even more, I am afraid she will not eat if the food tastes like medicine....' She is breathing at a normal rate so I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best. She is my best fish.... Posted Image	Seahorse Whisperer Posts: 3,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: June 28, 2008
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny!
Post #3 Oct 26 2009, 10:53:39 AM	Suzy
So, I got the medicine to treat this fish. She is still eating so I am going to make myself inject a shrimp. Yuk! They won't be still! Eight Bells has a odd dzz that affects seahorses, termed gas bubble dzz. She had external bubbles, under her skin on her tail. After a course of broad spectrum antibiotic, antifungal and antiparasitic treatment, the obvious bubbles are gone, but are now open wounds. But, she is still swimming with much difficulty, not floating but resting sideways on the bottom of the tank. Could she have internal bubbles still? I am not sure if she needs the co2 antagonist I have, but I think one dose couldn't hurt. If it helps, I will know for next time. If not, I will know I tried, right? I gave it a shot. get it? I gave IT a shot?! Really, it is hard to be a shrimp at Suzys Reef.... But, does anyone know an easier way to give a fish a pill?	Seahorse Whisperer Posts: 3,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: June 28, 2008
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny!
Post #4 Oct 26 2009, 05:44:53 PM	Amie
She's not looking too great, I hope she's okay. I think the best way to give them a pill is to give the pill to the food they are eating, even if it kills it. When we give a pill to our dog, we put it in a piece of hot dog, and have 2 pieces of hot dog in our hands, one that he gets, and one that he sees is coming after he swollows the first one. He never spits out the pill because he's too busy thinking that he needs to gulp down the hotdog so he can get the 2nd piece. Works everytime. I'm not sure that little story helps any, but interesting, right? What do the shrimp eat that the fish eats? Any chance the food for the shrimp can somehow be laced with the medicine?	stormy, stormy nights Posts: 2,362 Group: Admin Member #4 Joined: June 29, 2008
http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/interns.html Tell them Adam sent you.
Post #5 Oct 26 2009, 05:48:09 PM	Amie
Regarding the hospital tank. If I ever need a hospital tank, I set up a 10-gallon tank and do a huge water change on the tank that the fish is coming from. If the tank needs more water, I'll drip it in over a few days. I use an Over-the-Back filter and a heater, and I'm done. Takes about 10 minutes to set up. It takes a lot longer to catch the fish. I've never done the sponge filter thing because of all the bristleworms I have. They will totally cover any sponge I put in my refugium.	stormy, stormy nights Posts: 2,362 Group: Admin Member #4 Joined: June 29, 2008
http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/interns.html Tell them Adam sent you.
Post #6 Oct 27 2009, 08:26:34 AM	Suzy
The sponge brings in bristle worms, little starfish and a few pods, but they clean up the food that the sick fish is offered. The ABX RX doesn't hurt them. So, she is upright today! Lethargic but upright!	Seahorse Whisperer Posts: 3,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: June 28, 2008
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny!
Post #7 Oct 27 2009, 01:24:27 PM	Suzy
Sweeet! She ate frozen PE mysis! I really wish I had thought to take a photo of the live mysis on the needle. It actually is easier than I thought it would be. The shrimp held quite a lot more fluid than I thought it would.	Seahorse Whisperer Posts: 3,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: June 28, 2008
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny!
Post #8 Oct 28 2009, 09:59:56 PM	Amie
Fantastic, glad it's working.	stormy, stormy nights Posts: 2,362 Group: Admin Member #4 Joined: June 29, 2008
http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/interns.html Tell them Adam sent you.
Post #9 Oct 29 2009, 07:50:31 AM	Suzy
Me, too! She is/was my best female.I hope she still wants to procreate. If now, I will just have to love her for her cuteness!	Seahorse Whisperer Posts: 3,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: June 28, 2008
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny!
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