Weird Dilemma

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Weird Dilemma; To treat or not to treat?
Topic Started: Jul 5 2010, 12:09:33 PM (362 Views)
Post #1 Jul 5 2010, 12:09:33 PM	Suzy
This is a weird situation I have. Everyone knows I raise seahorses, and I have had them for years. These are an odd fish, not only their looks, their locomotion patterns, the interesting way they eat. But, because of this weird disease they get, that I have not heard of affecting other spp. Commonly known as Gas Bubble Disease. It has been studied a bit, but no conclusion yet as to the cause. Bob Burhans from Scripps aquarium told me he thought it was from something getting in a males pouch, (an unfertilized egg, floaty in the water, ect) and then becoming necrotic (spoiling) and releasing a gas. This seems feasible because sometimes you can flush the fish's pouch and he gets better. But, sometimes not, and it just keeps coming back. And, females can get it in their subcutaneous tissue. Plus, it seems that it might have a degree of contagiousness. So, when I get a male that is swimming funny (the belly bubbles make them float wierdly), I will flush his pouch with a small catheter. But, why can he not flush it himself? During courtship, they open their pouches to show off. The last few weeks, my herd has been a bit lethargic. And, 2 males have distended pouches. So, I put all of them (except one female who I didn't see in the main display) in a hospital tank, with a broad spectrum antibiotic, a gas inhibiting medicine, live food and live phytoplankton. I did flush the males pouches before I did this. But, one of the males had eggs! One tiny egg came out (I did a partial birth abortion?). I then left the rest to see what happened. They were born today. In the hospital tank. They look ok. They have been growing in a bacteria (?) filled pouch. So, do I leave them in the hospital type water? I put a nursery in there, with about 5 fry. I put the rest in a regular nursery, with warm water, ect. Both now have live phyto, my new smaller warm water pod, and adult gravid brine shrimp. Would it make sense that since they have been exposed to this bacteria (or virus, fungus, parasite, ect) and are still alive, that they have some sort of immunity?	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 Jul 6 2010, 07:31:34 AM	Larry H
For sure I am no expert , but my thoughts are that they may just be immune to the medicine when they and if they get that bacteria or what ever the cause is that causes those gas bubbles, and that a higher dose or a different kind of medicine may be needed. I hope I am wrong. It will be interesting to hear how they turn out in the future as far as that bubble thing goes. How many of the eggs survived to become little babies?	breeding stock Posts: 442 Group: Members Member #13 Joined: July 26, 2008



Post #3 Jul 13 2010, 08:03:26 AM	Amie
Wow, I have no idea. How are they doing now?	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 #4 Jul 13 2010, 09:08:13 AM	Suzy
Most look good, a few seem smaller. I can't tell which ones got treated and which didn't.... Oops. There goes my research credibility!	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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