Loaches Online Forum

I quarantined a loach, it is acting like maybe dropsy, having a hard time balancing, swimming on its side, just laying on bottom, and has been hiding quite a bit last few weeks. I lessened the hideouts so I could check him out and yep, something is not right.

He doesn't have a mark on him that I can tell, no skin issues, no red spots, sores, nothing nothing nothing.

So LFS gave me Maracyn® Freshwater and first I used Levimisole for the 3rd time (about 2-3 weeks apart). 24 hours later did 50% water change and added Maracyn® Freshwater. It says no water changes during 5 day treatment.

Levamisole was used in tank twice now for skinny fish disease and fish are looking better. This fish didn't appear to have any issues ever.

The 10 gallon quarantine tank is looking very clowdy. Just after 2 tabs, one each day. 3rd tab and I see all this white like cloudy milky stuff in the water, which is probably just the antibiotic.

Anyone have experience with cloudyness from antibiotics before? This is first time I have use them.

Also, I moved the log last night to check on this fellow and he came out finally just a swimming all over the place, fast, looking good. Going to keep the 5 day treatment up. Then do 75% water change. If not doing well in about 3 days after that, I will switch to the Maracyn Plus with is for the gram + or - cannot remember, but is the opposite of the regular Maracyn.

Sound like a good plan, and anyone have experience with antibiotics and cloudyness?

Patti

Don't worry cloudy is somewhat normal.
You can also treat with maracyn 2 at the same time as maracyn one. The two work very well together for loaches and do not have drug interactions.
Stay with the maracyn for a least a week which is longer than the instructions recomend.
Good Luck
Erik
Btw for skinny disease another treatment that seem very good is PrazPro (praziquantel).
I find levamisole will make fish light sensitive in higher light conditions.
Cheers
Erik

Maracyn is for gram positive bacteria. My understanding is that most fish disease is usually caused by gram negative bacteria.
Maracyn 2 is for gram negative bacteria.

Used in combination they will slow the growth of most sorts of bacteria, whether the problem is from gram positive or gram negative. This reduces the possibility of secondary bacteria getting started in the weakened fish.

Hi Patti! I'm a Patti too. Hey, about a year ago I dosed my clown tank with Maracyn and Maracyn II at the same time. It was right after a thorough cleaning (probably too thorough). Anyway, the antibiotics made the water a little cloudy, then right after the second dose, the water got super cloudy and the fish all came to the surface to breath. I think maybe there wasn't enough good bacteria in the tank/filter and the medicine killed what was there. So, there was this bacterial bloom! All I could do was increase the aeration, and put in some Seachem Stability (for new tank syndrome). To me, this could be a problem in a hospital tank if it's newly set up. It would be a real good idea to grab a handful of gravel, some wood or even plants, from your established tank to avoid this. Just a heads up.