Levimasole

[palaeodave]

I really hope they'll accept photographs based on the current situation. What worries me is that the guy I eventually spoke to was supposed to be the aquarist specialist with Harbour Veterinary group, yet he seemed completely unconcerned for the wellfare of the fish being moved around in a delicate state.

Thanks for the warning about the filter. The filter in my small tank is due a clean anyway so I can squeeze the scum out of that back into the affected filter.

I'm still hopeful for a happy ending!

I'll ask about levimasole while I'm at it for the weedy angel, but I think thats a stress that can wait a few weeks after this.

[palaeodave]

Hi libingboy. The lines on my loaches are very similar looking and in the same position but they're a bit darker and more solid looking that the photos you've put up. I noticed last night some hemorrhaging at the base of the pectoral fins on my large male almorhae too, so keep an eye out for that. I'm still hoping that septicemia isn't the problem I have but its not looking good.

[shari2]

With the morph of this thread into BHS I was checking out my fish and noticed my clowns have similar red markings on the caudal peduncles, too. Don't recall that I've seen it before, but they are acting normally. I'm going to do a series of small water changes over the weekend and see if that changes.

I know angels will develop red lines around the dorsal ridge sometimes for mood reasons so I don't jump to the conclusion that it automatically means BHS. Hopefully it is the same with clowns... because I can't get the buggers to cooperate for a picture!

[palaeodave]

The vets are insisting that they have to see the fish (by law) and I'm not willing to risk it. The fact that the male loach is showing some red around the base of the pectorals isn't encouraging, but everyone really does seem to be doing fine. I did a 25% water change tonight and I'll do 10% every day for a week.

[Emma Turner]

Hmmmm, but still it's very risky to leave it though. Would they accept it if you took in just one of the angels and explained that all the other fish have the same symptoms? Although it will obviously be a little stressful for the fish, catching just one angel out of your tank might be easier (if you catch it unawares) than trying to catch the loaches out from amongst all the plants. If you package it up properly (get the lfs to oxygenate the bag up for you if you have to travel a distance to the vets) and keep it in the dark in a polybox, any stress will be minimised. It is worth considering, as you'd be gutted if you started losing your fish.

Just a thought,

Emma

[palaeodave]

Shouldn't they be dead by now? The red patch on the angel has been there for about six weeks (discovered it on some older photographs, thats how I know). Everyones' behaviour is fine, they're all eating well. My two gouramis are completely uneffected, the poor onely silver halfbeak is fine too. My angels were even breeding with the red patch present. I'm going to phone up and see if bringing in one angel would be acceptable as soon as I get a day off that isn't taken up with museum work in London.

This whole thing seems very strange.

[shari2]

I'd say that if the 'patch' on the angel has been there for a long time, it may not be BHS at all. As I said, watch their behavior before jumping to treatment. If they are breeding I highly doubt they are suffering from BHS. Angels will change in appearance over time, and with mood swings, or environment. They fade out, they darken, they develop irridescent patches, cloudy patches from altercations with each other, split fins for several possible reasons...the best indicator of problems with them is usually behavior.

Even with visible issues like ick, you will usually see first either rapid breathing (because it is often in the gills before you see spots) or flashing. Keep up the small water changes, and watch your almorhae. If there is absolutely no behavioral signs of illness, it is probably not BHS at all. Something to be thankful for. Unfortunately, once the behavioral signs begin you have very little time to make effective treatment. Which is why I brought up the possibility in the first place. BHS is very nasty and deadly. Wait too long and you have a dead fish and an infected tank.

If you can order it online, and it is legal, do so, just in case because you won't have time to do so once behavioral symptoms start. I always try to keep at least a gram negative/positive bacterial treatment, melafix, levamisole, and ick treatment in my medicine chest.

If I were you I'd try to get my hands on some levamisole and keep it in the fridge. Wonderful stuff. Cleans out nematodes, boosts the immune system, doesn't affect the biofilter or plants. I treat all new fish with it and if I am in doubt about an illness it's my first line of defense (unless its shredded fins on angels due to agression or stress or waiting too long between water changes-then I use Melafix).

Diagnosing fish, especially over the internet where you only have owner observations, is a risky business. You really need to see the fish and it's behavior and environment to get the whole picture. That's probably why the vet needs to see them, as much as the fact that it seems to be a legal issue there.

My sincere apologies if my comments led to panic. That was not my intent. Just watch them, keep up the water changes, and hope for the best. Trucking an angel that is behaving normally over to the vet is not necessary and would indeed be very stressful on the fish--not to mention yourself.

[palaeodave]

No no no, don't apologise for your comments, I've found this whole experience very enlightening. I'll definately stock up on a basic medication kit as you do. If things start going wrong with the loaches I can leap on it. I'd be devistated if anything happened to them (although filling my tank with striatas would probably cheer me up! ).

Levimasole is the way forward, hopefully get that runt angel up to speed with its family.

Thanks to everyone for their input. Hopefully I won't need medical advice again but at least now I'm in a slightly better position to deal with this if it does turn bad.