Shifting Gears, the mother of my Throttle spawn is dying.
What is so upsetting, is that I know what she is sick from, but it is not responding to treatment.
She has come down with columnaris, which is the same thing that killed her sister, Sinful Decadence.
It is presenting the same exact way, and nothing is working.
When I just looked at her, I saw it is actually spreading. Throttle is also ill, and I can't help but to winder if he might have it as well.. So I am treating him as though he has it, but thus far, I am seeing no change in his appreance, or behavior.
The good news is that while he isn't presenting the "saddleback" appearance, and though he is lethargic, and clampy, he has not lost his appetite.
I have been medding Domino as well, because I didn;t like how she was acting, and coming from the same tank that he did, whatever he has, she likely has as well.
What is interesting is that Image, who was ALSO in the tank with the two of them, (the presence of another female often spurs Dom to breed, though it sisn't this go round), she is looking, acting, and feeling fine.
I swear, this house is killing my fish.
I also have in the sick room, the yellow male, and two yellow females, though I have been getting the feeling that the two females are playing me.
They eat, they just haven't the additude, I guess I want to say.
Not anything that says this fish is sick, but something that says something is not quite right.
So I have them in the sick room for close observation.
Still, I want to pull my hair out.
Every time I think, OK, my fish are fine, I have another come down ill with something, not respond, and die.
I am just glad that I caught this early, and that it even though it is spreading on Gears, it isn't spreading as fast as it did on Sin..
Sin had also dropsied, and I was treating her, because I want to beat this thing. And she was responding well.. Then one day, she stopped eating, started bottom hanging.. the next morning, (which for me is a couple hours later), she was dead, and there were two HUGE columnaris patches, one across the front of her dorsal, and one across the back.
I really don't think the dropsy killed her, I think the columnaris did. I have pics, and they are pretty gruesome.
What bothers me, is that a couple days ago, I saw the first signs of columnaris, across the rear of the dorsal, and today, there is another patch starting across the front, and I don't know what else to do other than what I am doing, which obviously isn't working.

ARGH, I feel your frustration! I HATE columnaris! Freaking worst disease God gave fish (other than dropsy, mayhaps). :( I hope things work out.

what about trying the Betta Revive I talked about before???
I swear by it bc so often a bettas immune system gets weakened by something and they get a secondary infection.

My personal ethics won't allow it.
With the exception of dropsy, which I am just trying to find something that might work to sure it.
This is what I have come to believe during my over 25 years of reading, and researching animal husbandry.
Immune systems are tied to our genetic structure. I believe that a healthy animal, with a healthy immune systen should be able to fight off common infections with a minimum of basic supportive care.
Example.. I have cured parvo in puppies by means of latic ringers, and level one antibiotics along with some home remedy stuff, right out of my kitchen.
Yes, there were some that died. But I found that when I went all out to save a puppy from parvo, those ones that didn't respond to basic supportive care, they were always prone to disease.
That told me that the ones that I could save with minimal treatment had a naturally strong immune system, which again, I tied to genetic heath.
Extrapolating that to bettas, again, I think that a healthy fish should be able to fight off diease with a minimum of care. Those that do, have the gentic health I want.
Those that don't, I am sorry, but you are a danger to my fish room, because their suseptibility could help to introduce pathogens to my fishroom.
Now, I must have missed the betta revive post you are talking about, but I don't think that a genetically healthy fish should neeed something to boost it's immune system. Level one antibiotics, good food (if it is eating), and clean water) should be all the breeding stock needs to get well.
If not, it is not worthy of being breeding stock.
I know that sounds harsh, but I have seen the results of breeding pretty animals, without reguard to their genetic health.. For example, most genetic hip displaysia in GSDs traces back to ONE stud, used extensively because of his slopping topline from shoulder to hip... which was because of him being dysplastic.
I am just frustrated, because I liked this female, and her not responding to treatment is a blow in more than one way.
If I am a bit short, it is because I am tired, and frustrated.. I have lost a lot of fish to different reasons, mostly because my house is killing my fish, and she is just another fish to fall under the curse.

well, i hope it works out. Columnaris can be resistant to some of the older meds. New strains and what not. I wish you all luck though.
I will keep you in mind.

I know.
It is just tiring, the water issues, the sick fish, the other stuff I amgoing through..not just fish wise, but personal life.
What I find facinating, is that she ss presenting EXACTLY the same way as her spawn sister.. and they haven't shared a tank in who knows how long.

Have you checked if the house has copper piping?

This place is new, so whatever it has, it has to be up to code.
I don't think this place is any more than 5 years old, maybe 10 tops. The only pipes I can see are steel pipes waste pipes... And there is no basement, so I have no idea.. why do you ask?

copper pipes can leach copper in the water. Also, phosphorus is added to copper piped systems to keep us from consuming the copper. Copper can poison us too. Remember the whole thing with women dying from not having IUD's removed... bc IUD's work by releasing copper into the body preventing pregnancy, but as they break down, more and more copper is released.

this is what i think, anyways.

Yep! Copper is toxic to fish. You should be okay as far as that goes. The only copper you should have will be in your hot water lines. Not sure about the water heater innerds though. If you are concerned just run your water for a few minutes before using it for your fish. If I recall, you age your water so there's no reason to use hot. It was just a thought as to what's going on with your fish.

I sowwy. Hope she gets better. :(

How long have you been in this new place? I know that when I have received my fish after shipping, it takes a couple of weeks for them to really settle and liven up again, adjust to the new water, surroundings, etc.

Do you have any betta spa stuff, ot IAL? If you have either or both, put that into the tank/storage device that you use to age your water with a bit of salt, and just keep refilling it. The inicial Oomph will help the fishies be happier and liven up, and just putting it in the tank/storage device and just filling it makes it so they get the treatment a little less bit by bit over time, so it weens them off of being spoiled slowly, so they continue to keep up spirits. The salt and IAL also may act as a preventative against the continuation of the stress of the move and the surroundings.

Hope every thing goes well!

I think she been moving there since in the middle of january. Yes. IAL will going to absorpt the alkaline chemical for sure. She need IAL leaf in her water now. ^_^

Yup yup! Listen to da MAN!