It sounds as if they still have an infection, it's perfectly possible for the bacteria to resist the anti-biotic (if it is a bacteria, I have no idea how suseptable fish are to any Virus' or Paramecium).

I believe that antibiotics can have occasionaly difficulty working on major internal problems because they are intoduced to the environment rather than directly into the fishes tissues. As it seemed to help, I would try the FURAN 2 again once it is safe to do so. If that doesn't work then the Maracyn could be worth a try.

Hi Heather, I was pointed here from your pictures in the photo gallery.

I have seen this type of infection before and it is nasty. This is common in tanks with sharp objects, I've seen it mostly in Bi-orbs with unaware owners thinking they're just old.

From the pics and the info you have posted here it seems to me that your fish is experiencing a fungal infection called columnirous or flex and it can be extremely difficult to treat. Your fish has the white streaks, loss of colour, drooping tails and drooping finage which all scream to me that this is the same thing. The only thing it hasn't got yet is the fluffy white warts at the point of infection.

Have a look at the eyes, if they are flattened then the cause of the eye problem is rubbing against the glass and not the infection itself.

I don't know what the cure is but I am almost certain that the cause is wound related, and small insignificant wounds at that.

The picture shows a highly agitated white area around the mouth. To me that would suggest the original point of infection is at the mouth. You have what looks like a particularly coarse rock ornament in one of your pics, I'd remove that as prime suspect.

Hi thanks for all the advice ..tonight i have removed the old biorb media from my tank ..took ages ..and the large ornamental rock in the middle of the tank ..all of which i gather could be harming my fish ..to which i didnt even realize ! so there all gone ...have just started a coarse of marycyn and marycyn 2 for five days ..i also got some amquel in case it effects the cycling and cause ammonia spikes etc ...so fingers crossed for the little dears that this will be the road to a speedy recovery..ill keep you posted on there progress ...and if anyone has any other ideas theyd be appreciated..sorry 2 suey2 i started the coarse of marycyn before i read about the salt ..

thanks guys and galls youre great on here xx

No worries Heather - FX this does the trick - let us know how they get on

so sorry your fish are sick.


have you tried adding salt to your tank? you can't use salt with most of the meds for fish so you'll need to wait a week or do a water change perhaps. salt is a cheap, natural way to kill parasites on the fish and in the tank. if you use the right amount it will not hurt the fish.

if the eye is sore due to a bump it will heal in time.

if the tank got dirty water or the meds you've used contained formalin the eyes will need salt water 0.3% and Stress Coat. you could also ask your vet for an injection of Azactam. (it takes a brave person with a stead hand to inject a fish i would only try this if you are 100% sure you know what you're doing)

i got this info from the book fancy goldfish by Dr. Erik L. Johnson, D.V.M. (if you don't already have the book, you should get it because it covers everything!)

That Johnson & Hess book is very good but remember it is American so some of the treatments referred to are not available here, some are vet prescription only, and some of the invasive procedures described are definitely 'don't try this at home' as it would not be lawful for an untrained person to do them under our law ...

I think maracyn/maracyn plus will def. kill off filter bacteria so I'd invest in an ammonia alert as well as getting ready to use the amquel as it may upset your usual ammonia test.

FX for you.

Hi,
ive got a seachem ammonia alert already and watching things closely.....they seem a bit happier with just removing the rocks and media !!! when ive finished treating them would you suggest running a coarse of carbon in filters and should i replace the old filter sponges or do you think just a good rinse in tank water would be ok ..?
thanks
Heather

Definitely run carbon to get the meds out once the course is done. I was talking to Brendan1 today, he's just done a maracyn treatment and says it knocked the filter bacteria a bit but it doesn't seem to be completely dead. He had some ammonia spikes afterwards but a few water changes later and it seems to have stabilised. So I would go for a good rinse in tank water and monitor closely FX ...