Bladder Disease Skin Discoloration

Hello. I have a 2.5 year old calico fantail (appropriately named Cali). I have learned a great lesson about algae waffers. She is large enough to swallow a whole waffer, and now I know I need to soak the waffers before hand. Anyway, she's has boyancy issues going on about a month now, which I've read is not uncommon. She gets hand fed peas once a week and salt baths. I am only concerned now as her bloated side is showing what looks to be inflammation. I am wondering of it is because she can't keep the area moist, or if the bloat is just too far gone. If it is topical, is there something more that I can do to protect that skin? Any advice is appreciated.

 

What size is the tank? What are the water parameters? What is the temperature? Does the fish have a similarly-colored spot anywhere else on its body? Does it change colors often? When you say salt baths, do you mean Epsom salt? Are there any other symptoms?

 

It is a 90 gallon tank. Six months ago I had to move it, but I took a ton of the water with me and used the same filters. Her tank mates are all fine (one oranda and a 3 weather loaches). I check my water frequently and my perimeters have always been perfect. I know that her swallowing a whole waffer blocked her up, but she continues to have an appetite. Water temp is about 68, maybe a bit cooler with the ac running. She does not have any of this discoloration on her body, I have just begun to notice it yesterday. She never changes colors. No other symptoms just the buoyancy and now color. And yes, I mean Epson salt. She still seems to have a normal amount of energy, it's just tough for her to dive or right herself. My fear is that the waffer induced constipation caused irreparable damage to her blogger sacks. As I said though, she's normal apart from her floating and now discoloration.

 

It is a 90 gallon tank. Six months ago I had to move it, but I took a ton of the water with me and used the same filters. Her tank mates are all fine (one oranda and a 3 weather loaches). I check my water frequently and my perimeters have always been perfect. I know that her swallowing a whole waffer blocked her up, but she continues to have an appetite. Water temp is about 68, maybe a bit cooler with the ac running. She does not have any of this discoloration on her body, I have just begun to notice it yesterday. She never changes colors. No other symptoms just the buoyancy and now color. And yes, I mean Epson salt. She still seems to have a normal amount of energy, it's just tough for her to dive or right herself. My fear is that the waffer induced constipation caused irreparable damage to her blogger sacks. As I said though, she's normal apart from her floating and now discoloration.

All right. The discoloration almost looks like septicemia, but it’s only on one spot, which is strange. Does it feel different from the rest of her body? I would personally perform daily 25% water changes with the addition of Seachem Stress Guard to protect the skin. A methylene blue bath may be necessary at some point for the skin, but Epsom salt baths already seem stressful enough. Continue the baths and maybe perform a 5-day fast on her. After the fast, feed her a pea and then continue normal feeding with a pea once a week, as you were doing previously.

 

I did one methaline blue dip way back at the start, but not since. She only gets fed once a week. I take tank water (about 25% like you said) in a bucket and pit her in. I push het down to the pea and she gulps it up. Them I give her the salt bath. I put in fresh water with stress coat. It doesn't feel different, still seems like she has a nice slime coat. Poor dear. If it is septic, is another methaline blue bath a good idea? I have also inherited a ton of fish meds that I've never used. I could put her in qt and treat her if you have any recomendations. Otherwise, I'll keep at it and maybe do another blue dip.

 

I did one methaline blue dip way back at the start, but not since. She only gets fed once a week. I take tank water (about 25% like you said) in a bucket and pit her in. I push het down to the pea and she gulps it up. Them I give her the salt bath. I put in fresh water with stress coat. It doesn't feel different, still seems like she has a nice slime coat. Poor dear. If it is septic, is another methaline blue bath a good idea? I have also inherited a ton of fish meds that I've never used. I could put her in qt and treat her if you have any recomendations. Otherwise, I'll keep at it and maybe do another blue dip.

I would personally try another blue dip and see what happens. Don’t do the salt and blue dip in one day, though. This would be too stressful.

 

Will do. Thanks.

 

Goldiemom
No problem. Maybe she'll chip in to help as well.

 

Adriifu gave some very good advice. It could be the start of a bacterial infection. API General Cure May help. Let’s get a 2nd opinion from Gypsy13.

 

Adriifu gave some very good advice. It could be the start of a bacterial infection. API General Cure May help. Let’s get a 2nd opinion from Gypsy13.

We're bringing in all the pros

 

I appreciate it. I have a ton of meds that came with the tank but have never used. I'm not home right now to look, but I think I have Konaflex (sp?) and melatrex (again I'm not looking at the bottle, just trying to go from memory). There's at least one more. I'll get back to you on what I've got, but I'll go out and buy whatever you recommend. I did the blue dip today. Looking at tuesday for a pea and salt bath. I was wondering also...is it a good idea to put a net (or some sort of blockage) to keep her below the water line to keep that skin moist? Again, I appreciate all of the help; no matter how long you work with pets and wildlife, you always learn something new!

 

I appreciate it. I have a ton of meds that came with the tank but have never used. I'm not home right now to look, but I think I have Konaflex (sp?) and melatrex (again I'm not looking at the bottle, just trying to go from memory). There's at least one more. I'll get back to you on what I've got, but I'll go out and buy whatever you recommend. I did the blue dip today. Looking at tuesday for a pea and salt bath. I was wondering also...is it a good idea to put a net (or some sort of blockage) to keep her below the water line to keep that skin moist? Again, I appreciate all of the help; no matter how long you work with pets and wildlife, you always learn something new!

The net may be a decent idea. I’m assuming you mean Kanaplex and Melafix for the meds.

 

She actually looks better, more orange than red so I think the blue helped. And yep I have kanaplex, melafix, and apI triple sulfa. I'm happy so far with the blue results, how often should I dip her (until the skin color is normal), once a week?

 

She actually looks better, more orange than red so I think the blue helped. And yep I have kanaplex, melafix, and apI triple sulfa. I'm happy so far with the blue results, how often should I dip her (until the skin color is normal), once a week?

I would do methylene blue baths every other day and salt baths the days that you don't do the blue. Glad you're seeing results Can we get a pic of them?

 

She still has a red fin, but the bloated area is a faded orange.

 

She still has a red fin, but the bloated area is a faded orange.

Wow! That improved a lot. Is her fin normally that red?

 

Ok, so the skin was the color of the fin now, but is much improved. But I think the fin is worse, like it just moved over. Urg, all this because of an algae waffer, poor baby.

 

Ok, so the skin was the color of the fin now, but is much improved. But I think the fin is worse, like it just moved over. Urg, all this because of an algae waffer, poor baby.

Yeah, this definitely reminds me of septicemia. Just continue the baths. Keep updating us. Good luck.

 

I was thinking of triple sulfa, but came home today and her color was much better, very little red (her tummy is always orange), especially that fin. So I just did another blue dip.

For fun, here's a pic of my big loach looking for food/dead skin. My mom swears her fingers look better after she "plays" with the loaches, but I haven't noticed any smoother skin...lol

 

I was thinking of triple sulfa, but came home today and her color was much better, very little red (her tummy is always orange), especially that fin. So I just did another blue dip.

For fun, here's a pic of my big loach looking for food/dead skin. My mom swears her fingers look better after she "plays" with the loaches, but I haven't noticed any smoother skin...lol

Awesome! I’m glad you’re getting results That’s a very pretty loach.