I lost him

My male crowntail with the neverending finrot died yesterday. He had been really bad in the last 2 days, sticking to the surface and barely moving.

I was experimenting with filters, thinking that a powerfilter was perhaps contributing, but his tank became dirty really quickly with the air filter, so I plugged a really weak powerfilter in 2 days ago, and he started getting worse again, despite some regrowth of the long rays (nothing major, about 2mm of regrowth on 2 rays).

Doesn't help that the cleaning lady used the plug and didn't plug his heater back in for a whole day, so the water was freezing cold when we got back from work one day last week.

Anyways, in the last two days, he started to get body rot (his body was discoloring where it touched the affected fins) and his dorsal fin had the bones visible.

So I gave him Triple Sulfa yesterday, and 5 min later, he was dead. I had bought clove oil just in case, so in a way I am glad I didn't have to make the decision myself. But I wonder what could have pushed him over the edge. I really hope I didn't overdose him on Triple Sulfa? I followed the instructions, but my pH is 8.0, so maybe I was supposed to underdose?

I feel like I've tried everything, so I don't really have regrets. I am just really puzzled as to what to do with my next male, in case that happens again. It's so frustrating.

RIP, little guy.

 

HI Armadillo...
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I'm sure you did everything you could have.. some times its just not enough to save them. I'm not sure what could have happened with the triple sulfa and whether it was coincidental that he died right after you put the meds in or not. It sounds like he was in a very weak state anyway and that it was just his time to go..
~ kate

 

Thanks, Kate.

Yes, that's what I like to think, that the Triple Sulfa was just that one drop too many. He was really really really weak. Before I put the TS in, I could see no life in his eyes. He was still 'swimming' (with what was left of his side fins, so sad), but his eyes had lost all, I don't know, sparkle. I even took a closer look because I thought maybe he'd even lost his eyes somehow.

Ricktavious was so kind to send me the TS, I really want to know that I can use it. You know what I mean? I mean it's not like I could just throw it away, it really meant somethign to me that someone was that nice to buy it for me and send it across. It would be a real shame if I hesitated to use it next time round.

Have any of you ever had a problem with TS overdosing, if you followed the recommended doses?

 

Sweetheart i'm sorry 'mr monkey'has gone. My first male betta that had the ulcer on it's head died just after I put the meds in too. Maybe they were just too poorly to cope with the change in their water. I know you tried hard to heal him and so will he. You won't let it put you off another male will you? I know they are more of a worry than females but worth it.

 

AWW that is terrible... I can relate tho...my angelfish which had bloat was sick for weeks...treated him with everything only for him to die on me.
It feel worse when you spend so much time trying to heal them.

 

I am sorry your little guy passed away. :'(

I really don't think it was the Triple Sulfa. Those dosages are very conservative and experienced fish people use overdoses of meds all the time when they feel it's needed.
I have a feeling the finrot was only a symptom of a far worse problem. Probably a bad internal infection or even a cancerous tumor. The stress of being sick and in pain almost always causes finrot. Triple Sulfa only cures external problems like finrot and fungus. If he had an internal problem, which it looks like he did, he would have needed a stronger med like Kanaplex.

The temp fluctuation probably didn't help either. You should make a sign for your cleaning lady and talk to her to make sure she does not use the plug at all. (It's too easy to forget to plug it back in). I've done it a couple times myself when unplugging the heater to clean and forget to plug it back in for a few hours.

If there is any way at all you can get a hold of some Maracyn-Two that would be a good thing to have on hand. It not only treats finrot but also internal bacterial infections that could be causing it.
I wonder if most of the cases of chronic finrot are caused by something else internally and that is why treating the symptom (finrot) doesn't help if the cause is still there.

 

The triple sulfa didn't affect him either way I think. We're really sorry you lost him. :'( :'( You did all you could to save him.

 

:'(Armadillo, I am so sorry for your loss. Every one we lose takes a piece of hearts, don't they? You are a good betta Mom and did all you could for him.

Val

 

Armadillo, I'm so sorry for your loss. :'( I wish I could tell you what was wrong with him, but I can't. Phlox is probably right though he probably had some kind of internal infection. Another maracyn med you could try is maracyn plus if you can get a hold of some. It's much easier to dose then the pills and powder are. Maracyn plus takes care of everything including Dropsy, finrot, internal and external infection, etc. It takes care of a huge spectrum of diseases and symptoms of diseases. It works great. I hope that you can fill that hole in your heart again soon. Natalie

 

I am so sorry for your loss.
Tom

 

Thanks, Michelle.

Well actually maybe it has, you know (put me off another male). I know they're so beautiful, but I feel a little irresponsible getting another one not knowing exactly how to improve the setup to maximise the new guy's chances.

Sweetheart i'm sorry 'mr monkey'has gone. My first male betta that had the ulcer on it's head died just after I put the meds in too. Maybe they were just too poorly to cope with the change in their water. I know you tried hard to heal him and so will he. You won't let it put you off another male will you? I know they are more of a worry than females but worth it.

 

Thanks a lot, Phlox. I'll try to get a hold of Maracyn, Maracyn-2 and Kanaplex. Definitely good things to have on hand. Am building up quite the pharmacy now, and was wondering if the sell by dates were super important. As I've got a lot variety and am thinking I'll never use it all up.

I hope you're right about teh internal infection. That definitely woudl explain why he was depressed from day one. Poor little guy.

I am sorry your little guy passed away. :'(

I really don't think it was the Triple Sulfa. Those dosages are very conservative and experienced fish people use overdoses of meds all the time when they feel it's needed.
I have a feeling the finrot was only a symptom of a far worse problem. Probably a bad internal infection or even a cancerous tumor. The stress of being sick and in pain almost always causes finrot. Triple Sulfa only cures external problems like finrot and fungus. If he had an internal problem, which it looks like he did, he would have needed a stronger med like Kanaplex.

The temp fluctuation probably didn't help either. You should make a sign for your cleaning lady and talk to her to make sure she does not use the plug at all. (It's too easy to forget to plug it back in). I've done it a couple times myself when unplugging the heater to clean and forget to plug it back in for a few hours.

If there is any way at all you can get a hold of some Maracyn-Two that would be a good thing to have on hand. It not only treats finrot but also internal bacterial infections that could be causing it.
I wonder if most of the cases of chronic finrot are caused by something else internally and that is why treating the symptom (finrot) doesn't help if the cause is still there.

 

Thanks, Val. I know you've had some betta losses of your own, so you know what it's like. To be honest, he's been suffering pretty much from day one, so am feeling very relieved for him. It's just such a shame as I kept thinking: you never know, there's been more surprising things in life than a complete about-turn in a poor fish' health. But not this time.

:'(Armadillo, I am so sorry for your loss. Every one we lose takes a piece of hearts, don't they? You are a good betta Mom and did all you could for him.

Val

 

Thanks, Nathalie. I'll try to get a hold of that. Does Maracyn plus correspond to Maracyn 2 or Maracyn?

Armadillo, I'm so sorry for your loss. :'( I wish I could tell you what was wrong with him, but I can't. Phlox is probably right though he probably had some kind of internal infection. Another maracyn med you could try is maracyn plus if you can get a hold of some. It's much easier to dose then the pills and powder are. Maracyn plus takes care of everything including Dropsy, finrot, internal and external infection, etc. It takes care of a huge spectrum of diseases and symptoms of diseases. It works great. I hope that you can fill that hole in your heart again soon. Natalie

 

maracyns

Maracyn Plus is different from Maracyn and Maracyn 2.

Thanks, Nathalie. I'll try to get a hold of that. Does Maracyn plus correspond to Maracyn 2 or Maracyn?

 

Maracyn Plus is a partially Sulfa based medication but entirely different than any other medication on the market. I do like it very much for its ease in dosing. It is a liquid and is easy to use and you only give it every other day for 3 doses but for really severe finrot I still trust the TrI Sulfa most.

I am so sorry for your loss and you do have my deepest sympathies. I do know how much this does hurt but please do not think that the medication or anything that you did caused this.

I truly do believe that you can trust the medication and you should keep it and use it again if the situation presents itself again.

Again, I am so sorry to hear of your little ones demise.

Rose

 

Thanks, Rose. I am keeping all this precious advice on medications for future use (saving as a favorite).

I just hope I never need it again.

Now I have to start a hunt for Maracyn and Maracyn 2.