Originally Posted by
Otrex
As of today the Sanke is spending all his time on the bottom, right side up with pectoral fins properly spread. He will come up when it is feeding time, but he is tired-looking (lack of food, probably).
His mouth remains open and I can still see blood staining on the inside of the jaw. He is completely unable to work the mouth and the whole gulping mechanism seems locked up. Keep in mind that even before when he was being treated he was able to move his mouth, so I think it is safe to rule out a parasite or else the other fish that died would likely have exhibited this behaviour and/or this Sanke wouldn't start showing the symptom AFTER a parasite treatment.
Possibly, but based on "shotgun" treatments, you may have treated for something other than what's causing the infection. I am leaning more towards internal bacterial infection though at this point/stage which is getting late in the game from the behavior being exhibited.
I've scoured the internet and come up with a list of likely suspects, in no particular order:
i) Reaction to antibiotic - Don't know how likely this is, but you would think it would resolve after 6 days? The antibiotic seems to have removed all previous blood stains and ragged fins, so it must have had some positive effect.
No!
ii) Something stuck in mouth - Seems unlikely to me. There are no rocks or small items in my pond.
No!
iii) Reaction to Proform C - Apparently some fish can get a stuck jaw after Proform. This seems possible - it does cooincide with the first use of it. How long would this last though?
No!
iv) Broken jaw - He has been handled for treatment, but it was as gentle as possible. Seems unlikely it could be a broken jaw.
No! It's swollen internally not broken.
v) Ulcer in mouth - This one seems to be the most likely to me. Strange that it happened *after* the antibiotic treatment, but I do see some dried blood on the lower jaw just under the skin surface.
Probably or at least something similar as it is still an infection.
He is getting slower and weaker each day, though he does try to eat. The dried blood that was on his nose is completely gone and the red streaks in his fins are gone too.
I think I have to decide on a treatment route, unless his jaw is going to suddenly start working again.
At this point about the only thing that is really going to have a chance to work is an injection. Unfortunately, as weak as this fish sounds, it might put it over the edge. Then again, if it's that far advanced, it won't hurt to go through with it.
I'm thinking about an inspection of the mouth to rule out a physical blockage, and then an immediate antibiotic injection if nothing is blocking his mouth. If it is an open ulcer in his mouth I could also try an Oxolinic Acid bath, since it would wash directly onto the ulcer easily.
Best suggestion and idea you've got.
For feeding this fish, I'm not sure. I doubt he'll eat if I bowl him, but in the pond he cannot compete with the others for food. Any way to force a fish to consume softened pellets if I bowl him?
Also interested in hearing what others suspect the issue is, and the best treatment option. I suspect without a "best guess treatment", he is going to die from lack of nutrients. Without the ability to gulp, he is basically getting nothing at all, not even algae from the walls. Something is tiring him out, and he has lost quite a bit of mass so I think time is of the essence.