Hey guys, recently my small green terror (he's maybe 4.5") has developed a case of hex out of nowhere. It has been going on for at least 2 weeks (I noticed it because he was way lethargic and stopped eating, and he's usually one of the more active fish), unfortunately I wasn't able to treat it until this weekend because of thanksgiving. So far I have been treating him every day since last friday.
I am trying to do the treatment in the sticky but it doesn't seem like I'm doing it right. I have the solution all mixed correctly and I have a thing of metroplex I have started using as well. I tried an eye dropper from cvs, it was way too big. I now have one of those small flexible 2ml pipettes you use in like a high school science class, from the craft store. I have tried putting him on his side and even holding him upright. It fits in his mouth and goes down quite a bit until I hit something I'm afraid to poke more. But then most of the stupid solution just flows right out his gills. Do you think it is ok if I try to force it down a little bit farther or will that kill him? He also struggles A LOT.
Maybe I can try shoving a medicated mini pellet in his mouth and holding him up till he swallows it? I have tried some mushed shrimp flakes in the mixture of the epsom salts and metroplex but he just spits them out when I put him back in the tank. It did look like some got in him though since there was a bit of flake colored poop with the white mucus yesterday. But other than that I have seen no improvement and I'm worried because he still refuses regular food.
Thoughts? I really don't want to have to euthanize him if I can avoid it since he's one of my favorites. I also don't have the money for any super fancy mini syringes right now since I just bought christmas stuff. Anywhere dirt cheap I can get something tinier? Would a vet have something for free maybe? I'm worried by the time anything ships here he'll be dead. Luckily all the other fish are eating though, and my water quality is perfect, should I start medicating them too and increasing water changes to twice a week as a precaution?
I am trying to do the treatment in the sticky but it doesn't seem like I'm doing it right. I have the solution all mixed correctly and I have a thing of metroplex I have started using as well. I tried an eye dropper from cvs, it was way too big. I now have one of those small flexible 2ml pipettes you use in like a high school science class, from the craft store. I have tried putting him on his side and even holding him upright. It fits in his mouth and goes down quite a bit until I hit something I'm afraid to poke more. But then most of the stupid solution just flows right out his gills. Do you think it is ok if I try to force it down a little bit farther or will that kill him? He also struggles A LOT.
Maybe I can try shoving a medicated mini pellet in his mouth and holding him up till he swallows it? I have tried some mushed shrimp flakes in the mixture of the epsom salts and metroplex but he just spits them out when I put him back in the tank. It did look like some got in him though since there was a bit of flake colored poop with the white mucus yesterday. But other than that I have seen no improvement and I'm worried because he still refuses regular food.
Thoughts? I really don't want to have to euthanize him if I can avoid it since he's one of my favorites. I also don't have the money for any super fancy mini syringes right now since I just bought christmas stuff. Anywhere dirt cheap I can get something tinier? Would a vet have something for free maybe? I'm worried by the time anything ships here he'll be dead. Luckily all the other fish are eating though, and my water quality is perfect, should I start medicating them too and increasing water changes to twice a week as a precaution?
