Metronidazole not working, GT's still not eating!

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I recently had a flowerhorn with the same exact symptoms. I was sure he was going to die. He would not eat anything. I tried the Epson salt treatment using a syringe and feeding tube from my vet. It did not work. All it did was stress the fish. I was sure he was going to die from the stress alone.

I was able to get some pure metro tablets from a local fish farm supply here in the Tampa area. I crushed the tablets and added a very small amount to some water and NLS pellets. I force fed this solution once a day for four or five days. Around day six, he started eating again, but would not eat NLS. I fed him freeze-dried krill soaked in epson salt solution, for about five more days. I also fed him super worms that were gut loaded with metro flakes. My next step was to not feed him for a few days. By then, he was very hungry and went back to eating NLS. I fed epson salt soaked NLS for a couple days.

It's now been a few months and he is doing great. I only feed him NLS. He's gained back all his lost size / kock and has since grown about two inches. The other day I saw him poop out some white stringy pearls, so back on epson salt soaked NLS he went.
 
RLHam3 said:
Hey MFK. I have been using this treatment on a daily basis for the past 16 days and still havn't seen results. They are pooping white and not eating. What options are left?
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Make sure the solution is getting into the gut and not coming our the gills.

I would ditch the epson salt for now and find some metro. I don't think epson salt is effective on severe cases. At least it wasn't in my experience.
 
Have heard and experienced that Metro does not work well on anything but the mildest cases - unless it's ingested. This is most probably due to metro's poor water solubility. However, some claim that 2x-4x usual dose in the water can be effective.

I have found that a small piece of airline tubing attached to a syringe is a good way to get the med down.
 
I don't think epson salt is effective on severe cases.
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I couldn't disagree more. Not only did that treatment save one of my fish that appeared to be a for sure goner, one that was hit hard with metro for several days with no improvement whatsoever, it has also saved a number of other fish of MFK members, some that hadn't eaten anything in over 30 days. The scientific studies performed in this area over the past decade clearly demonstrate the epsom salt treatment (when administered properly) is just as effective (or more so) than metro when dealing with intestinal flagellate strains such as spironucleus. It's also MUCH safer.

Metro applied via feed should only be done based on the fishes weight.
0.25% Metronidazole fed at a daily rate of 1% of body weight, for a max of 3 days.

When administering the epsom solution orally it MUST be done with rubber tubing attached to ensure that the solution reaches the gut, and doesn't just flush out the gills. IMO if the fish has not eaten in a long period of time it's best to mix the solution in food, making a watery paste, and force feed that to the fish every day. Getting both meds & nutrition to the fish will typically cause a more speedy recovery than meds alone.

The article below shows how to properly force feed a fish, in this case simply mix the meds in at the same time.
http://www.mchportal.com/fishkeepin...eding-mainmenu-81/540-force-feeding-fish.html

Also keep in mind that there may be something other than internal parasites causing this refusing to feed issue.
 
I have been treating with a mix of metro and epsom salt solution and squirting it into their stomach's with a ear syringe. I know that it's going into their stomachs because when i was doing it wrong, the water would come out of their gills, but this time it stayed inside for the most part. Still having no reaction. Neither has eaten and they are both getting sunken stomachs and beginning to look emaciated. It's getting bad, neither has eaten in about two months. I have begun considering euthanasia. Does anyone have ANY other suggestions? Once again their symptoms are no appetite and white stringy poop, and i have been treating for internal parasites.
 
As previously stated in my last post .....also keep in mind that there may be something other than internal parasites causing this refusing to feed issue. Honestly without a proper diagnosis it's becomes guess work at best, this could bacterial, virul, etc, and have nothing to do with internal parasites. In most cases of IP's such as spironucleus these fish would have been dead a long time ago. Sorry to hear that they haven't improved.

As a last ditch effort I would hit them with Clout.
 
For your Green Terror, you don't need any medication. Lower your temp to 75 degrees. And feed it sparingly until it eats. They may not eat for a few days, weeks or maybe even close to a month. Trying to feed them too much before they are ready to eat will stress them out even more. The medication won't help.

Most green terrors develop this problem when they are kept in water warmer than 80 degrees for a prolonged period of time. Hope this helps.
 
IT'S NOT A PARASITE. Gt's all get this. It's bacterial slime from their innards. Feed them only vegetable foods like peas, algae wafers, etc. No meat! Adding a little salt is a great short-term idea. Don't worry too much if they don't eat for a few days, just offer some peas every night and remove them after a few minutes if they don't eat them. And don't feed them any hikari products - too much fish meal and corn. They need HBH algae wafers, food made of real food. Canned or steamed green beans are great, bits of cooked broccoli (no oils!) are also fine. Seaweed, spinach, any greens free of pesticides and washed well.
 
I keep the water around 79, is that what this is from? I will decrease to 75 and feed peas and algae wafers.
 
Funny, I kept GT's at 78-79F, and never fed peas or any other type of fresh vegetable matter, just the same quality food (NLS) that I feed everything else, and never encountered anything like this. So no, not all GT's get this.... these fish haven't eaten in 2 months.

But hey, suit yourself, and best of luck.
 
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