Dying Oto

[Crepe]

Yep, that's right guys, one of my beloved otos is sick. He's become very lethargic and seems to be prone to just lying out in the open. I nudged him with my pipette a bit today and he just flipped over, not a good sign. I don't see any mechanical damage on him but he's breathing heavily and his back seems to have a very red tint to it. The other fish and otos are fine. This would be my first oto death if (she) doesn't make it. ):

Anyone have any ideas? I think it may be a bacterial infection as the skin beneath his scales is red.

Parameters as of yesterday:
Ammo-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-20
pH-7.2 (woo got it down lol)

I have some antibacterial medicine I may try dosing him tomorrow.

 

[HN1]

How long has it been in the tank? Is it's belly distended by chance?

 

[Crepe]

I've had it since may. Nothing unusual has been happening, the belly isn't distended, no pine coning. It doesn't look hungry either. Its tank mates are all looking fine. edit: his eyes seem a bit popped out.

 

[IT-FishGuy]

Yeah that's weird

Red spots is a bit odd. For behavior like that I usually use Maracyn two for it and see how it goes. Love Otos. I've lost a few due to "Lucifer" (named for being so pushy) my Angel fish who tended to pick on them, so they all got moved out and replaced with a bristle-nose.

Read the chart it says that it's an internal infection and to treat with Maracyn-Two. Hope you have some. Hope you can get it turned around. Hey, that's in your new aquascape, good job with that one.

 

[Crepe]

Starting to get some pine-coning. Not a good sign. I'm about to QT.

 

[IT-FishGuy]

Get some Maracyn-two

Yeah, get some maracyn-two in the tank asap. It will kill the internal infection etc. and will promote eating again.

 

[kaiofcanada]

Good luck. I hope the little one feels better soon.

 

[Crepe]

I found the diagnosis I think: bacterial hemmorrhagic septicemia. It's caused by gram negative bacteria so I'm going to use Maracyn 2. I've disinfected with Formaldehyde/quinine/hydrochloric acid(some koi meds[they worked wonders on my koi's ulcers]). Gonna have to find Maracyn 2 tomorrow.

Prognosis- Not very bright, but oh well, He's QT right now in a nice, dimly lit tub that I had set up to QT my Rams.


Anyways most literature says that it is caused y poor water quality. My parameters read normal so I'm not sure what it may be. I think they were stressed from the rescape and this one was weakened just enough to get infected by something nasty.

 

[Crepe]

Well, he didn't make it. I think I'm going to freeze the body. When school starts I can take him to the lab and look at what was ailing him under a scope. If I can't see anything I'll just say it was bacterial and move on with life.

My friend wants to give a eulogy for it haha.

 

[mommytron]

aww sorry to hear he didn't make it. kinda neat that you can look at him under a microscope though.