Fish Medicine Cabinet Question

[QuarterMiler]

I've got an Afra that I'm a little concerned about right now, she seems to be breathing slightly heavy and keeping to herself. I also noticed that the vent area seems to be slightly swollen and has a whitish, not red, bulge. So far all the other fish seem fine. I've done a 60% WC today and checked all of my params. I'll also skip feeding tonight. But I'm thinking of getting some meds on hand just in case it's the dreaded bloat. I plan on getting some Metronidazole and Jungle Labs Parasite Clear from Jehmco because I've read they are very effective, and I already have Epsom salt. My question is, what amount of each should I get because they have several different sizes available and I have no idea of dosage amounts? My tank is 125g.

[Heyguy74]

I would either go with Metro or parasite clear. They are very similiar. I know the parsite clear has metro in it. 100 Grams of metro should be plenty. The label says 1 tsp treats 164 gallons. The parasite clear is one tablet per 10 gallons. I would go with the 100 tablets. The metro will treat more gallons than the tablets. I like metro because you can treat food as well as the tank. If you can get the fish to eat medicated food you should be fine.

I would recommend Clout as well. The 100 tablets. Same dosing as the parasite clear. I use clout only when a fish has stopped eating. Otherwise I have had good success using either metro or parasite clear. Make sure to use clout in a hospital tank. It will stain silicon.

[Afreakin]

From what I understand, JEHMCO carries the most water soluble metro you can get and therefore more is absorbed by the fish and readily available in the water column.

[QuarterMiler]

Thank you both. I'll get some metro and clout to have them handy. A couple of other questions then. When using the metro to soak the food(NLS Pellets), how long do you leave them in? Is soaking the food a better treatment? Right now I'm debating if I should treat the whole tank. I don't want to jump the gun, unless there is no harm in doing it anyway.

HG, I just wanted to give you an update on the Multies. Unfortunately, and for some unknown reason, I lost one of the females about 2 weeks ago. But the remaining m/f are doing real well. So well in fact that I've counted at least 19-20 fry.

[fischfan13]

Tough call on soaking NLS. NLS will tell you NOT to presoak their pellets. How about getting a flake instead and soaking?
I have heard a lot of good reviews about Jungle Parasite Clear.

[Afreakin]

Is the fish eating? If not why soak the pellets. Usually it's when fish don't eat is one of the first signs of trouble.

If I were to soak I would put some metro in a plastic cup of tank water for 20 - 30 mins, give it a chance to break down. Then soak the food long enough the get sopped but still stay together when dumped into the tank. IMO

[QuarterMiler]

Thanks again for the input.

FF13 I thought about getting the metro flake, but then I'd be changing their diet a bit too, maybe causing more problems than I might be looking at now, I don't know. I wasn't going to feed tonight, but maybe I will now to see if she is eating or not and get a better idea if there really is a problem.

[Afreakin]

If she isn't eating do a 50% water change and treat the whole tank. Don't feed while treating as well. IMO

[QuarterMiler]

OK, thanks AF.

[joe_jaskot]

QuarterMiler, a friend of mine has the same problem in his afra tank (swollen white bulge by the vent area). All his females have the same problem as you described. I have never seen anything like that in all my years of fish keeping. It almost looks like the females are egg bound. His fish do eat and have been that way for a few months. I am curious to see if the metro/clout treatment will help. Keep me informed. Thank you.