Regal angel help needed

[FishyinKy]

Okay my story. I got a call yesterday from a friend who works at a pet store. They got in a regal angel by mistake and the fish is in horrible shape. His words, "if he stays here he has no chance, you willing to give this a try". I of course jumped on it.

I picked up the fish yesterday, rushed home, calling everyone I knew on the way home about what to do to help the fish. Got home and OMG the electricty in the block was OUT. No electric.

Soooo I took the 40 gallon tank, and slowly acclimated the angel to the tank such as it was, stirring the water slowly. After multiple hours the angel was released into the tank. And immediately laid on its side breathing hard.

Okay so description, this guy is beautiful but covered with ich, possibly has lympocystis, is breathing very hard. Cloudy eyes, a tad of a pop eye and yet seems to be very strong. Not eating at all at this point, not surprising. I also added two cleaner shrimps at the same time.

So after he had been in the tank for a while, I started lowering the salinity in the tank and am doing this at a very very very slow pace. At some point before too long I will remove the cleaners but at this point they are providing the fish some relief.

At long last the lights came back on and the tank was once again going. I figure about 8 hours with no electricity. Anyway, Terry, I'm doing epsom salts for the popeye, hyposalinity for the ich, what do you recomment for the possible infection left from the ich? In all honesty I figured I would wake up today and find him gone but he's holding on and I want to give him the best possible chance. I'm open to any and all ideas.

Please help me.
Mac

 

[Terry B]

I don't see a value to adding espom salt for popeye. Check the pH daily because it will fall in hyposalinity. Add some Stress Guard or Pro Tech Coat Marine to the water. You could add some Maracyn-Two at the double dose each day for 5 to 7 days if the eyes are cloudy. Remove the cleaner shrimp: they are not much help with ich and low salinity will kill them. Reduce the salinity (not SG) to 14ppt using a refractometer. Floating arm type hydrometers are not accurate enough. I will try to make more comments late tonight.

HTH,
Terry B

 

[FishyinKy]

Hey Terry thanks so much for the quick reply. I've always used epsom salts for the popeye, got that from Anthony and for most cases it works quite well. In fact his eye is back to normal today. The shrimp have been moved out and are in their own quarantine tank. I promise I knew the salinity droppign would kill them just wanted to do this slowly and wanted to give them a chance on the ich. I don't have a refractor so I'm having to use the glass salinity gauges with the swing arm type. Going to get maracyn two right now. All thoughts and ideas are appreciated. This guy looks very rough. Also his fins are starting to fray a bit and he is getting what looks like a bruised spot on his side. Any ideas what that might be? And is there a point where its more humane to just let him go?
Thanks
MacL

 

[FishyinKy]

quick update, the regal has passed away. thank you for the kind thoughts and help.

 

[NaH2O]

Mac - so sorry to hear that. Sounds like you were willing to do what it took and try everything.