In need of help ASAP!

[IrkedCitizen]

So at our local fall auction last month I bought five Petrochromis Orthognathus fry. Biggest one maybe 2". I had no place to put them other than in my Tropheus tank. So they have been there since.

I now have a tropheus that is showing signs of bloat. Stringy white feces and not eating. The other fish seem fine. I am thinking this is because the added stress of the Petros and maybe from it eating too much of the extra food that I am feeding to accommodate for the added fish. The feedings aren't much more in serving size.

I did a waterchange today and dosed the tank with Metronidazole.

Here is my question. Should I do a waterchange every day and retreat the tank? Or should I just retreat the tank with the new dose every day?

Help me out.
Thanks.

[myjohnson]

when treating with metro I do WC and re-dose everyday.

Do it for at least 10 days.

If the fish don't get better, I would catch it out and hit him with clout in a QT tank.

Good luck and may the force be with you.

[IrkedCitizen]

I do not have enough to do it for 10 days. I have enough for 3 days and could possibly go buy another days worth ($8 for 12 tablets). I cannot afford to do it for more days then that. If I lose my fish then I lose my fish there is nothing I can really do beyond what I am currently doing. It would suck if I lose them but that is just how it is going to have to be.

Edit: What percent WC should I do? It is a 75g with roughly 20-30gal wet/dry sump.

[myjohnson]

That's cool too.

Weak fishes die.

[IrkedCitizen]

In case you missed it in my previous post.

What percent WC should I do? It is a 75g with roughly 20-30gal wet/dry sump.

[rrocket2002]

At least 50% each day.

[bethesdaboy]

get some salt when you run out of money.

[tbui1178]

Yea, throw some epsom salt in there as well..

[fshfrk]

Irked what is your location?

[IrkedCitizen]

I live in Colorado. I came over here a while back because most of the tropheus keepers on CF are from this site.

I got some salt when I got the metro.

[myjohnson]

Should always have metro/clout on hand.

[IrkedCitizen]

I have had my tropheus with no real issues other than aggression deaths for 2 years. This is the first I have needed to treat.

I did a waterchange of probably 65-70% today. Added the other dose and added the salt. I won't be able to do a waterchange tomorrow as I will be gone. But when I get back on Saturday I will do another one and add the last dose of metro and salt the tank again.

Like I said you live and learn. If all of my fish end up kicking the bucket then I will know better.

Thank you for your help.

[Glass Onion]

I always treat prophylactically with my groups if there's a huge change for them. This means moving them to a new tank, adding new ones to existing colony or tearing down the hardscape and re -scaping.
When I re-scape, I just offer metro soaked food for three days, twice a day and don't treat the tank. But I treat the tank for 5 days, three times/day and feed metro soaked food (after initial 12 hour fast) for a couple of days.

Most people gripe at me for my protocol...but I don't care. I do it because it makes sense to me to do it.

Hope all goes well for you.
Jenney.

[IrkedCitizen]

Well they aren't dead yet.

[fshfrk]

Epsom salt will help and it's cheap. Kinda like grama's milk of magnesia. 1 cup per 50gal's.