In need of Clout NW Houston.

[Zulaab]

Bloat is generally believed to be caused by a protozoan parasite complicated by bacterial infection. From research I believe the issue is that the bacteria live in the intestines of all fish. Since many africans fish including Tropheus have slightly to much longer (depending on what they eat) intestinal tract, there are simply more bacteria in those fish. I believe that depending on the food that the fish eats, they over eat in one sitting causing their intestines to become blocked. They are used to constantly eating, but very SMALL portions all the time. The bacteria in the intestines start breaking down the food (like they all do) but when there is a blockage of food bacteria gather in larger numbers. Since in Africans most fish are crustaceans and insect larva or herbivores they have a larger number of bacteria and the fishes body does everything it can to keep things normal. I believe the white stringy poop is part of the intestinal slime lining which keeps the bacteria in check inside the intestinal tract. When large number of bacteria gathers, they start breaking down the food and the food does not move along, they start attacking the lining. This causes the lining to come apart and move down the intestinal tract. This causes “basically” inflammation of the lining (weakening) and this is where the protozoan comes in. In a slightly weaken fish, the free floating protozoan's (yes you cannot get rid of them) enters into the fish as it always does, finds this weakened spot and attacks. Protozoans, all live off the fish, and because the lining is no longer there, they now have a quick and easy way into the blood stream of the fish. Once they find their way in they will gather in the two places where the blood lines are the finest, they settle. These two places are the kidneys and gills. The fish will show this by heavy breeding, and later as the protozoan has gotten a hold of the kidneys causing them to shut down.

So what can be done to resolve this asap.

• You have to KILL the protozoan. Metro and Clout will do this. Which one does it better.. still up for debate.
• Water change. You have to get rid of the water that holds the protozoan. A water change does this the best.
• You have to get the food blockage moving, the longer it blocks the intestinal tract the more time the protozoan has a place to get into the fish in its weaken state. EPSOM salts solves this issue. Basically the fish is about to get diarrhea, because you are forcing more water into the intestinal tract. Once the blockage is removed, the slime coating can rebuild in the intestinal tract, and this will stop the "bleeding"

So in short, what do you do when you think bloat is attacking your fish ?
Water change asap, add Epsom salts in large amounts. Add Metro or Clout to kill the protozoan.

How do I make sure that I lower my chances of getting Bloat in my tank.

• Water changes. Keep them up. Once every 2 weeks is a must. They should not extend past this. Once a week MUCH better.. but I don’t want you to think that if you don’t do it every week you are going to have problems.
• Feed often in small portions. For fish that are herbivores, allow the algae to grow so they can graze on the rock work.
• Since many of the natural salts / metals are not in the Houston water add them back in by using one of many of the African cichlid products. I personally use Kent’s Cichlid essentials, but please also look at Seachem Cichlid Trace, and Cichlid Lake Salt, Brightwell Aquatics CichlidCode and other products that add back some of the essentials that are missing in the water we give them. Lake Tanganyika has a larger amount of Magnesium in the water than most other lakes out there and this is a natural diarrheic, which is how I believe these fish lives naturally is to have more water in their intestinal tract which lowers the chances natually from contracting bloat.  

More than anything else. KEEP A MEDICINE box with essential medications. If you don’t have it right now then go get it and keep it in a cool safe out of childrens reach.

2x the amount of clout that your largest tank needs.
1 bottle of Metro.
One bag of Epsom salt.
1 Bottle of Kordon Ick-attack.
1 bottle of Melafix
1 bottle of Pimafix

I hope this helps

[geoff_tropheus]

Hey Honkz has a 50tab bottle of CLOUT for sale

[geoff_tropheus]

Why do you think CLOUT is a harsh med?

If you think epson salts will cure bloat, that METRO has not already, your going loose more fish.

[RUDEBOY8tropheus]

thai your better off using epsom salts i think they do much better with that treatment. clout is a little harsh.

[geoff_tropheus]

I have double dosed Tropheus before with CLOUT. IF they are Tropheus I would not worry.

Clout is made up of Malachite Green and Metrodiazonal mostly.

Make certain that your pH is stable and atleast 7.0 or higher before adding it and turn off your lights while treating. Lighting reduces its effectiveness.

[geoff_tropheus]

As long as the fish is not a scaleless fish, or a silver sided fish I have not had problems dosing with CLOUT.

Anytime you dose a type of fish you have never before, I would recomend 2- 1/2 Dose 12 hours apart, than 1 single dose every 24 hours, until you know they could handle a full dose.

[peterp63]

Just make sure the fishes aren't in too terrible of shape before you add Clout. It's a strong medication and could hurt weakened fish more than help them.

[Zulaab]

Epsom salt is used to start flushing the fish of all the internal problems.. You are correct Clout is powerful, and it will handle many problems :)

[myjohnson]

Thai.... does he / she have Epsom salt in the tank right now.. if not then go get him / her to goto Walgreens / CVS / Walmart asap and get that started.

Yeah you know I'm on top of it.

I already used all of the big size bag sold at CVS.

I'm thinking petros just need something stronger than epsom salt and metro.

Metro has never failed me with my tropheus.

but cloat is stronger and should help the petros.

[Zulaab]

Thai.... does he / she have Epsom salt in the tank right now.. if not then go get him / her to goto Walgreens / CVS / Walmart asap and get that started.

[myjohnson]

Thanks for all the help guys. I got in contact with someone that got Clout so I'm hit them hard with the treatment tomorrow.

I'll keep you guys updated.

[Zulaab]

I have a couple boxes at my house. Maybe 30 pills. More than anything else. EPSOM salt in that tank ASAP, use the 2 tablespoon per 10g and increase another Tablespoon tomorrow per 10g and then water change in 48hours. You know the drill.

[ssrprelude]

I have 15 pills, right around the corner from you. 8 and Fallbrook.

[fshfrk]

Got a little. maybe 50 pills. call me.

[myjohnson]

Helping a friend fight the bloat. Metro is not doing the trick. If you got clout on the north side or know of any LFS that got it let me know.

thanks guys.