Should I use Sterazin (by Waterlife) and how?

Dear Aromedics/Veterans,

my aro has been flicking its pectoral fins, jerking, yawning/coughing and rubbing its body against the tank (esp after food). some weeks ago, passed out stringy / floating poo with air bubbles .

Suspect internal infection (or indigestion?) so C328 recommended Sterazin.
Bottle's instruction indicate to use on days 1, 3, 6, 8 & 10.
Do I use the same dosage/amount for each treatment?
Should I / Can I change water during treatment? or
Should I even use Sterazin at all?

General info:
Breed - Panda hongbao
Size - about 10" (tagged Sep '04)
Diet - Currently 3 to 4 SWs per meal @ 2 meals per day but may still be hungry coz still targeting surface bubbles, consumed up to 10 to 12 SWs per day when first introduced to SWs during CNY this year.
(used to feed platies, guppies, shrimps & MWs)
Swim - usually rests at the bottom or top corner of the tank during day-time (all humans are out working), swims normally in the evening and night with occassional dives; Alert but frightened easily by fast or large objects (eg. walking in front with large paper bags/newspapers); chases me.
Poo: Currently brown solid bits (pls also note history in 1st paragraph)
Defects: a few white patches @ 5th/4th level scale (like dried skin but not mouldy); no other visible defects (fins ok, eyes clear).
Tankmates: shrimps x 04 (supposed to be food )

Water param:
Vol: 4x2x2ft tank @ 70% with blackwater & 0.1% salt; WC @ 15% twice weekly with 2-day aged water mixed with tetra aquasafe, blackwater & salt
NH4/NH3: less than 0.25 but not 0.
NO3: 40
NO2: 0
pH: 6.0
Hardness: 300
Alkalinity: 0
Filter: 2 x Cannister w/ biorings & sponge, 1 x internal bio-sponge filter.

Pls advise. Thanks.

[Aroboy II]

Originally Posted by WanWan

Dear Aromedics/Veterans,

my aro has been flicking its pectoral fins, jerking, yawning/coughing and rubbing its body against the tank (esp after food). some weeks ago, passed out stringy / floating poo with air bubbles .

Suspect internal infection (or indigestion?) so C328 recommended Sterazin.
Bottle's instruction indicate to use on days 1, 3, 6, 8 & 10.
Do I use the same dosage/amount for each treatment?
Should I / Can I change water during treatment? or
Should I even use Sterazin at all?

General info:
Breed - Panda hongbao
Size - about 10" (tagged Sep '04)
Diet - Currently 3 to 4 SWs per meal @ 2 meals per day but may still be hungry coz still targeting surface bubbles, consumed up to 10 to 12 SWs per day when first introduced to SWs during CNY this year.
(used to feed platies, guppies, shrimps & MWs)
Swim - usually rests at the bottom or top corner of the tank during day-time (all humans are out working), swims normally in the evening and night with occassional dives; Alert but frightened easily by fast or large objects (eg. walking in front with large paper bags/newspapers); chases me.
Poo: Currently brown solid bits (pls also note history in 1st paragraph)
Defects: a few white patches @ 5th/4th level scale (like dried skin but not mouldy); no other visible defects (fins ok, eyes clear).
Tankmates: shrimps x 04 (supposed to be food )

Water param:
Vol: 4x2x2ft tank @ 70% with blackwater & 0.1% salt; WC @ 15% twice weekly with 2-day aged water mixed with tetra aquasafe, blackwater & salt
NH4/NH3: less than 0.25 but not 0.
NO3: 40
NO2: 0
pH: 6.0
Hardness: 300
Alkalinity: 0
Filter: 2 x Cannister w/ biorings & sponge, 1 x internal bio-sponge filter.

Pls advise. Thanks.

Bro, my advise is not to use it first. Try epsom salt treatment first. It can be bought in Guardian Pharmancy.

Originally Posted by Aroboy II

Bro, my advise is not to use it first. Try epsom salt treatment first. It can be bought in Guardian Pharmancy.

thanks, tried before...found that aro passed out a lot of loose poo. Guardian's epsom salt a bit ex leh ($5+ a small pack if i recall correctly). Any LFS sell epsom? tot i saw a big pack of similar fineness @ $6 but the lfs owner only said for treating illness, din say it's epsom.

In fact, flicking action and on-off stringy poo first occurred in Dec'04. I've been holding back medication since Jan '05. How long more should i monitor?
Or me juz being paranoid/over-worried?
Aro has grown since but at a slow pace...

(i'll see if i can retrieve a pic of the stringy floating poo that i took in Dec/Jan period...)

Originally Posted by WanWan

thanks, tried before...found that aro passed out a lot of loose poo. Guardian's epsom salt a bit ex leh ($5+ a small pack if i recall correctly). Any LFS sell epsom? tot i saw a big pack of similar fineness @ $6 but the lfs owner only said for treating illness, din say it's epsom.

In fact, flicking action and on-off stringy poo first occurred in Dec'04. I've been holding back medication since Jan '05. How long more should i monitor?
Or me juz being paranoid/over-worried?
Aro has grown since but at a slow pace...

(i'll see if i can retrieve a pic of the stringy floating poo that i took in Dec/Jan period...)

You shouldn't treat just because your aro is showing some signs of flashing & some stringy poo. With such mild signs you are better off monitoring. If you aro is still passing stringy poo. You should get the poo checked. If can get hold of a fresh sample of poo, you can bring it to my clinic at Sunset Way, I'll check it under the microscope. Cheers.

Originally Posted by Vetduck

You shouldn't treat just because your aro is showing some signs of flashing & some stringy poo. With such mild signs you are better off monitoring. If you aro is still passing stringy poo. You should get the poo checked. If can get hold of a fresh sample of poo, you can bring it to my clinic at Sunset Way, I'll check it under the microscope. Cheers.

Hi Vetduck,

will monitor closely, esp its poo. Hard to get hold of fresh stringy poo coz often "disintegrated" by the shrimps in the tank. Wat is meant by "signs of flashing"?

btw, I've also pm u separately on related matters.

Thanks a lot.

[vincent2982]

Originally Posted by Vetduck

You shouldn't treat just because your aro is showing some signs of flashing & some stringy poo. With such mild signs you are better off monitoring. If you aro is still passing stringy poo. You should get the poo checked. If can get hold of a fresh sample of poo, you can bring it to my clinic at Sunset Way, I'll check it under the microscope. Cheers.

Didn't know u are a vet. Can PM me ur add?

Originally Posted by WanWan

Hi Vetduck,

will monitor closely, esp its poo. Hard to get hold of fresh stringy poo coz often "disintegrated" by the shrimps in the tank. Wat is meant by "signs of flashing"?

btw, I've also pm u separately on related matters.

Thanks a lot.

Flashing is the act of flipping or scratching themselves on the bottom or sides of the tank.

Originally Posted by Vetduck

Flashing is the act of flipping or scratching themselves on the bottom or sides of the tank.

Dear all,

my aro flashed again after meal yesterday evening...i got a "flasher" with me? Again stopped at 3 SWs this morning...

btw, attached are some pics of my aro & its poo taken in Dec'04/Jan'05 period. Hav not taken any pics recently...

note the 4th/5th level scales...still hav this problem currently...
any other visible problem with the fish then (about 7"+)
(i'll upload more pics taken during the same period at my gallery)
Thanks.