Hi all,

Here is a pic of one of my sick fish:



It's the golden one at the right of the pic.

The fins and tail are disappearing, and also there is some sort of whitish growth/slime on their body. There are two fish who have this problem, and I have lost two the same way in the last month.

The fish gradually get less active as the illness sets in. I have tried dosing regularly with Melafix -- no change. Normally water changes are weekly, 50%. No recent additions. The tankmates are mostly Malawis, with a couple of plecs and one loach. The tank has been stable otherwise for around 18 months. Filtration: 2 x Eheim 2224, with normal eheim media (no carbon). Decorations: some bogwood and lots of rocks.

Any ideas anyone?

Ammonia: 0
Nitrates: 80 (60 from the tap)
Nitrites: 0
pH: 7.8
Temp: 24C

Thanks for help..... off to do another water change now.

Irf.

This post has been edited by Irf: Jun 30 2008, 07:47 PM

OK, no responses so far.....

I've just done a massive clean-up (removed most of the rocks), and a 80% water change.

Irf.

The growth are the fluffy looking in appearance.
If the fish is producing for slime and look slimey its a parasite.
Check the gills over to see if they have excess slime on them or red and inflamed.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing.
Any fish laboured breathing.

This post has been edited by Wilder: Jul 1 2008, 08:56 AM

Yes, the growth is a bit fluffy looking - not really slimy I guess. I will check the gills later on when I am home. No flicking and rubbing (but have seen this in other fish that are not currently sick - what does that mean?).

Also the laboured breathing seems to come on later, when the illness is very advanced.

I am inclined to do another large water change this evening unless other ideas are offered.

Thanks,

Irf.

Water change will help dilute the bacteria down in the tank.
Read this article to see what you think.
http://www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm

Wilder - that is a fantastic article...... thank you for the link. Having read it from start to finish I can see that problem is exactly as described here, and it's not slime or fungus but Flexibacter. I will come up with a traetment plan immediately. Unfortunately living in the UK I don't think the various antibiotics described are readily available, especially those incorporated into fish food. I will probably settle for the off-the-shelf remedies available, but now I am far better informed.

Regards,

Irf.

For columnaris in the uk pimafix and myxazin by waterlife.
You will need to increase aeration in the tank as meds reduce 02 in the water.

This post has been edited by Wilder: Jul 1 2008, 01:36 PM

Great - thanks for the pointers. I will get some. No problem with the aeration....

Irf.

Good luck.