Algae Stuck In Fish Gill

[Curiosity101]

Not sure if it's an emergency per say. But my dwarf flag cichlid has got some haur algae stuck in her gill. She doesn't seem to be reacting to it but is breathing heavily (however these are the fish that also came to me with gill flukes which I'm treating for).

Also she's gone off her food, and was already relatively thin when I got her. I've seperated her into a large breeding box in the tank with an air stone and have covered it with thick card so it's nice and dark.

She seems to have settled in there quite well.

 

[WILDER]

Are you sure it is algae as you can get fungus strands coming out of the gills.
What colour is the stuff on the gills?
Sure it's not the flukes coming out of the gills either.

Flukes can cause weightloss.
Check for when your fish go to the toilet.
Also check the anus is not enlarged or red and inflamed.

What med are you using for the gill flukes.
As you have to keep treating to kill the young as they hatch. As some flukes are egg layers.

 

[Curiosity101]

It's green, and the only algae in the tank is hair algae. I've seen her nibbling on moss so I figured hair algae in the gill was feasible cause it's so long.

I know flukes can cause weightloss (so figuring that's why she was thin when she arrived with me... but she was still eating).

She's not really gone to the toilet recently that I've seen, but the other fishes poop is fine.

Anus not red or enflamed.

I'm using sterazin to treat the flukes, they had their first dose yesterday. Then it's every 2 days for 10days, so their next lot is tomorrow.

 

[WILDER]

Ok. That's fine just wanted to make sure.

Once you finished the 10 days course. I would maybe redose two weeks later just to make sure they have all been killed off.
Flukes are quite hard to get rid off due to being egg layers.
Also back up with a bacterial med. As flukes cause bacterial infections.
The parasite transfers a nasty bacteria into the fish blood stream when it pierces the skin.

 

[Curiosity101]

Oh okies then.

What bacterial med would you suggest?

And what about the algae in the gill? Ignore it?
I'm planning to release her from the breeder box later if she's still looking 'ok'. I just wanted to get a chance to have a proper look at her and get some advice as to whether it was worth attempting to remove the strand of algae or not.

 

[WILDER]

You need to remove the algae.
Water change and good gravel vac.
Over filteration is good at keep algae at bay.
Turn tanks lights out and black out the tank.
Only feed sparingly.
I suppose you have increased aeration with the med.

Do some research on green hair algae as it can be hard to get rid of.
Sometimes you have to resort to using antibiotics. But I would only advise that as a last resort.

The fluke med should hopefully help get rid of the algae on the gills.

You can buy little bales of barley straw which you put in your filter.
This helps with algae problems.

 

[Curiosity101]

I've already researched hair algae and trust me I have been trying to get rid of it lol.

It has only grown on the java moss. I'm tempted to just chuck it all away and start again with nice clean hair algae free java moss from my other tanks.

And how about a bacterial med? Is there one imparticular you would recommend?

 

[WILDER]

I agree. I would just throw it away.

Sorry forgot about the bacterial med.
Internal bacteria med by interpet.