Cotton/fluffy Growth On Angel Fins

[indir-emir]

Hi all,
Adopted a little angel from "Nameless" because the fins were all nipped. His currently in my 20gallon tank (stocking in signature). He had pretty much no side fins, half his back fin, top fin was bit torn and the anal fin was completely gone pretty much. After putting him in he seemed to be getting a little better and swimming around and eating and so on.

However, he has now developed a fluff/cotton like growth on the anal fin (which was completely missing). It also seems like he has some blood or is just red from the nipping? I will get a picture tonight when i get home, sorry guys. However, it is wierd because this morning he didnt have any cotton like growth on him anywhere, only did i notice recently. Any ideas on treatment and what it may actually be so i can reserach?

Stats are:
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 10
PH = 7.4
Stats were tested last night.

Oh and im using fertilisers (NPK) for a few contortionist vals that are currently in there (more plants coming soon). If that makes any difference?

Thank you!

Regards,
Indir

 

[minxfishy]

Could have caught an infection from the torn fins, did you medicate with anything originally?

Cotton fluffy growth can be columnaris, particulary with blood streaks in it, look it up and see if it looks like that.

 

[indir-emir]

Thanks for the reply.

No it does not look like that, man i feel sick now and so does the missus. :\

I will get a picture in a couple of hours so you guys can help out more.

For now ill try to explain it a little more.

It looks kind of like a puff of cotton... Comes out from the anal fin thats left and a little from the body area thats a redish pink colour... They are realy thin strands of white hair like strands...

Fins were bitten and torn after being bullied for a while by electric yellow cichlids... The other angel died (nothing wrong with it at the time of death) and after that angel died, the angel in question (with disease) began to get bitten which wasnt noticed till it was a bit late... Went really bad over night... its now in my tank as i want to help it heal

Regards,
Indir

 

[WILDER]

Wounds that are white on the edges and red in the center are most typically Aeromonas. Those that are red on the edges and white in the center are generally Columnaris. Both are gram negative bacteria. The best treatment for this is any sulfa antibiotic with trimetheprim. This can be put in the water and mixed with food -- if you can find Romet B use it.


http/www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm

 

[indir-emir]

Hey sorry for the lateness of these pictures. My stupid internet decided to die last night and not let me in
Here are the pictures:

Best i could do for now sorry. My camera is broken, wil get girlfriends camera later on tonight.

Also, the part taht was redish pink coloured has slighty fallen from the body along with the cotton like thing... It is still attached to the angel right at the bottom of the anal fin.

Regards,
Indir

 

[WILDER]

I would issolate the use a bacterial med.

 

[indir-emir]

Hmm is melafix the med im after..? Coz ive got some of that which i can treat with otherwise i must go to a fish shop tomorrow.

Also an update, the cotton like thing has completely come off the fish and now its just a bit red in the area like ive said.

Any ideas on what this may even be?

Regards,
Indir

EDIT:
Its not melafix, my mistake. It is PIMAFIX. Says for fungus, cottony growth, redness of skin/body. Sounds like symptoms im seeing. Will this help the angel who has now been named Cotton?

Also is it okay to use PIMAFIX in the main tank with all the other fish in it?

 

[indir-emir]

BUMP

Still need to know if PIMAFIX is okay to use to help the angel and if its okay to use in the main tank wit hall the fish rathe then isolate?

Regards,
Indir

 

[WILDER]

Not sure on bacterial meds in your country. Pm colin t as he from australia.
Melafix is not that good on columarnis if its a bad strain.

 

[indir-emir]

Hmm what medication would be good to find for it then?

So it is columarnis?

Regards,
Indir

 

[WILDER]

I will send a pm for you to colin t.

 

[indir-emir]

Thanks mate. I wasnt to sure on his PM. Let me know please.

So PIMAFIX is no good then?

Regards,
Indir

 

[Colin_T]

It is just a fungus infection on the wound. The fish was damaged and the damaged area (sore) allowed the fungus to gain entry into the wound. If the fungus (white fluffy stuff) has come off by itself, then there is no need to treat the fish for fungus. However, you need to keep an eye out for secondary bacterial infections, which often get into the wounds with the fungus.
Secondary bacterial infections will appear as red inflamed areas that spread quite rapidly. If the wound doesn't go red (just stays pale pink) and doesn't get any worse, then chances are the fish's immune system is dealing with the problem and you won't need to treat it for anything.

Melafix and Pimafix can be added to help prevent secondary infections and they don't affect the beneficial filter bacteria, unlike most other fungus and bacterial medications.
Clean water and a healthy tank will often help a fish to heal naturally without the need for drugs/ medications.

If the fish is eating and the white fluffy fungus is gone, and the wound does not appear to be getting worse, then just leave it be. If the sore/ wound gets worse, then treat it with a broad spectrum medication like Wardley's Promethysaul, Waterlife Protozin or Myxazin (depending on what else is in the tank), or any of the Triple/ Tri Sulpha drugs from the petshop.
The triple/ tri sulpha won't affect the filter bacteria but the Promethyasul and Protozin might.

If you can't get any of those medications then look for a general bacterial/ fungal treatment by Aquamaster or whatever is available at your local shop. Most medications have the same basic ingredients, (formalin/ formaldehyde, malachite green, methylene blue). Alternatively, try to find straight Methylene blue and that will treat fungus and bacteria but it does wipe out filter bacteria and stain everything blue, (including the silicon used to hold the tank together). Methylene blue (and most other medications) are best used in a separate plastic container or spare tank. But see how the fish goes over the next few days. You might not have to treat it at all.

 

[indir-emir]

Ok thanks alot Colin.

The cotton grew a little on the other damaged fins but has fallen off also. The wound that i saw near the anal fin has now healed over and is back to its skin colour, so i guess the fish will be okay Ill keep an eye out however.

Thank you everyone!

Regards,
Indir

 

[Anna Robinson]

He's a tough little fish! Yes, as Colin said he clearly had a fungal infection in the damaged tissue - very normal after an injury.

There may or may not have been a bacterial infection too, but it sounds like he's on the mend. Pimafix is aimed at fungal infections, whereas Melafix is more for bacterial. It's fine to use Melafix and/or Pimafix in any tank - they don't cause problems with the fish, plants, or filter bacteria.