Disease Diagnoses Please

[~T~]

Not been on here in ages and sadly it's a plea for help

Ok so this disease I've not encountered before and need some advice on diagnosing and treating it. So far I have already lost one large cichlid to it and another is looking very ropey (the JD pictured). It only seems to affect certian fish.

Background is I intruduced 2 young CA cichlids to one tank without quarentining them (yes schoolboy error I know) and even by that evening could see they looked a bit off colour and as well as that some my origional stock did too. The next day they appeared to be covered in ich though it also seemed like they had stringy/lumpy fungus looking stuff. I immediately treated with Protozin which appeared to clear up maybe 90% of the problems and on doing a large waterchange at the end of the course the fish apart from one seemed to be fine. The only still affected fish (a large older cichlid) was off colour and stayed in hiding. It gradually lost balance and ended up face down most of the time. It seemed to have some of the white fungusy looking stuff externally(the ends of fins in particular) but also under the scales in places (similar to HITH). There was/is never any sign of the fins rotting or any redness, just lumps on them or them turning whitish. Other fish including the 2 new ones then again began to come down with the origionaly illness and I again treated with Protozin. History repeted and the illness cleared up after the course and the large waterchange though I did lose the sick one. Since then the disease seems to come back between waterchanges, though much less than the first 2 times. THEN I must have somehow spread the disease to my other tank (possibly through using the same syphon between tanks...yes I know, another rookie mistake) as a couple of fish began to show the same symptoms (though again other fish are compleatly normal).

Water params are all well within a normal safe range. All fish affected have been CA cichlids and the ones who have suffered most have been older. Completly unnafected fish have been Hoplo cats, Clown loaches (very old), Climbing perch and Marbled bichir. The closest I have seen to this disease has been HITH in an old cichlid which I sucessfully cured with Esha 2000 HITH and Metro powder.

Here is a picture of the current worst case fish and can get pictures of other fish affected if needed.

Thanks

 

[LZ-DEN]

hi,it could be HITH..but to me it looks more like a fungus infection,or something has latched onto the fish..not easy to give a proper answer with only a pic of the fish.

 

[~T~]

hi,it could be HITH..but to me it looks more like a fungus infection,or something has latched onto the fish..not easy to give a proper answer with only a pic of the fish.

I don't really see how it could be HITH though with how quickly it appeared (plus my water is fine). Any fungal infections I've encountered before have been of the secondary cotton wool like along with eroding fins. This seems like lumps with a kind of puss-y look. I can get some pictures of the other fish affected.

 

[LZ-DEN]

i most likely is not HITH,i said it could be.one thing is for sure..it could be anything but until its diagnosed have an open mind. and giving the fish and the tank the right treatment is important.

 

[WILDER]

The lumps.
Do they look smooth in texture, cluster of berries, or look like a cauliflower?
Where are the lumps on the fish?

 

[~T~]

The lumps.
Do they look smooth in texture, cluster of berries, or look like a cauliflower?
Where are the lumps on the fish?

I would say they initially look smooth, especially when under the scales. But the bigger they get the more lumpy/ragged they look. They almost start off like a human pimple.

 

[WILDER]

Does it sound like this.

Furunculosis

Symptoms:

Fish may present with frayed and inflamed fins, raised bumps underneath the scales which rupture releasing pus, and may also have large bleeding ulcers. There may also be hemorrhages in the internal organs, skin, gills, fins and muscle tissue. Not all symptoms need be present.


Cause:

Aeromonas bacterium, which infects a fish via skin parasites or when it ingests feces from infected fishes or feeds on the remains of dead fish.


Treatment:

Ensure that your water conditions (e.g., Ammonia, Nitrite, pH, Nitrate levels, and water temp.) are within their proper ranges. If not, perform a water change and/or treat the water accordingly. If your fish can handle it, raise the water temperature to 80 degrees or a little higher. Furunculosis is generally a cold-water disease; higher temperatures may help to eradicate the illness. Infected fishes should be isolated because when the lesions rupture, bacteria are dispersed throughout the water, leaving all fish at high risk of infection. Furunculosis can be highly infectious. All fish, including those not yet showing visible symptoms, as well as the aquarium they inhabit should be treated. Treatment should include one of the following: Triple Sulfa, Furacyn, Nitrofura-G, E.M. Tablets or Furan-2. The use of medicated food is also prudent. In addition, if parasites are suspected all fish as well as the aquarium they inhabit should be treated with an antiparasitic medication. Adding an appropriate amount of salt to the water may also be helpful.

fish-disease.net

 

[~T~]

Does it sound like this.

Furunculosis

Symptoms:

Fish may present with frayed and inflamed fins, raised bumps underneath the scales which rupture releasing pus, and may also have large bleeding ulcers. There may also be hemorrhages in the internal organs, skin, gills, fins and muscle tissue. Not all symptoms need be present.


Cause:

Aeromonas bacterium, which infects a fish via skin parasites or when it ingests feces from infected fishes or feeds on the remains of dead fish.


Treatment:

Ensure that your water conditions (e.g., Ammonia, Nitrite, pH, Nitrate levels, and water temp.) are within their proper ranges. If not, perform a water change and/or treat the water accordingly. If your fish can handle it, raise the water temperature to 80 degrees or a little higher. Furunculosis is generally a cold-water disease; higher temperatures may help to eradicate the illness. Infected fishes should be isolated because when the lesions rupture, bacteria are dispersed throughout the water, leaving all fish at high risk of infection. Furunculosis can be highly infectious. All fish, including those not yet showing visible symptoms, as well as the aquarium they inhabit should be treated. Treatment should include one of the following: Triple Sulfa, Furacyn, Nitrofura-G, E.M. Tablets or Furan-2. The use of medicated food is also prudent. In addition, if parasites are suspected all fish as well as the aquarium they inhabit should be treated with an antiparasitic medication. Adding an appropriate amount of salt to the water may also be helpful.

fish-disease.net

Yes that actually does sound like it especially with the both external and internal symptoms. Would you know if there is any easily obtainable meds as the ones mentioned seem to be US only or Vetinary.

Thanks.

 

[WILDER]

The med I would use will knock your good bacteria in your filter.

Furanol 2 by JBL.

Esha 2000 only effective on mild bacteria infections. Same for anti internal bacteria med by interpet.

 

[~T~]

The med I would use will knock your good bacteria in your filter.

Furanol 2 by JBL.

Esha 2000 only effective on mild bacteria infections. Same for anti internal bacteria med by interpet.

Yeh I don't really wanna nuke my filter bacteria

I've done a large thorough waterchange on both tanks and removed decor etc and steeped them in boiling water and aquarium salt then dosed with Myaxzin. It's not great but fingers crossed it will help.

 

[LZ-DEN]

good luck ~T~ with your quest to cure this problem..

 

[WILDER]

If you have a really bad bacteria infection in your tank it sometimes best to wipe the bacteria out.
I had other tanks which I could always take some mature filter sponges from to kick start the tank again.

I hope the fish get well soon.
Good Luck.

 

[LZ-DEN]

very good advice wilder... i have been a fish keeper since 1973..and im still learning.

 

[WILDER]

Thank You.
I'm still learning too.

 

[LZ-DEN]

wilder...i think in this hobby of fish keeping we never stop learning.. ......