Disease/fungus identification

[moffen84]

Hello everyone

I’m new here with a fluvel flex 57l running about 7-8 months. I had a few fish deaths early on but the fish have generally been fine. Today I noticed that my bristlenose pleco has developed a whitish cloudy growth on it’s face.

Does anyone have any idea of what this is, the likely cause and how I might treat it? I have a liquid testing kit and the levels all seem fine to me and have been since the first month.



thank you

 

[Colin_T]

any chance of a picture from the front and side of the fish?

 

[moffen84]

any chance of a picture from the front and side of the fish?

Is this any help? Thanks!

 

[Colin_T]

It looks like a sore/ wound with excess mucous over it.

The fish might have got its head stuck under or behind something and damaged it.

-------------
Wipe the inside of the glass with a clean fish sponge.

Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week and see how it goes.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

Clean the filter if it hasn't been done in the last 2 weeks. Wash filter media/ materials in a bucket of tank water and re-use them.

-------------
Add some salt.​

You can add rock salt (often sold as aquarium salt), sea salt or swimming pool salt to the aquarium at the dose rate of 2 heaped tablespoon per 20 litres of water.

Keep the salt level like this for at least 2 weeks but no longer than 4 weeks otherwise kidney damage can occur. Kidney damage is more likely to occur in fish from soft water (tetras, Corydoras, angelfish, gouramis, loaches) that are exposed to high levels of salt for an extended period of time, and is not an issue with livebearers, rainbowfish or other salt tolerant species.

The salt will not affect the beneficial filter bacteria or plants.

After you use salt and the fish have recovered, you do a 10% water change each day for a week using only fresh water that has been dechlorinated. Then do a 20% water change each day for a week. Then you can do bigger water changes after that. This dilutes the salt out of the tank slowly so it doesn't harm the fish.

If you do water changes while using salt, you need to treat the new water with salt before adding it to the tank. This will keep the salt level stable in the tank and minimise stress on the fish.

-------------
Monitor the fish and if it gets worse, post new pictures.​

 

[moffen84]

Thank you so much did your help. I’ve done a 75% water change today and will follow the next steps too. I have salt on the way (hopefully!).

I’ll keep you updated.

 

[moffen84]

Sorry, I’ve read your advice again and just wanted to clarify - did you mean a 75% water change each day? I read it as only once the first time.

thanks

It looks like a sore/ wound with excess mucous over it.

The fish might have got its head stuck under or behind something and damaged it.

-------------
Wipe the inside of the glass with a clean fish sponge.

Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week and see how it goes.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

Clean the filter if it hasn't been done in the last 2 weeks. Wash filter media/ materials in a bucket of tank water and re-use them.

-------------
Add some salt.
You can add rock salt (often sold as aquarium salt), sea salt or swimming pool salt to the aquarium at the dose rate of 2 heaped tablespoon per 20 litres of water.

Keep the salt level like this for at least 2 weeks but no longer than 4 weeks otherwise kidney damage can occur. Kidney damage is more likely to occur in fish from soft water (tetras, Corydoras, angelfish, gouramis, loaches) that are exposed to high levels of salt for an extended period of time, and is not an issue with livebearers, rainbowfish or other salt tolerant species.

The salt will not affect the beneficial filter bacteria or plants.

After you use salt and the fish have recovered, you do a 10% water change each day for a week using only fresh water that has been dechlorinated. Then do a 20% water change each day for a week. Then you can do bigger water changes after that. This dilutes the salt out of the tank slowly so it doesn't harm the fish.

If you do water changes while using salt, you need to treat the new water with salt before adding it to the tank. This will keep the salt level stable in the tank and minimise stress on the fish.

-------------
Monitor the fish and if it gets worse, post new pictures.

 

[FishGuest5123]

It looks like a sore/ wound with excess mucous over it.

The fish might have got its head stuck under or behind something and damaged it.

-------------
Wipe the inside of the glass with a clean fish sponge.

Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week and see how it goes.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

Clean the filter if it hasn't been done in the last 2 weeks. Wash filter media/ materials in a bucket of tank water and re-use them.

-------------
Add some salt.
You can add rock salt (often sold as aquarium salt), sea salt or swimming pool salt to the aquarium at the dose rate of 2 heaped tablespoon per 20 litres of water.

Keep the salt level like this for at least 2 weeks but no longer than 4 weeks otherwise kidney damage can occur. Kidney damage is more likely to occur in fish from soft water (tetras, Corydoras, angelfish, gouramis, loaches) that are exposed to high levels of salt for an extended period of time, and is not an issue with livebearers, rainbowfish or other salt tolerant species.

The salt will not affect the beneficial filter bacteria or plants.

After you use salt and the fish have recovered, you do a 10% water change each day for a week using only fresh water that has been dechlorinated. Then do a 20% water change each day for a week. Then you can do bigger water changes after that. This dilutes the salt out of the tank slowly so it doesn't harm the fish.

If you do water changes while using salt, you need to treat the new water with salt before adding it to the tank. This will keep the salt level stable in the tank and minimise stress on the fish.

-------------
Monitor the fish and if it gets worse, post new pictures.

If you add the salt, only use about 1/3 of recommended dose and watch him closely. Pleco are very sensitive to salt. Mine went nuts!

 

[Essjay]

Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week and see how it goes.

A 75% water change and gravel clean every day for a week

 

[Colin_T]

Sorry, I’ve read your advice again and just wanted to clarify - did you mean a 75% water change each day? I read it as only once the first time.

Yes, do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for one week.

The daily water changes will dilute the number of disease organisms and chemicals in the water and reduce the risk of infection.

The gravel cleaning will remove rotting material and gunk in the substrate and reduce the number of disease organisms too.

After a week of daily water changes and gravel cleans, do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate once a week.