Does My Gbr Have Fin Rot? (With Image)

[Suleika]

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Tank size: 80 x 35 x45cm 125l
pH: 6.5
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 20 ppm
kH:
gH:
tank temp: 27.5°C

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):

Yesterday I noticed for the first time that my male German Blue Ram is either hanging at the water surface or hiding at the bottom of the tank without much movement, the female is hiding too and looks very pale - they are usually very active. The male seems to have an infection on the base of the right pectoral fin - like a fleshy white/pink wound. The rest of the fins, especially the other pectoral fin, don't look frayed (see image below). When he swims, he moves the left pectoral fin but not the right - injured - one. We have also seen him trying to scratch it against the wood a couple of times. None of the other fish are showing symptoms and are behaving normally.

There has been an incident recently, but I'm not sure if it has anything to do with this. Last time we changed the water, the male ram swam into bottom of the gravel vac and I panicked and shook the vac to get the fish out so it wouldn't get sucked up. It wasn't anything dramatic but I'm thinking maybe he injured his fin?

We want to do another 50% water change today, even though we have never had problems with bad water quality (the tank has been set up for 4 months and we added mature media before fish). Do you think from the image that this could be fin rot or maybe just an injury? Do we need to medicate?

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 50% once a week

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: API Stress Coat and JBL Ferropol dosed weekly after water change

Tank inhabitants: Pair of German Blue Rams, 3x Hypancistrus Zebra, 6x Corydoras Sterbai, 16x Cardinal Tetra

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): none

Exposure to chemicals: none other than above

Digital photo (include if possible):

 

[Suleika]

We have done a 50% water change and added double the dose of API Stress Coat (as recommended for injury or disease). Do we need to add antibiotics? Any advice?

 

[fluttermoth]

It doesn't look like finrot. Could well be injury from the gravel cleaner (don't beat yourself up, we've all done it). I'd just keep the water clean, as you're doing, and monitor it closely in case it gets worse.

 

[Suleika]

OH NO! We have just been to the Abyss to get some advice about the male ram and have come back to find the female ram twisted and pretty much laying on the sand. She is trying to swim upright but just keeps bending over again - we are going to euthanise her. She has been very pale for weeks now though when the male was still brightly coloured, so I don't know if this is related to this new infection - see http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/384435-what-to-stock-with-german-gold-head-rams/page__st__80

Now for the male ram, who is still brightly coloured and shows no signs of illness apart from the pectoral fin infection, the guys at the LFS also said that it didn't look like fin rot, and recommended we soak some frozen bloodworm food in Seachem Garlic Guard and JBL Atvitol Multivitamins to boost his immune system, said they use it on all their fish every day. We have also bought JBL Ektol fluid against finrot and other skin infections (Alkylbenzyldimethyl-ammonium chloride and Methylthioninium chloride), but don't want to use it unless it gets any worse - as maybe the fish has only got an injury which will heal itself.

 

[fluttermoth]

Oh dear, I'm so sorry.

I've given up on rams now even though my water, like yours, should be perfect for them They're just so weakened by inbreeding and use of hormones, IMO.

 

[Suleika]

Unfortunately our male ram passed away overnight.

 

[fluttermoth]

I'm sorry to hear that

 

[Ruskull]

I'm sorry to hear about your Rams...........I hate to lose any fish but those are so full of personality. Maybe you could try Bolivian Rams instead?

 

[Sfish777]

It's so sad when fish die.