Dwarf Gourami....mouth Rot ?

[Faythee]

I noticed a couple days ago my dwarf gouramis lip was red on one side of upper lip. I thought maybe he hurt himself but now it appears to be spreading and looks swollen. Now I am thinking maybe mouth rot ? He is eating and otherwise acting normal.

I do have some anti-biotic capsules but here's my dilemma. I was planning on transferring all my fish from the 10 gal. they are in now to a 75 this weekend. In order to medicate, I would need to remove the carbon filter. I need to keep my media for the new tank ! What am I to do ? If he makes it to this weekend I can leave him in there alone and medicate then. Would salt help for now and how much per 10 gallons ?

 

[Faythee]

Also....could my other fish catch this disease ?

 

[WILDER]

Has he banged it on something in the tank.
Mouth fungus columnaris is usually bleached out white colour on the lips or fluffy looking.
If its swell up and red I would just use add some melafix if the mouth dosnt look like its rotting away.

 

[Faythee]

Thank you Wilder

Well it is not white and fluffy, but does look like a small piece may be missing ? I went and got the Melafix today, removed the carbon filter, and will hold off on transferring my fish for a lil while.

Will never get dwarfs again. One passed away and this one I have nurtured back to health a couple times now. He is buddies with my opaline...so am trying to keep him healthy best I can !

 

[WILDER]

Is he eating ok.
The peice that missing do you think it rotted way.

 

[Faythee]

He is eating just fine if it is flakes. The dried boodworm or larger/hard foods seem to bother him...probably because it is sore. I do think he injured it somehow. Looks the same as his head did when I had a mean molly that would bully him and knock him to the floor of the tank.

If it seems to get worse.....I will use the anti-biotics I have. Hoping the Melafix will do it. Thanks !

 

[WILDER]

Good luck.

 

[Faythee]

Well I have been using the Melafix 4 days now and it doesn't look any better yet. It appears a good part of his upper lip is gone. I am considering using the amoxicillin 250 mg caps I have but am scared to. Last fish I treated with it died within 12 hours of me putting it in the tank and a healthy molly was dead later that day.

-Does Melafix destroy the good bacteria in my media ?

I figured completing the 7 day treatment of the Melafix. 25% water change. Adding carbon back to my tank filter, wait one week and then transferring media and all fish to the 75 gallon. Does this sound alright ? I do not want to transfer any disease to the new tank. Just don't know what to do with this fish. HELP

 

[WILDER]

Melafix dosnt harm the beneifcal bacteria in your filter, but its no good on a severe case of mouth fungus columnaris.
You need maracyn one or two, if you can issolate tetracycline.
To be hoenst if the mouths rotted away I would end the fish suffering.

 

[Faythee]

Well I was going to wait a couple days as he seemed fine otherwise. The next day I noticed my opaline bumping and nipping at him. He was hanging up top by the heater. I figured the humane thing to do was put him to rest. I put him in a small cup of water and stuck him in the freezer. It was gruesome and the method is still bothering me. Poor fishy

Is there an alternative method if somthing like this happens again ?