Fungus Now Looks Like A Bubble?

[angierae]

Hi there,

Pretty new and have had two little danios (a zebra and a leopard) for 3 weeks. We were all set to get them some friends when I noticed what looked like fungus growing on the zebra one's bottom lip. At first, it looked like white cotton fuzz and so the pet shop recommended fungus treatment which I have been putting in every day for about 4-5 days. I've removed the carbon as the directions say, done a water change and made sure the gravel is spic-and-span. (I'll admit now that it was my fault to begin with - I didn't realise how much uneaten food was settling at the bottom of the gravel. I've stopped feeding them so often now and am watching for spare bits really carefully.)

They said at the shop it can take up to 7 days or longer to notice results and it often looks worse before it gets better. But having come home tonight, the "fungus" is looking really strange! It now looks like a bubble hanging off his mouth and has lost any appearance of the little fibres that indicate fungus. Is this normal or what happens to the fungus when the meds start working?

Other than this, he seems just fine but possibly a tiny bit less active than the leopard one (who is and has been 100% this whole time so I think all is well in the aquarium in general). However, I haven't had them very long so it could be zebra is not as active anyway. He's been eating normally until now, but the thing on his lip is starting to make it harder for him to eat.

Has anyone ever heard of anything like this? Or am I just being a paranoid new owner? Thanks!

I keep trying to get a picture, but I just can't get one focussed!

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons is the tank.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
have you got the uneaten food out of the tank.

Are you using an interpet med as it not very good on columnaris which is bacterial.
Is the mouth rotting away.
For columnaris in the uk myxazin by waterlife and pimafix.
http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hdcolumn.htm

 

[angierae]

The tank is about 2 gallons.
There are two danios, bred & kept in cold water (about room temperature).
I don't have water stats - they didn't advise me to get a testing kit when getting all the gear...the other fish is just fine so it can't be too off...
All the uneaten food has been cleared - it's very clean!

I'm using King British Fin Rot & Fungus control.
The mouth isn't rotting away at all that I can tell (but it's hard to get a good look) so I don't think it's columnaris.

It's just so weird that it looks like a bubble!

 

[WILDER]

Bubbles can be many things from to much aeration, parasites, bacterial.
The tanks to small, danio's are active fish and shouldn't be kept in anything less than a two gallon.
Really all the tanks suitable for is a betta fish.
I would get your water tested.
Get you some info on the bubble.
But if it has white fluffy bits on the mouth its sounds like columnaris to me.
If no improvement with the med I would do a water change and run some black carbon, get the meds I suggested.

 

[WILDER]

Can't find the info on the bubbles.
If no flicking and rubbing I would just take the bacterial route as it sounds like flexibaxtor columnaris to me.
Also you need a heater as columnaris can also be fetched on by unstable temp, bad water quaity, over crowding, stress.

Is the bubble translucent looking.
Is it possible to pop the bubble with a pin.

 

[angierae]

I'm pretty sure the water temp is pretty constant. We live in a well-insulated block of flats so it's warm enough and constantly so.

Should I not keep using the fungal treatment until it's run the recommended course of 7 days (three more days)? If it isn't bacterial, then won't I be back at square one?

It really did appear to be more like cotton wool than "strands" to begin with and I think it came in the same area as a nip from his tankmate to begin with - which seems to be common for fungal infections.

The bubble is somewhat translucent, but mainly greyish. I suppose it could be popped - I didn't know if I should try or not. I'm not sure I could get him still enough though.

I got the tank and setup that the fish shop recommended. As I said, I'm new to fish, so thought the shop would have the right info for me.

Thanks for your help.

 

[WILDER]

If you think the meds doing it's job carry on.
If not I would change meds to the ones I suggested.
You would have to do a water change and run some black carbon to remove the fungus med.