Gourami With "fluff" On Its Head

[zesty]

Hi, I noticed the smallest of my blue Gouramis has a kind of fluffy stuff on the top of her head, its hard to see exactly because she wont stay still long enough but its definately not on any of my other Gouramis.
I cant see anything anywhere else on her body.
She is behaving normaly but does seem to be going to the surface for air a little more than the others but this is possibly due to her being the smallest.

ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 40

Any ideas?

 

[KingOfTheSea]

Could be anything. Bacterial, fungus etc

are you able to get a pic?

 

[WILDER]

Size of tank in gallons or litres.
How many fish and which type.

Is there a spot on the head where the fluffy cotton wool is.
What colour is the fluffy cotton wool.

Is there plenty of aeratuon in the tank.
Could it be an injury and fungus had grown over the dead tissue.
A pic would be good.

 

[zesty]

Tank is 95usg,
It has 6 tiger barbs and 4 blue gouramis an a bn
I cant see a spot on the head
Cottonwool is a whitish colour
I have 2 spray bars both causing surface disturbance so i assume that the tank should have enough aeration.
I am not sure if its from an injury but if it were I would have thought I would have seen it but who knows.

The cottonwool is on the very top of her head starting fom just above her mouth going back as far as her gills.

I have tried to get a picture but 50 tries later and I have given up, I even netted her but it doesnt really show up when out of water.

 

[WILDER]

I would use some myxazin by waterlife and pimafix.

 

[zesty]

Ok thanks. I take it they are 2 different products and I would need to get both of them? Any idea if they are widely available?

 

[WILDER]

Most lfs stock those meds.
Is it spreading fast.


Columnaris (a.k.a. Mouth Fungus)



Symptoms:

An infected fish will have off-white to gray cotton-like patches on the head, fins, gills, body and particularly the mouth. In time, these areas will develop into open sores. Gill swelling may occur, gill filaments may stick together and excessive mucus may develop in the gill area. Rapid breathing can be seen. Fins may deteriorate to the point of leaving the fin rays bare. Muscles may be inflamed and capillaries may rupture. Fish, particularly livebearers, may exhibit "shimmying". Infection may be acute (killing an infected fish within hours), or chronic (lingering for several days before eventually killing the fish). As with most diseases, not all symptoms need be present.



Cause:

The bacterium Flexibacter columnaris.



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. Recommended medications include: Furanace, Fungus Eliminator, Fungus Cure, Furacyn, Furan-2, Triple Sulfa, E.M. Tablets, Tetracycline, or Potassium Permanganate. Medicated foods are also recommended. Columnaris can be highly infectious and may quickly kill all aquarium inhabitants; therefore, early treatment is essential. All fish, including those not yet showing visible symptoms, as well as the aquarium they inhabit should be treated.

 

[zesty]

No I wouldnt say its spreading fast but I only spotted it last night. I will have to wait until tomorrow to get meds as no one is open now.
Fingers crossed I can stop it spreading to the rest of the fish but reading your post it doesnt sound good.
Thanks for your help.

 

[WILDER]

Good Luck.