Gourami With Fungus

[indigoj]

What to do?

My biggest Pink Kissing Gourami became ill with fungus 2 weeks ago. She has been quarentined and treated with anti fungal meds.

She has hardly eaten in these 2 weeks, just tiny mouthfuls now and then despite being offered a range of tempting foods. She has got pretty thin.

The other Pink Kisser who also got ill has completely recovered and is going back to the big tank today, he has no trace of fungus and is eating like a horse.

So what should I do? Anything else I can try for the big girl? (she was my first fish!) At what point do I consider euthanasia? I am using interpet meds which have worked brilliantly on the other fish.

Please help, I want to try everything I can.
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[WILDER]

Where is the fungus on the fish is it fluffy looking as there is a desease called flexibactor columnaris and thats bacterial.
Can you post water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, and ph.
How many gallons or litres is the tank.
How many fish and which type.

 

[indigoj]

Hi Wilder, thanks for the reply.

Water stats: Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 15. Ph 6.8, KH >4 (very soft acidic water)

The tank the fish were in before getting sick was my 5ft/330l in the tank were the 2 Pink Kissers, 2 Opaline Gourami, 2 Thicklipped Gourami, 3 juvenile Senegal Bichir, 2 Reed Fish and 2 plecs 1 5"peckolita and a 6" Gibbiceps. None of the other fish show any signs of illness, just the 2 Pink Kissers.

On both fish the fungus was on their sides nearer the tail than the head. The smaller, now healthy fish only had a tiny patch he also never stopped eating.

The bigger fish has 2 patches of fungus on her side and is hardly eating although is still active. (I think the smaller fish is helping with that)

They are now in my 30l treatment tank and have been treated with interpet anti fungal meds, water stats are the same give or take a point or two if Nitrate. The smaller fish is fungus free now and looks back to peak health. Just the big one is not improving.

Oh, the fungus is like strings of cotton wool and I've not moved the smaller fish yet as I think he is helping the big fish keep moving.

 

[WILDER]

That anti finrot and fungus med is no good on columnaris.
You need anti internal bacteria med by interpet, or waterlife myxazin, and finally pimafix which you can use with either of the meds.
You must increase aeration in the tank as med reduce 02 in the water.
The patch on the head does it have any red tinging to it around the edges, or a red centre.

http/article.discusnews.com/cat-02/columnaries.shtml

 

[indigoj]

Thanks again Wilder,

The patch of 'fungus' is not on her head, it is on her side but yes it is red at the base with cotton wool like strands about 4mm long coming off it. There is another smaller patch close to it.

I will do a water change and try the bacterial meds asap.

The tank is well aereated and I am using a mature filter (one I keep for just such emergencies in a different tank)

One question though, everything I've read says columnaris is very contagious you apart from the smaller Pink Kisser no other fish are/have shown any signs of infection. I did treat the tank they came out of with pimafix as a precaution, will this have prevented the spread or should I still be on the lookout for any others getting it? (Sick fish were moved 10 days ago)

Thinking ahead, is a recurrance likely? I have no idea what has caused this initially so is there anything extra I can do to prevent it in the future?

She is also still not eating much (the odd bite nothing more) any suggestions?

Thanks again!

 

[WILDER]

Just keep an eye on the other fish.
Columnaris is caused by stress, unstable temp, over crowding, poor water quality.
Good luck.

 

[indigoj]

Well, both fish are now back in the big tank!

The big one made an overnight recovery 3 days ago so we moved them back today.

Thanks for the advice Wilder.

 

[WILDER]

Thats good news, but I would of treated longer to make sure it dosn't come back.

 

[indigoj]

Well, that's just it, she recovered before I put in any antibacterial meds. I was running the carbon in the filter to remove the antifungal meds. Very puzzling, I am convinced that it was down to the little guy keeping her moving and eating. The stringy 'fungus' disappeared and the red patches have gone too. The only trace of it is a missing scale or two where the patches were.

I have added some melafix and pimafix to the big tank as well as a water change.

Going to keep a close eye and do a few more small water changes over the next week before going back to the usual weekly routine.

She is eating well, seems to be making up for not eating for a while and is chasing the little guy round just like she used to. Whatever it was I'm just glad she's recovered.

 

[WILDER]

I'm glad to well done.