Help With Treating Fin Rot

[GoldenRoses]

Hi Everyone,

After much research, I believe my melanistus cory has developed fin rot. I would greatly appreciate some advice on how to properly treat the fish.

20 gallon tall tank
0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 20 nitrates
1 platy
2 harlequin rasboras
1 otocinclus
1 emerald cory
1 panda cory
1 melanistus cory
A couple mystery and bladder snails
Frequent, regular water changes with gravel cleanings every other week

The upper part of the cory's caudal fin looks white and almost grainy. It's not ick, as I've seen how it presents itself on the fish. There seems to be a lot of fin loss, and I'm very concerned the infection will spread to her body.

I'm also noticing her breathing has become more rapid, which normally doesn't occur with fin rot.

Unfortunately my computer is down, and for some reason I can't post pictures through my mobile.

Any suggestions on how to help her? She's such a happy fish, but lately has seemed very sluggish and skittish. Her tankmates are all bright, active and healthy.

Thanks so much for the help.

 

[DoubleDutch]

Can you place a pic?

 

[GoldenRoses]

Unfortunately my computer is down, and for some reason I can't post pictures through my mobile.

 

[GoldenRoses]

Let's see... does this picture attach?

 

[GoldenRoses]

Any help?

 

[GoldenRoses]

Thanks for the help, I guess

 

[GoldenRoses]

Really, no one knows how to treat fin rot?

 

[GoldenRoses]

I guess mods/admin can delete this topic now, since it's of no use.

 

[DoubleDutch]

Hohoho it is !!!
 
Is it only this Cory? If so, I'd quarantine it and treat with a strong anti-bacterial med or even antibiotics for some time.
I've one Venezuela with the same problems.  Strangely one out of 20 !!
If it would regrow depends on the tissue that's being damaged.
Keep the water pristine !
 
Could be it has something to do with the substrate.
That isn/t ideal for Corys and food can get out of reach and will start decaying, causing worsening waterconditions.
What are you feeding?
 
Regards Aad

 

[Byron]

At this stage, I would up your water changes to no less than once a week, and change half the tank volume each time.  Do a good vacuum into the substrate during the water change.  This will help the issue, but it will also probably help to lower your nitrates a bit.  Nitrate at 20 ppm is the highest you want, but all fish will be better the lower the nitrates are, and corys are sensitive to all forms of nitrogen (ammonia, nitrite and nitrate).
 
I would not suggest any treatment (medications, etc) now.  First, with a good environment, this should clear up on its own.  Keeping the water quality good, avoiding stress, etc. all aids in this.  Second, adding any substance to the tank will add stress to the fish, all of them, and this is something that should only be done when there is a serious need for treatment.  I don`t see that here, at least not yet.  IF this spreads to other fish, we can reconsider.
 
I also agree on the substrate; it doesn`t look sharp, so that is good, but corys do naturally like to sift the substrate through their gills, and sand is better.  Sand is also easier on their barbels.  And there is a bacterial issue with larger gravel too.  Something to consider if you keep corys.  And on that, I would add three more; corydoras are highly social fish that live in groups of hundreds in their habitats, and there should be five or six minimum.  You can add more of the same species you have which would be advisable.
 
Byron.

 

[DoubleDutch]

I'd treat the Cory Byron. To me the tailfin has come to a stage, that regrowing will be a problem so I'd try to save as much tissue as possible (But that's my idea).
As said I had a Venezuela in a healthy tank with the same problem. I had to treat, because it wouldn"t disappear on its own. 
 
Aad

 

[GoldenRoses]

Thank you both for the response.

Byron; The water change schedule you are suggesting has been in place for over two years. I've never skimped on water changes, and never had a problem with any cories, or other fish for that matter, up until now. The cory has only been in the tank for a few weeks however. I'm baffled as to what caused this.

Unfortunately, I don't have another tank running that can be used to treat the cory individually. And since the main tank contains inverts and scaleless fish (cories and otos), I'm afraid of causing more harm than good.

i apologize for my immature behavior in above posts, but as I'm sure you can relate, having a sick fish can cause you to get a bit frantic!

I appreciate the responses.

 

[Byron]

Clean water is the best treatment.  BTW, I suggested weekly water changes because in your initial post you said water changes were every other week.  Weekly changes of half the tank volume are best.  B.

 

[GoldenRoses]

I apologize, I meant the deep gravel cleanings (with the siphon, of course) were every other week and I do 50% water changes 1-2 times per week. If water quality issues weren't the cause, how can they be the treatment? Why would this fin rot have progressed so fast and so aggressively?

 

[DoubleDutch]

It's a bacteria. As soon as the fish is infected it can be very aggressively indeed.  As said I had the same problem with a Venezuela. All the other were and are perfectly allright. So all what's needed is one "weak spot" on a fish and it goooooes !