Is It Ich?

[Tiggle]

About 3 weeks ago one of my platties started developing white powdery deposits on her body by her dorsal fin. the white doesnt have the typicial salt crystal look to it, more like a powder that had settled between the fish's scales. anyway i watched it closely and another two fish developed the same symptoms. a day or so later the first white salt crystal like blob presented it self on another fishes gill area. i rushed out to buy some ich med (aquarium science white spot remedy http/theaquariumshop.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=149) and raised the tank temperature to 30degrees C.

i treated the tank as per instuctions for 2 weeks but it doenst seem to have made a difference. ive only lost one fish in this time, a sickly looking half grown fry who developed a spot on his gill. what is confusing me, is with the number of fish in the tank, only 4 or 5 seem to have a infestation, spots all over their head and dorsal fin area, 1 or 2 fish have single spots but most (10-15) have no sign and it doesnt seem to have affected my 3 neons or the cory and bristlenose.

2 days ago i pulled the bristle and cory out into their own isolation tank so i could treat the platties with salt. as of yet it doesnt seem to have made a difference.

this morning the most worstly affected fish (platty) appeared to have lost a layer of skin/scales on her face/gill area

does this sound like ich? what else could it possible be?

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like columnaris to me not the writer of this information below.

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.





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

 

[Tiggle]

Thanks wilder

now that you suggest columnaris im also suspicious that could be the cause since one of my betta's is still fighting an infection. i didnt connect the two since symptoms seemed different. ive bought, but not yet used triple sulpha tablets. are these safe to use on platties, bettas. neons, cories and bristle noses? the instructions says to use one table per 40L and to retreat after 3 days if required (off the top of my head i cant remember if i need a water change or not between treatments)

thanks for your help

Sounds like columnaris to me not the writer of this information below.

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.





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

 

[WILDER]

Columnaris has many disguises, well the neons, corys and plec as funny with meds so i would try half of the tablet first to see how they go, increase aeration, good luck.