Melafix Harming Cories?

[emmettbaby]

So this is day two of treating my 10 gallon, non-planted, sand substrate, cycled tank. I'm using Melafix because my younger 4 cories (trilineatus) are losing barbels and fins. The larger one (who usually stays alone while the others sit on top of each other) is doing fine. I assumed it was a bacterial infection since there are no rough/pointed objects. Last night I did a 50% water change, removed the carbon filter and added the med. They seemed fine after treatment, more active than usual, but still eating normal and after a while they returned to their normal behavior. Today, I noticed one of my cory's body has a blood red tint to it and isn't acting right. I tested the water earlier and got the usual readings. This product isn't supposed to harm ANY kind of fish and isn't supposed to affect pH at least. Can the melafix be hurting them or is it something else? Should I add a carbon filter to neutralize the med?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi emmettbaby

Used properly, Melafix will not hurt corys. I've used it many times to treat mild bacterial infections on them or other fish in their tanks. Most recently I used it to get rid of an infection some corys and plecos got while being shipped with a (probably unnecessary) heat pack. It did a great job.

However, from the way you described the symptoms, it's likely that your corys are too far gone for that to cure them. If you can save them now it will probably be necessary to change the water and use antibiotics. If you are in the UK, I understand Myxazin is a good product. The members can probably recommend others as well.

Whenever you are treating a bacterial infection (and this IS what is wrong with your corys) be sure to keep the temperature no higher than 75 F. and aerate the water well to increase the oxygen content. This will slow the reproduction of the bacteria that are causing the disease.

 

[Paradise3]

If your in the UK myxazin is a brilliant med for bacterial infections.

Alessa x.

 

[emmettbaby]

Thanks but I'm in US. But I think I figured out what was wrong with them. I think I OD them They seem better today, but I've been giving them a spoon full instead of a teaspoon. So they've been getting about 3x the dose called for.

To fix this, I was thinking about doing a 25% water change, putting in a carbon filter and then restarting treatment in a few days or a week. Would this work? Or should I just leave it as is and just give lower doses?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi emmettbaby

Overdosing with Melafix is not a good thing at all. I would do big water changes until it's removed and then start over. Water changes alone are good for your corys' condition. Then, add a dose, wait a couple of days and do a water change, re-dose. I do not like the level of Melefix to get too high above the initial dose.

If you see no improvement in just a few days, do consider moving on to stronger meds.

 

[emmettbaby]

K I'll do that n see because they didn't start looking bad until I added the melafix. I hope that's all it is because there aren't any stores with fish antibiotics around here (curse you small town )