Mould on swordtail

[Angry_Platy]

One of my red eye swordtails has what looks like mould on its dorsal fin. I am a little worried since 2 days ago another sword, a new lyretail female, died after it had this mould stuff on its top lip. It really does look like mould. Like the mould that grows on cheese (but bright white)....

The other fish in the tank are the OTHER 2 new lyretails bought the same time as the one that died. Two days ago they had small white spots on their fins which have cleared up now (few water changes and salt/melafix)....yet the red eye sword has this weird mould stuff on its top fin.

I am still using salt/melafix in the water...is there anything else I should be doing? I'd rather not use other meds unless absolutely necessary.

I have read people who cut off the mouldy/fungus stuff and let a new fin grow from scratch...hence stopping the stuff spreading further etc. I have access to sterile scalpels if necessary (though obviously with a LOT of care)....

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like it could be saddleback columnaris you can get whitespot on the fins with this.
http/www.nippyfish.net/flexibacter.html

 

[Angry_Platy]

Thanks wilder

I am no convinced it is columnaris. Reason is that peeps on here with columnaris experience have had fish die quickly from this. The affected fish is in no way affected by this as it is still swimming like a mad fish (typical swordy) and is eating etc. The other fish that had the dots on their fins have no dots at all now. In a few days they will be moved into the 10gal as a transition tank before I can put them in the 30gal.

This morning it looks a little worse than yesterday, today it looks like it is on the body. I have salt and melafix in the tank and have lowered the temperature to 25degC. I don't have access to any of the meds listed in that link however I do have an antibacterial solution that I have had success with in the past. I will see how the fish goes before using this.

If I get a chance today I will get pics...tis very hard photographing an active swordtail in a 6gal tank

 

[Bloo]

I have read people who cut off the mouldy/fungus stuff and let a new fin grow from scratch...hence stopping the stuff spreading further etc. I have access to sterile scalpels if necessary (though obviously with a LOT of care)....

[snapback]885112[/snapback]​

I've used that method (always with success) before.
Just be ultra careful.

Best of luck !

 

[Angry_Platy]

Unfortunately she took a bad turn this afternoon, started flipping uncontrollably around the tank (spooking the other fish along the way)....she was left on the bottom of the tank wedged between the small pot ornament and the filter intake, on her side, fins not moving and barely breathing. I retrieved her from the tank, put her into a smaller container of tank water (to see if she could right herself) and she just flopped to one side. Her fins were still not moving and her breathing was getting worse.

So I euthanased her Afterwards I checked the fungus patch and it was white and stringy, kind of like pus (gross I know). When I investigated the scales , where the fungus was they lifted off really easily and I could see the gungus underneath

So long little girl

 

[afireinside]

i am sorry to hear that.

quick question, how do you exactly euthenise a fish?

 

[Angry_Platy]

There are many ways to euthanase a fish. For me I prefer the quickest method with the least handling/netting etc. I use "the fist of death" which basically involves wrapping up the fish in paper towel then squashing it with my fist (aiming at the head)....=instant death. Other people swear by clove oil, alcohol and other methods. Whatever you do, DO NOT euthanase a fish using the freezer method or the boiling water method.

I tried the alcohol method once, which involves putting the fish into, for me, vodka and water, with increasing amounts of aocohol being added to the container. The theory is that the fish will "go to sleep" and eventually die. I tried this on a swordtail (with dropsy) and it flapped about the bowl for 20 minutes. In the end it wa spure vodka and the poor fish still didn't die.

For other methods read the pinned article http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=8031

 

[stephend]

Are you not meant to send the fish to sleep in the clove oil solution prior to putting it in vodka?

I used your fist method on my sick guppy, only I used the heel of my shoe, and put the kitchen roll in a plastic bag to prevent leakage.

People told me I was cruel, but from being removed from the tank to death was less than 5 seconds. Not cruel at all. I wouldn't attempt that method on a larger fish though. I just couldn't do it.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry for your loss, R.I.P. It wasn't a parasite was it just to make sure.

 

[Angry_Platy]

Not a parasite, definitely some kind of fungus.

All the other fish are happy and healthy but I will be doing daily water changes on that tank for the next week or so