Mouth Fungus

[JustKia]

So, having got the tank cycled I was a bit naughty and probably added stock a bit too quickly, although water stats are holding good at ammonia 0, nitrite 0 - haven't measured nitrates but tank has (quite) a lot of plants.
Last night, around 10pm, I noticed that 1 of my Harlequins looked like he'd been eating candy floss (cotton candy), then noticed that 2 other harlequins also had a slight amount of white "fluff" around the lips, no where near as much as the first one. The other 3 harlequins and all other fish showed no signs.

Now, I know they were fine when I fed them around 5pm, so this "fluff" occurred somewhere between 5pm and 10pm. I added 5ml pimafix and 5ml melafix (small dose I know but I've got corys).
I didn't have a QT as hubby managed to knock a speaker off the wall and trash my QT a few days ago (fortunately it was empty). So they had to stay put over night.
This morning they looked a bit better if anything, not "fluff" free but defintely less. I've gone out and bought a cheap kids plastic tank and put them in there - dosed with pimafix and melafix, good aeration - no lights or heater, but then the heaters are off on both other tanks and holding steady (at least for the past 4-5 days) at 24C.

All the other community fish still look fine - no signs of "fluff". I've done a big water change in there 70%+.

I'm guessing because it's actual "fluff" then it's fungus rather than columnaris?
Just checked on the harlequins and I can't see any signs of "fluff" now

 

[minxfishy]

Not sure the melafix is much good for it, but it cant hurt, keep up with the pimafix and you should as you caught it really quickly be ok.

 

[JustKia]

Not sure the melafix is much good for it, but it cant hurt, keep up with the pimafix and you should as you caught it really quickly be ok.

I used the pimafix first thinking fungus, then read that mouth fungus is often actually bacterial (just to confuse lol) so added the melafix too - just in case, figured I'd try to attack it from both sides.

So, just use the pimafix? Fingers crossed it clears up almost as quick as it appeared.

 

[minxfishy]

Melafix is usually for cuts/grazes etc, but as I said it cant hurt and if with the pimafix its working, keep dosing it. If for any reason the fungus gets worse then use the pimafix with myaxzin. But it sounds like you have it under control

 

[Athena]

To quote "So, having got the tank cycled I was a bit naughty and probably added stock a bit too quickly..."

Not so - if your tank was cycled correctly you would have been able to add complete stock of fish in one go - this is another reason some people choose to fishless cycle their tanks.

So, I doubt it was this that caused the mouth fungus (unless tank wasn't cycled fully). It may have just been that they were stressed in some way - stress is one of the main causes of fungal and bacterial infections as it lowers the immune system. I just hope that moving them to yet another tank isn't going to stress them again.

Pimafix should do the trick though, so keep up with that and hopefully it should improve in the next few days.

Athena

 

[JustKia]

I didn't fishless cycle (I worked hard, did many many water changes and tests, added many plants, etc) and thus probably upped my stock too quickly after the intial cycle had completed - but as noted the water stats have held steady at 0-0 for Ammonia and nitrItes. I'm also well over filtered using a Fluval 405 external which is turning over 1300lph

Will be keeping a close eye on these little dudes, to make sure they do OK =)

 

[JustKia]

Well, still no signs of it today, seems the move to QT and the meds have cleared the "fluff" right up, all harlequins are looking good.
How long should I keep them in the QT - until they have had a full 7 days of meds? Or should I lay off the meds now and see how they look tomorrow?

 

[minxfishy]

Finish the course of meds to be on the safe side, then wait a clear 7 days after medication to ensure there are no signs of the fungus, you dont want tor risk returning them to the main tank if it isnt completely clear and infecting other fish.

 

[JustKia]

Makes sense - thank you

 

[JustKia]

Still looking good today.
I had the opportunity to go out this afternoon and so I bought Interpet Anti Finrot and Fungus meds. Is it worth using them or just stick with the pimafix?
I made the mistake of asking in the shop (p@h) and was told to do 20% water changes daily for 7 days then use the Interpet meds, because melafix is , and I quote, really strong.
Figured that I'd be best off asking in here instead =)

 

[JustKia]

Well sad update, all 6 died yesterday.
I'm really not sure why.
I did a 20%ish water change, but I added the new water in from the same bucket (dechlored) as I filled up the cory/frog tank and (touch wood) they are all OK, so can't be anything in the water I added.
I went back about 4-5 hours after I'd done the water change and found them all dead, did a quick round of stats - ammonia 0, nitrIte 0 nitrAte 10.

 

[minxfishy]

Yeah just read your other thread, doesnt make sense, was the fungus cleared up, any chance in its appearance?

 

[JustKia]

It had looked as if it was all cleared up - couldn't see any signs of it, was keeping fingers crossed that they would have gone back into community tank after weekend.
I guess it's just a good job I didn't risk doing it sooner.

Thanks for all your time and advice, minxfishy =)