Oh God - I think its columnaris!

[RandomWiktor]

I was doing water changes on my fish today when I noticed that a few places near the eyes and mouth of my betta looked pale. Not cottony/stringy or anything like that, but "faded," if you will. Concerned, I remembered that this is how comulnaris starts; discolored patches of skin on the face. So, I added salt to the water, and some Maracyn-2 (the only antibiotic I had on-hand), and went to class.
It is only an hour later, and there is a gray, slightly stringy patch higher up on his head, and the stuff on his face looks more wide-spread as well! I'm freaking out, because I know this kills in a few days if not treated.

What can I do? I know that Columnaris is caused by stress, poor water quality, or sudden temp changes. Since my water readings all came out good, I think it is the combined stress of a recent move from NY to PA, and the high temps we've had over the last few days; his tank was stable at about 78 all week, then jumped yesterday to 83.

Should I change all of the water, boil the ornaments and gravel, or even put him in a hopsice tank? Should I increase or decrease the temp? (It is 80 degrees). How much salt should I add (5 gallon tank)? What med should I use? Maracyn says nothing about Columnaris, but I don't have anything else handy. If you tell me what I can find readily at Petco/Petsmart (these are the only local stores) prior to 9:00est, I can go buy it. I don't care what it costs.

Please just help!

 

[WILDER]

The stringy thing isn't a parasite is it, just make sure, you can get trailing mucas that can be bacterial or parasite.

 

[WILDER]

http/www.nippyfish.net/flexibacter.html

 

[RandomWiktor]

I've had him for almost a year, and he hasn't had exposure to other fish in any way - he even has his own siphon. How would he get a parasie? Would a parasite just randomly show up within one hour? He had a slight gray discoloration on the face that spread VERY rapidly. The only thing I know of that spreads so fast is columnaris. It seems to look worse every time I go back there. I really don't want to see a massive hole eaten in his head by tomorrow.

 

[WILDER]

Just making sure it wasn't a parasite i had a guppy with a grey circling on it's head with a red edging to the circle that was columnaris, i would treat for columnaris, do you have maracyn one as well.

 

[WILDER]

Not the writer of this information.

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.

 

[WILDER]

Do you have any tetracycline as it's a stronger med.

 

[RandomWiktor]

I just went out and got a medicated fish food for bacterial infections, and a powdered medicine for columnaris, fin rot, pop-eye, and gill disease; it looks to be maracyn but with tetracyclene added? I also got more salt, and some Stress Guard.

I'm thinking what I will do is remove the fish (I fed him the antibacterial food, and he seems to like it), change all of the water, and boil the plants/gravel, then sterlize the tank with salt. This is not a cycled tank so I am not worried about killing good flora at that point. Afterwords, I will move the tank downstairs (it is VERY hot upstairs), get the temp lowered (around 76, since several pages said a lower temp would help), add a medicinal amount of salt, the powder, a bubbler, and hope for the best? I'm very worried about my boy even though he is acting well so far; his gray patches seem to be multiplying before my very eyes.

Thanks for all of the helpful info, Wilder!

 

[black angel]

Good luck with him. It can kill within 12 hours, i hope you have caught it in time.

 

[RandomWiktor]

Well, I had put in meds before class, but they weren't really appropriate for the illness. However, even that seems to have reduced the gray patches.

I'm acclimating him to the water right now. He looks more distressed than usual when I do water changes, but that aside, he is behaving well; eating, active, not clamped. He does have some fin deterioration, which is worrisome, but I'm hoping I caught it early. I mean, literally this morning, he didn't have any gray on him. That's the main reason why I think it is columnaris; it is happening SO fast.

Bah. This blows majorly. One temperature spike after a stressful period, and this happens? Man, fish are getting too delicate for my emotional state.