Poor Feeshy

[fishboytoo]

I noticed my L. caeruleus had a problem this morning. It looks like fungus to me, two small white tufts, one behind the eye and one on top of the head. It looks like white black beard algae. Is this fungus??

I fear its too late for the fish, I came home and he's on his side on the bottom kinda wiggling a little and breathing hard. Should I even bother trying the fungal meds I bought? Is it possible that it can recover from this very poor state. I wish I could have gotten the meds sooner.

What should I do?

 

[WILDER]

Sadly it sounds like columnaris, if it's a bad strain can kill a fish in hours and many of it's tank mates.

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

 

[fishboytoo]

I hope not, I have hundreds of dollars of fish that I just bought last week in there.

Do you have some good comparative pictures of fungus vs. columnaris?

I looked up columnaris pictures on google and it doesn't look like those.

should I remove the infected fish now?

 

[WILDER]

Yes iissolate the fish, and do some daily water changes on the tank.Try and find some pics for you.


http/www.2cah.com/pandora/Disease.html#External

Columnaris

 

[fishboytoo]

That's the same picture I saw earlier. My guy doesn't have that.

I removed the fish, should I bother with meds?

My water just tested, 0-ammonia 0-nitrates 30-40 ppm nitrate

I just finished the fishless cycle on this 90gal last week and did a large water change then added fish. One died two days ago, no symptoms or obvious problems.
Now this one has the white stuff.

I checked the water last week, stats were perfect. Then I had a trace of ammonia and nitrate for a day, but it cleared itself up.

What is going on here?

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like columnaris a bacteria infection, they lay to one side on the gravel and heavy breath, the fish is dying get it out of the tank, columnaris can be caused by stress and tempreture differences, over crowding and poor water stats, columnaris usually presents it's self in the head region, is does sound like colunmaris to me and has many disguises.
If you have antibiotics and can treat in issolation that the way to go, but once they lay on there sides and heavy breath, the fish is on it's way out, sorry.

 

[fishboytoo]

Excellent link, I think it looks most like the Saprolegnia. Not exactly but close.

I will take a picture and post it when i get it developed.

i kind of figured as much about it being too late. I just wanted confirmation.

It very well may be columnaris, lord knows i'm no expert, it just doesn't look like the pictures i've seen.

Should i dose the whole tank with antibiotics as a preventative? I can't very well remove 18 mbuna to a hospital tank, so I don't have many options here.

 

[WILDER]

Know the fish could of all ready be stress and weak, no need to panick, water changes now and for the next couple of days, keep a close eye on the fish for signs.
You will put the whole tank at risk if you add a antibiotic as it will wipe most of the bacteria colony out.
The safe meds for tanks with columnaris are maracyn one and two.

Maracyn
Manufacturer: Mardel
A broad-spectrum antibiotic for gram-positive bacterial infections. For infections of columnaris (body fungus), fin and tail rot, popeye, gill disease, and secondary infections.
Active ingredient: Erythromycin.


Maracyn–Two
Manufacturer: Mardel
A broad-spectrum antibiotic for internal or external gram negative bacterial infections which can even be absorbed through the skin. Effective treatment of fin and tail rot, popeye, gill disease, dropsy (swollen body, protruding scales), septicemia (bleeding or red streaks on the body), secondary and internal infections. Effective even when fish won't eat.
Active ingredient: Mincycline hydrochlor.




You have to use both meds to cover all areas, only add if you see a fish coming down with the same symtoms.

 

[fishboytoo]

Okay, I will wait. But now I'm paranoid and watching all the fish intently. There is one that doesn't seem as active as the rest but no external symptoms. I will keep my eye on him and remove him to the hospital if he seems worse. I need to use both antibiotics? I just picked up some maracyn and will get the maracyn two if I have to start treatment.

I just did a 20% water change, will continue as advised.

Thanks a bunch Wilder, you deserve a medal for your tireless service to all of us with sick fish.

 

[fishboytoo]

I lost another L.caeruleus last night. This is becoming a nightmare. I just hope no more get it.

 

[WILDER]

Same symtoms if so add the meds, but before you do i would recommend a water change.

 

[fishboytoo]

It didn't have any noticeable patches on it, it just was sluggish at first. I removed it to another tank and added maracyn, a couple hours later it was dead.

All the rest seem fine, active and feeding, no white patches or anything.

Would melafix help at all? More as a preventative to infection.

 

[WILDER]

Yes you could add melafix, it will help abit, but won't cure columnaris though if they come down with it, do another water change then add the melafix, good luck.

 

[fishboytoo]

How big of a water change would you suggest? I will do one then add the melafix and hope for the best.

I'm wondering what is wrong with my water? All the stats were good, where is the problem? Or can it not be detected, as you said-stress?

 

[WILDER]

It's a 90gal right, i would do a 50% water change, the problem is when you don't qurantine new fish you never know what they are fetching into the tank, sounds like the fish that have died were just stressed and weak.