Sick Cory...

[Glod]

I just got back in and was feeding my fish when I noticed one of my Corydoras Trilineatus was looking less than happy so I took a closer look. When I got him about a week ago one of his barbels was damaged so I've been keeping on top of water changes doing 30% ish every 2 days and a gravel vac at the same time. Hoping that clean water and some TLC would help him recover. Today I noticed he has what looks like a santa beard...

It look fungal to me, so rather than dilly dally I added Interpet No 8 Anti Fin Rot and Fungus. I've enclosed some pics so you guys can confirm my diagnosis or tell me I suck and how to fix it !







Sorry for the pic quality, but he's a cory and still somewhat reclusive when I get close to the glass.

 

[johnatkin]

Hi Glod. What size grade of gravel do you have in the tank? Large and/or sharp pieces of gravel can damage and wear down their barbels which can cause infections and fungal growth.

 

[Glod]

The gravel is small and very rounded most pieces are between 3mm and 5mm across 'tho there are a few larger pieces maybe 1cm across.

Just checked the water stats and they're sitting at ph 6.8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 8-10 (a little lighter than 10 ppm). The only thing added in the last month is the Corydoras a week ago.

The other corys in the tank are fine with no barbel damage whatsoever. The one that is ill is spending a lot of time resting higher up in the tank on top of ornaments or sitting on plants.

*edit* If it's determined the gravel is the cause I'll certainly look into changing to a sand substrate.

 

[johnatkin]

I have 2 tanks, one with gravel and one with sand substrate and keep corries in both tanks. In the tank with gravel in I have had problems with some of the corries barbels wearing down (but not all of them) whereas in the sand tank all the corries have nice long barbels with water stats all more or less the same in both tanks. I set the gravel tank up before knowing about the sand option as I haven't kept fish for a long time and back then all that seemed to be used was gravel. I am planning on changing the gravel bottomed tank to sand in the near future.

 

[Glod]

Oh well, the poor little guy just passed away. I looked up just as he fell upside down from the surface of the water to the gravel. All the others seem fine, I'll keep monitoring. I'll leave the water change that was due tomorrow for an extra day or so just in case there is any lingering bugs.

 

[WILDER]

R.I.P.
Bacterial onfection mouth fungus which is columnaris.

 

[Glod]

Yeah, Interpet no 8 is supposed to be useful vs Columnaris. Guess I was just too late in noticing the problem