Something Wrong With My Cory

[Dana C]

My bronze cory is acting strange, all the others are swimming around as normal and he is just sitting there. I have seen the other cories bump him but he doesn't swim out of the way.
He can still swim though because he has just made a dive for the top but then just sits still again.

I am not totally sure but I think he has got darker, he is much darker than the other 2 bronze cories he now seems nearly black.

I have just fed some worms and all the other fish came racing out but he took about 10 minutes to appear, I think I saw him eat a little but now he has hidden up somewhere.

Last week one of my other cories went light above the mouth as if he took the top layer of skin off, and now he is the same colour there as his tummy is. He seems fine though and is swimming and eating as usual.

Could these two things be related?

Sorry I can't put this any better but it's very hard to describe.

 

[WILDER]

Can you post water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph, corys are very prone to bacterial infections, plus a sign of a bacterial infection is darkening in colour, was there and fluff on the mouth area.
Can you issolate the cory as he will need treatment.

 

[Dana C]

Thanks for the fast reply,

I have just tested my water ammonia and nitrite is 0, nitrate is about 40-50.

I cant see any fluff around the mouth area at all, I thought I saw some white spots but it may have been sand from the other fish getting the worms.

He looks a funny shape underneath as well he is a bit flat, I don't know if this means anything to you.

 

[WILDER]

Whats your tap nitrate reading, could do with getting the nitrate down abit.
Does the belly look sunken in, as he lost weight, is he eating.

 

[Dana C]

His belly doesn't look sunken in, from above he looks fine.

From the side the other cories are more rounded and he looks flat along the bottom of the belly. When other fish swim past him to close he kind of bobs around.

I have seen him eat a little but when I added the cory pellets last night he didn't come out in fact I thought he was dead as he wasn't moving at one point. I didn't think anything of it then it was only when he didn't come racing out for the worms with all the others I realised there must be something wrong.

 

[WILDER]

You will need a bacterial med like, anti internal bacteria med by interpet, or mxyazin by waterlife.

If you can issolate this med.
http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...bb88ecadf913bd8

 

[Dana C]

I just checked the nitrates in our tap water and there isn't alot of difference.

If I can't put him in a seperate tank will it be dangerous for my other fish?

How would he have got a bacterial infection what causes it? Could it be caused by stress as they were being nipped by the barbs I had untill a couple of weeks ago.

If I go out and buy some medicine tomorrow will he be ok? and will pets at home sell the med you suggested?

 

[WILDER]

Stress yes can cause illness, good tank maintanance gravel vacs twice a week to get rid of rotten foods as they can cause bacterial infections, cuts and wounds, parasites.
I would add the med to the tank, but not the jbl as it will destroy the bacteria colony in your filter, they might sell the jbl one couldn't say.
If you can issolate the fish the jbl med, and for the main tank myxazin, plus some daily water changes on the main tank.
Plus your nitrate reading to get a correct result should leave it 24 hours.

 

[WILDER]

Can you check his barbels to see if they have gone shorter or thinner.

 

[Dana C]

I had a look at his barbels and I can see 2 each side they look the same as the other cories.

I had a look at a website for a nearby shop and they sell the mxyazin so I can get this one. It isn't harmful to any of the healthy fish is it?

Just wanted to say many thanks for all your help.

 

[WILDER]

No it's fine.
http/www.waterlife.co.uk/waterlife/myxazin.htm

 

[Dana C]

Thanks,
I will get some tomorrow morning, should I do a water change before I add it?

 

[WILDER]

I would do one now, and one before you add it, plus a gravel back tomorrow as well, good luck.

 

[Dana C]

Thanks for all your help.

 

[demonmagus]

poor guy, hope he get better