Sterbai Corydoras: White Lump On Its Nose.

[Ethan040]

My sterbai corydoras has a white lump on its nose about the size of its eye its not flicking at it or anything but a couple of my pandas have been flicking today i did a 60% waterchange yesterday and cleaned my bogwood and slate the lumps only just came because it wasn't there yesterday.

My stats using api master test:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0

Tank: 40gal
Filter: fluval 305 1000LPH

I have been getting some readings for ammonia latley though my filter is cycled though.. all the fish are eating fine some are a bit more darty and irratic though.

Thanks

 

[Ethan040]

Tested again this morning and i had a 0.25 reading for nitrite did a water change and the fish seem fine but why would i have a reading of nitrite on a cycled filter?

Any ideas on the lump also?

Thanks

 

[Ethan040]

Anyone? the readings are fine now have been for a couple of days but the lump is still there?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Ethan040

Your corys have a bacterial infection due to improper water conditions. If you sometimes get ammonia or nitrite readings when you do the water tests, treat the tank like you would doing a "fish in" cycle, at least until you are very sure it's stable. Daily water changes will help the corys.

You might want to add a little MelaFix to the water too. It won't hurt them and might help them heal faster. If the condition persists or gets worse, you will want to use something stronger.

Next, consider the temperature and the substrate. Rough or sharp substrate can injure corys and if it isn't sand or very fine gravel, uneaten food can accumulate between the bits. This feeds bacteria that can be potentially harmful to corys. If the temperature is higher than 75 F. the bacteria will grow faster than if it is lower.

Be sure to vacuum the substrate, or stir it if it is sand, at each water change.

I hope your corys get well quickly.

 

[roadmaster]

Tested again this morning and i had a 0.25 reading for nitrite did a water change and the fish seem fine but why would i have a reading of nitrite on a cycled filter?

Any ideas on the lump also?

Thanks

Are a number of reasons for possible ammonia and nitrite readings in a mature(cycled) aquarium.Overfeeding can cause this,filter material removed ,replaced,or cleaned in tapwater can also cause this by reducing the available bacteria in the filter that processes the ammonia created by the fish. Too many fish for the biological bacteria to process can cause ammonia and nitrite levels to spike.
Catfish in my expierience are not too tolerant of NitrAte levels muchg above 20 ppm. Between weekly 25 to 40 percent water changes,,the nitrates are easily kept low.
another possible irritant that may cause problems for catfish is substrate that may have sharp edges as opposed to sand that they much prefer.
If It were me,, I would try performing twice weekly water changes for a while,vaccuming substrate once a week and a different area each week,and monitor the fish. if condition worsens,then I might consider medication.
I have found that many fish can heal on their own provided the water quality is good.
I would also consider keeping water a bit cooler for corys who don't seem to like temps much above 76 degrees F in the long term.

 

[Inchworm]

I would also consider keeping water a bit cooler for corys who don't seem to like temps much above 76 degrees F in the long term.

C. sterbai are one of the exceptions to that rule. They thrive in a temperature range between 75 - 82 F.

One other factor that might help is to have excellent oxygenation of the water. If your filter does not provide good water movement at the surface, try adding and air stone to improve this.

 

[roadmaster]

I would also consider keeping water a bit cooler for corys who don't seem to like temps much above 76 degrees F in the long term.

C. sterbai are one of the exceptions to that rule. They thrive in a temperature range between 75 - 82 F.

One other factor that might help is to have excellent oxygenation of the water. If your filter does not provide good water movement at the surface, try adding and air stone to improve this.

Yes,I have kept sterbai corydoras with Discus and Blue rams and they did not seem to mind the warmer water. Seldom lived as long as those kept in cooler water.IME

 

[Ethan040]

I do weekly waterchanges and allways vac my substrate is sand also and its a 40g tank im doing twice weekly waterchanges now and il try and get hold of some melafix.

Thanks