Tiger Barb With Swolen Gill

[Attilauk]

Tank size: 240 litres
pH: 7.8
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 10

one of the gills on the smallest of my Tiger Barbs has swolen up, it looks like the gill inner has swolen up and blocked any water from passing through, although i can see a small white 'string' around 2mm long sticking out from the upper part of the gill. the swelling itself is white in colour with no redness at all. the fish is not flashing, rubbing or gasping at the surface and other than 'gulping' water more than the other tiger barbs is acting perfectly normally and is still its normal colour.

i tried to get a photo but it will not stay still long enough for my camera to focus on it properly.

is this anything to be worried about?

 

[WILDER]

The string coming from the gills does it look like a white worm, or a string of cotton.
Has the whole gill gone white or just the swelled part.
Any excess mucas on the gills.
Look here to see if anything fits your description.
<a href="http/www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/..._disorders.html" target="_blank">http/www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/..._disorders.html</a>

 

[Attilauk]

thanks for the quick response

The string coming from the gills does it look like a white worm, or a string of cotton.

its difficult to tell as its so small, but i would say it looks more like a string of cotton than a worm

Has the whole gill gone white or just the swelled part.

its just the swolen inner of the gill that has turned white, the gill cover itself is still the normal gold colour

Any excess mucas on the gills.

no, no excess mucus at all

Any signs of flicking and rubbing.

no the fish seems to be acting as normal apart from 'gulping' slightly faster than normal

 

[WILDER]

So you are sure its a stand of cotton as fish can get gill flukes but there hard to see with the naked eye.
Does it sound like this.

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F). Cotton-like threads grow on the operculum (gill plate) or gill filaments Saproglenia fungal infection Treat with: Forma-Green -or- Acriflavine Neutral.

 

[Attilauk]

none of the descriptions on the link you posted really click with what i can see but of all those the Saproglenia fungal infection explains the string the best, the white swelling inside the gill does look like it could be fungal.

the 'string' is about 0.5mm across and sticks out of the gill cover by about 2mm, it moves freely with the flow of water as the fish swims.

what would you suggest to treat this with? i have a bottle of Waterlife Protozin, it states on the bottle that it treats fungus

 

[WILDER]

Its going to be hard on a small fish but sometimes you have to remove the fish from the tank to take a look under the gills flap with a magifying glass to see if there any tiny white worms.
You wrap the fish in a cloth soaked in tank water.
If you think it is fungus you need the meds they suggested.
Could try the waterlife med.

 

[WILDER]

I think I would go in with myxazin by waterlife and pimafix.
http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hdgilld.htm

 

[Attilauk]

ok i will try taking the fish out of the tank tonight and having a look under the gill flap to be sure its not worms.

 

[Attilauk]

well its definately not worms, i had a good look last night with a magnifying glass and it looks fibrous. the swelling has also gone right down over the last day as the fish can shut its gill flap properly now.

i've been carrying out small water changes every day since i've spotted the swelling and it seems to be helping, im going to keep an eye on it for a few days and see how it pans out.

 

[WILDER]

Glad its not flukes then.
Is the whiteness still there.

 

[Attilauk]

im very glad too, the whiteness is still there but its reduced massively, you really have to look hard to spot it now, in fact the 'stings' are no longer produding from the gill flap.

im going to keep with the small water changes for the next few days and keep a close eye on him, thank you for your help and advice

 

[WILDER]

That good news then bless him.
Good Luck.