Tropical Fish Problem

Rebel=UK= · 2 Jul 2006 at 19:19

First of all ive posted this in the PC games thread by mistake so if someone could delete it would be good, right anyway back on topic.

Ive recently noticed that one of my tetras has a white mark at the top of it next to its fin and im not sure what it is, the fish is just floating at the bottom of the tank, ive had white spot before but ive treated that and this looks bigger then the little white spots they would have if it was that, so im not sure what it is, ive tried to take a picture of it (not easy) and this is the best i could do:

malfunkshun · 2 Jul 2006 at 19:40

looks like columnarius (sp?) to me. cotton mouth or mouth fungus is what its usually called but it doesnt only affect the mouth. I think its generally related to poor water conditions, excess waste in the tank.

Edit: actually, looking at the picture again, thats a whitening of the fish as opposed to a white growth?

panthro · 2 Jul 2006 at 19:42

Its a fungal infection typically known as cotton wool fungus. You should buy some anti fungal treatment from your aquarist. Some people use a salt bath, but in the past I have treated my tanks with the generic over the counter treatment and it has cleared it up. It depends on how strong the treatment you are using is, because some stronger anti fungal treatments can have affect the ammonia/nitrite cycle (destroy the beneficial bacteria). If this is the case, then a salt bath is probably better as it is not as aggressive.

Or you could just have a dying fish on your hands?

Arsey · 2 Jul 2006 at 19:47

ive had this in my goldfish and it can spread. I recommend getting some treatment and clean out the water.

penski · 2 Jul 2006 at 19:49

I've not kept fish for years but...Is that a Barb?

*n

Dr House · 2 Jul 2006 at 19:53

I always found that I put a small amount of tonic salt in the water which really seems to distress the fish and keep infections at bay.

MeatLoaf · 2 Jul 2006 at 19:54

penski said:
I've not kept fish for years but...Is that a Barb?

*n

Its a Harlequin Rasbora and its got fungus. It can be treated easily wth an off the shelf remedy.

Id also do at least 20% water change before treatment begins

Rebel=UK= · 2 Jul 2006 at 19:58

Hmmm interesting cheers i might have to get some treatment for the tank to treat the fungus, when u said it is caused by excess waste in the tank it got me thinking as i usually clean it once a week but i left it a few days longer and they was loads of waste and the bottom of the tank maybe that has caused it, and the fish is a harlequin rasbora i think

MeatLoaf · 2 Jul 2006 at 20:00

Yeah get a treatment and do a water change. Fungus is usually a secondary infection so look out for other signs such as stress or bullying. What other fish are in the tank apart from the harlequins and the silver tips?

Rebel=UK= · 2 Jul 2006 at 20:08

Yeah i think ill have to get some tomorrow, the other fish in it are a few plattys, few neon tetras and a couple of mollys i think aswell

malfunkshun · 2 Jul 2006 at 20:11

Its not really possible to tell from the piccy. Does the white bit look like a cotton wool patch or more like a white, slimey bit of skin?
They would be very different diseases and treating wrongly would only add extra stress.

panthro · 2 Jul 2006 at 20:11

Rebel=UK= said:
Yeah i think ill have to get some tomorrow, the other fish in it are a few plattys, few neon tetras and a couple of mollys i think aswell

Pretty hardy fish you have in there, they should be able to take the treatment. Neons can sometimes (rarely) have a tendency to nip fins, which leads to fin rot so watch out for that.

Rebel=UK= · 2 Jul 2006 at 20:23

malfunkshun said:
Its not really possible to tell from the piccy. Does the white bit look like a cotton wool patch or more like a white, slimey bit of skin?
They would be very different diseases and treating wrongly would only add extra stress.

Hard to tell really its very shiny, that pic doesnt really show it very well i might try and get a better pic to post in a min. and also them teras i have dont seem like the nippy type ive never seen them chase and other fish maybe its because they r the smallest

MeatLoaf · 2 Jul 2006 at 20:39

Ditch the mollys!!

They really need slightly salty water really. I always keep them in brackish tanks. Otherwise there really prone to whitespot, especially the black ones.

The others seem fine though. Do the mollys or the platys clamp thier fins at all?

Rebel=UK= · 2 Jul 2006 at 20:47

Well i cant really get rid of the mollys now no where else to put them, unless u mean kill them :eek:

also what do u mean clamping thier fins?

EDIT: and the mollies ive got are the Dalmation ones (althoguht they r more black now)

panthro · 2 Jul 2006 at 20:51

MeatLoaf said:
Ditch the mollys!!

They really need slightly salty water really. I always keep them in brackish tanks. Otherwise there really prone to whitespot, especially the black ones.

The others seem fine though. Do the mollys or the platys clamp thier fins at all?

Not at all. Mollys are recommended as a good starter fish for any tank. I have kept them for years and when I worked in aquarists they were fine in standard water. Extremely hardy fish. The only problems with mollys is their aggressive nature when a birth is imminent.