All but certain this originated from some roughtanking with her mates. Has had these same sore spots for weeks but smaller and without the fluffy cotton-like (fungus?) stuff. One of the platinums had similar but it never got this bad and healed on its own. During last water change one of the patches came off revealing an open sore with some of the fungussy stuff remaining on the edges. The next day the same happened to the other patch. Figured/hoped she was on the mend but now a couple days later they have fungused over again. Am at the point where I feel the need to medicate. But what to use?
Water parameters are all good and constant. Temp of this tank is 78F. The fish swims, eats, and fights back as normal.
Oh no! Yes, definitely is starting to get serious. Anytime you see fungus, this indicates bacteria has taken over the tissue.
Could try a treatment of daily water changes with metheleyne blue ( In hospital tank! Kills beneficial bacteria!) or use a product like Seachem Paraguard which has acriflavine and malachite green. You can also find malachite green and acriflavine as active ingredients in API Fungus Cure. You could do this for a couple days to see if you see any healing response. This may be enough since the fish appears to be strong despite wounds.
Or, could go straight to an antibiotic, Do you have any on hand?
The only meds I currently have are general cure and IchX. Could do a hospital tank if that's best but think I would like to treat the whole tank. As a rule I shun antibiotics even for myself but see a couple of other very small spots on two other angels. A pretty small greyish area on the eye of the platinum that has otherwise healed and a spot on the big boy dark angel. Any further suggestions on what would be best for a whole tank antibiotic or other? Or other thoughts in general. Thanks so much for chiming in.
Try the Ich X, it contains malachite green. See if this helps with healing. I would also do daily water changes of at least 25% while treating.
For antibiotics could use Seachem Neoplex in food or kanamycin ( active ingredient in Seachem Kanaplex) dosed in water column. Another economical option option is to get these meds through Jemco: https://www.jehmco.com/html/medications.html
Ok, great. Am looking into any local options to treat sooner. Excellent link, though. I bookmarked straight away. Leaning toward whole tank antibiotic if available vs Ich X. May ask for your opinion yet again if there happens to be more than one local option. Thanks so much for all your help!
It is possible to remove the filter and just do water changes on display. I often dont recommend this to new people because they dont yet understand all the complex issues that it takes to make this work. Alot can go wrong. But, this is an option. However, daily water changes are absolutely necessary to keep organic load low. The higher the organic load, the less effective the uptake of the medication (organics offset antibiotic effectiveness). But, also, obviously, taking some biological bacteria away from system, increases the chance of ammonia or /and nitrite spike. A sick fish is even more vulnerable to this occuring at lower levels.
The kanamycin, neomyacin, and nitrofurazone ( can kill or set-back certain plants temporarily) are safe for bio-filter. Erythromycin- no.
It is always best to treat in hospital tank when you can. My hospital tanks are not pre-cycled because I want them sterile. I set it up as needed. Through daily water changes I ensure optimum uptake of meds and no chance of ammonia/nitrite toxicity.
Ok - finished a week of treatments (3) as directed with the Kanaplex. Yesterday did a big water change and return of bio-media which had been soaking in tank water over an airstone.. Checked throughout treatment and the water quality remained fine. First thought there was some improvement but then the fungus progressed. Will need to take further action for sure if this fish is to be saved. Still seemed to eat normally this morning but ever increasingly painful to look at. My hospital tank is twenty four hours away from being ready. Currently a green water soupy mess that I'll clean tonight and then the water should be to temperature in the morning.
Am wondering if I should continue with the Kanaplex? Perhaps increase the dosage some? Switch to a different antibiotic? Or maybe something more specific to the fungus? The Kanaplex had no noticeable ill effects on any of the fish. Also, though the label said it would kill inverts, the snails I couldn't rescue before starting appear to be fine. Wonder if this batch was just weak. Whatch'all think?
Yes, use nitrofurazone ( active ingredient in API Furan 2. This med is commonly at Petco and Petsmart)) with the kanaplex. These meds work together synergistically and are often recommended for treatment of Columnaris. I doubt that the fish has columnaris, but it has a very bad external infection that the nitrofurazone may shut down. If you have the kanaplex to do another dose, do so with the Furan 2. Nitrofurazone is harsh on plants, however. Better to do in a hospital tank.
Ok - she's in the twenty and medicated. Didn't fight the net at all which I feel points to her weakness. Looks about the same though. Upright but not very active and not actively fighting the (very weak) current. At least no immediate negative reactions. So guessing from your advice re water changes, the active life of the kanaplex is about two days in water. I assumed there was a cumulative effect so did not change water during the last treatment. That newer tuft of fungus on top of her head and probably some others came loose in the display tank. Netted out what I could. Is that a concern for the other fish?
The fungus grows on areas of tissue where bacteria has settled. So, no. This fungus is naturally occurring in aquariums, but it is harmless to healthy fish.
I think I noticed some bulging in the eyes which indicates that the infection gone from external- to systemic. From your description of behavior, it sounds like this is the case. Do you notice this in person?
It is much more important to change water to ensure maximum uptake of meds than to not change water for a cumulative effect. These meds actually have a very short window of activity- especially the Furan 2. It gets dosed daily. The Kanaplex gets dosed every 48 hours, a water change of at least 25% should be made before dosage. Also, didn't you dose the first round of kanaplex in a tank with lots of plants? This will undermine (offset) effectiveness of meds as well. Now that the fish is in hospital tank and you can much more easily do water changes, the meds should work better.
Eyes appear same as his healthy mates - not bulging. But as you've said its behavior points to a systemic infection which I don't doubt. The side with the lesions is definitely swollen. Now that it's in the smaller tank I can better see. The white lines above and below the main wound now look to be more fungus. Will probably lose the scales above that next. Noted about the water changes. Kicking myself for not inquiring about them. Hopefully will get the chance to do better for it in the hospital tank. But starting to wonder at what point euthanasia might be a consideration. Really hope it makes it long enough to attempt the Furan 2 and hope for a great response there.
Fish disease treatment is always going to be somewhat a gamble and it does take different turns at different times. I've lost lots of fish over the years and it has finally gotten me to a point where I really hesitate to do too much to try to save any one single fish as it often requires more than I want to do. A QT tank is always my first option both for ease and less expense but it also saves the whole tank from the risks involved with killing too much of the good bacteria.
You mentioned doing a thorough cleaning, which always sounds good but with a downside. One of the hazards of cleaning is that we always kill a certain amount of the good bacteria. If we do the filter media, scrub the glass and then maybe add a med which may kill some bacteria we can then find we are not only fighting the first disease but also fighting spikes of various levels.
I call that the death spiral for the tank and do not want to risk it-- even if it means I give up and let one fish die! Rather one die immediately than the whole tank over a month of trauma. It just seems more humane.
I wish you luck but from my standpoint, I would not expect success.
Thank you for the advice PR. It is certainly valuable and has not gone unheeded. I am of similar mind and prefer not to use medication. I had a platinum angel with similar looking wounds that healed eventually on its own. Had hoped this one would, too so put off medicating but perhaps too long. And my biggest regret was not hospitalizing this one before today. Realize now I should not have initially treated the whole tank. I did keep a close eye on ammonia while medicating and detected none. Had removed half of my bio media beforehand as well which may or may not have been a good idea. It's now back but your post also makes me realize now may be just as important to watch for ammonia. Will do that. Thanks also for the well wishes. Am hopeful still, but would be surprised if the fish makes it through tonight.
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