Cories Tail Fin Was Chomped Off

[lillykinloo]

Tank size: 37 gallons
pH: about 7.2
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: slight...less than 10 but more than 0 according to the color card
kH: not sure what this is...sorry
gH: about 6
tank temp: 78 degrees

Fish Symptoms: I purchased 3 juvenile cories from my lfs last weekend. As soon as I placed them in the tank, my Diamond Tetras bit the tail fins off of two of the cories. I immediately removed the 3 cories and placed them in a pregnant fish holder (This was all I had on hand. Unfortunately, I do not have a 2nd tank.) I medicated the tank with melafix (hoping this would decrease the risk of infection, maybe?). The smallest cory died a day later . When I originally placed this 2nd cory in the pregnant fish holder, his tail was only partially chomped off. Now, it looks like he's missing more of his tail. I could be wrong about this, but I don't think so. The only other fish in the pregnant fish holder is one other juvenile cory, and I haven't seen him taking a nip at him. I've continued dosing my tank with the melafix each day (as per the instructions). The cory is eating fine (I've been feeding live baby brine shrimp and Hikari sinking wafers). He sits still for awhile, but he'll also swim around the pregnant fish holder. So, he seems to act ok. But, I'm worried about the fact that he seems to have less tail now than he did a few days ago. Can a nipped fin typically be deadly to a fish? Is there anything I can do to prevent him from dying like the first little cory?

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 10-20% twice a week (I'm trying to change the water frequently b/c I recently added 3 Pearl Gourami, and I didn't want the addition of fish to cause a mini-cycle)

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Charcoal Filter (removed it while dosing with medication and put it back today-I wasn't sure if I was supposed to remove this or not?), Bio Wheel Filtration system

Tank inhabitants: 3 pearl Gouramis (1 male, 2 females) 5 beastly Diamond Tetras that think they're piranha

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Added 3 Pearl Gouramis about 2 weeks ago, tried adding 3 cory cats a week ago, also added some Christmas fern and a java fern to a piece of bogwood in my tank

Exposure to chemicals: none that I know of

Thanks for any help you can offer!

 

[WILDER]

If he's not struggling to swim I would add a bacterial med.
The holder can you add an airstone to it.
Is the fish stressed at that won't help the tail heal.
How long are you thinking of keeping them in the holder.

 

[lillykinloo]

If he's not struggling to swim I would add a bacterial med.
The holder can you add an airstone to it.
Is the fish stressed at that won't help the tail heal.
How long are you thinking of keeping them in the holder.

Hi Wilder! Thank you for the quick reply! He doesn't seem to struggle to swim, so I'll try a bacterial med. Do I need to remove the carbon filter when I use this? Will it have an adverse effect on the other fish? Yes-I can place an airstone in the pregnant fish holder. I have an airstone in my tank, and thinking it might help, I placed the pregnant fish holder near it so that little air bubbles could get in it. But, I can definitely put an airstone directly in the holder-I didn't think of this. Good question...either my husband and I are going to buy a 2nd tank set-up tomorrow (I've been told it may be a good idea to have a 2nd tank anyways). Or, I'm going to take the little guys back to the lfs. Either way, tonight is their last night in the pregnant fish holder. Thanks again!

 

[WILDER]

Ok as long as the airstones not to powerful that it swirls the fish around.
If you can't get the aeration in the holder, add the med to the tank.
Fish are fine mostly with bacterial meds, but would rather issolate sick fish then medicate the whole tank, as the fish get used to meds when used sometime and they no longer work.

 

[lillykinloo]

Ok, I placed the two cories in a six gallon tank with sand substrate, 3 algae balls and some plastic plants. Unfortunately, the 6 gallon is the most I could afford right now, but they're just babies, so they seem to have plenty of room. I also have been using the bacterial med. I stopped today, because he started laying very still, and sometimes, he's laying on his side. Is there anything else I can do to help?

 

[WILDER]

Bad sign if he laying to one side. sadly it sounds like he's not going to make it sorry.
The only thing to do really is keep going with the med if he can handle it.

 

[lillykinloo]

Bad sign if he laying to one side. sadly it sounds like he's not going to make it sorry.
The only thing to do really is keep going with the med if he can handle it.

I was afraid of that. Thank you for all of your help.