Fungus, Bacteria, or what?

[LIVEBait]

I recently added two new Parachromis loisellei to my tank in hopes of finding a mate for my female loisellei. My tank was setup with a divider, with the two new additions on one side. After a day of settling in, the two began to fight.

A day later white-cottony growths appeared on their wounds. The only med I had on hand was aquarium salt, so in it went. My first thought was FUNGUS. So the next day I dosed with Jungle Labs Fungus Clear. Within a 48 hour period my two new inhabitants passed on.

My remaining loisellei doesnt show any visual signs of fungus, but she has been hiding more than usual and has started to shake and scratches around her head/mouth area.

Here's the kicker: I was observing the tank and noticed a small pea-sized sphere sitting on the gravel. At first I thought it was an uneaten food pellet. But upon closer inspection it appeared to have a white center with a clear mucous-type shell.
I'm thinking some type of spore?

I went for the net to get it out of the tank and it popped. Next I went for the gravel vac to see if there were more mystery spheres in the gravel, only to find more patches of this clear mucous-type/stringy fungus looking stuff.

Any help is greatly appreciated.


Parameters:
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Nitrate 10 ppm
pH 7.8
temp 82F (heat wave weather here in Sunny So. Cal )
25% water change every 4-5 days.

 

[squidlips]

sounds like it is un eaten food to me .if your fish are sick then they arnt eating as usual and many un eaten foods look like what you have described after they sit on the bottom for acouple of days ..dont know about the popping but could be some gas build up in the decaying fungused food

 

[LIVEBait]

Thanks for the response.

It could possibly be just uneaten food thats being attacked by fungus. I wouldn't really know. Its my first time dealing with fungus. The part that worries me is how fast the fungus was able to kill the fish.

How many more doses should I administer? The directions on the Fungus Clear says to wait 4 days before adding a second dose. Tomorrow will be the fourth day.
It also says to do a 25% water change before adding the second dose? Would it be alright to change out more water...say 50%???