Fungus or Not?

[rykitten]

My swordtail is still ill . . .

He's been developing a white patch on his back for about 2 weeks.
I've been treating him with Maracyn for the last 5 days. He's not getting any better. In fact, he's become a lot worse. The patch on his back has grown and now he's missing parts of his fins. Please look at the avatar pic over here <--- and the pic on my profile.
Do you think this could be something other than fungus?
Any ideas are greatly appreciated. I am at a loss . . .

 

[Tempestuousfury]

The missing fins could be fin rot, wish should also be treated with maracyn-2. My fish have tail and fin rot and I treated them for the five days. They grew most of their fins back, but my black moor is now worse than before.

I made the mistake of not removing the carbon from my filter when I used melafix for the first time, so make sure the carbon is out of the cartridge b/c it will keep the medicine from working.

You should enlarge the picture and add it to the post. It's too hard to see the disease b/c the pic is so small.

 

[rykitten]

F.Y.I.

Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
pH - 7.8

Fish friends: 1 Marble Platty
2 Black Skirt Tetras
1 sick Swortail

26 gallon tank

 

[rykitten]

I added larger pictures.
Hopefully you can see the patches easier now. What you can't see is the texture. It appears sort of stringy and fuzzy.
Fungus you think?

 

[rykitten]

Is anyone out there . . . .???

 

[Mogo]

Looks like Columnaris to me. Often times columnaris is misdiagnosed for fungus because the infection looks almost identical to fungus. It is stringier than fungus and has more of a grayish hue to it. It is caused by the bacteria flexibacter columnare that thrives in poor water conditions, high temps and low oxgen levels in water. It most commonly affects the mouth, and fins, but will work it's way down to the back of the fish, hence it has also been called the "saddleback disease".

Firstly, I would do a small water change, say 10-15% and add some carbon to your filter and let it run for about five hours to remove the meds you have been using. You have been using Maracyn, which is erythromycin, which is primarily used to treat gram positive bacteria. Flexibacter is gram negative, which explains why the fish hasn't been getting better. Maracyn II is minocycline (a tetracycline derivative) and works well against flexi, but if you can't find it, find a med that is tetracycline or oxytetracyline. Follow treatment directions on the package, I believe it's usually a five day course. I'd suggest to add a small airpump or powerhead to boost oxygen content of the water as this will slow down the production of the bacteria. Check your temp and please post. Your fish should be better within a couple days of treatment depending on how bad the infection is, but sometimes it does require a second treatment.

Please keep us updated, I hope your fish gets better soon.

 

[Mogo]

Oh yeah, you didn't list nitrate in your water parameters. Could you test and please post?

 

[rykitten]

Thank you for responding! Your post is exactly what I was hoping for. A possible solution backed up with guidance. Thanks!

Question: If he passes, do I still need to treat the rest of the tank? None of the others are showing signs, and I really don't want to over medicate them if it isn't necessary.

Temp is 79 degrees.
I don't have a Nitrate test at this time.

 

[rykitten]

I am so horrified right now.
I left work for an hour and when I came back, the white patches were gone. Now there is a gaping hole in his back. He's still alive, but I don't see how that is possible. What the hell is going on???
I am horrified and disgusted.
What do I do with him? I don't think he'll recover, I can see the inside of him. Is there a humane way to help him go???
Please help!

 

[smb]

I replied to your email you sent me.

 

[rykitten]

I didn't "help" him go and he didn't go on his own.
I came in this morning to find him swimming around like nothing is wrong.

I need some opinions. Columnaris? Body rot?

I've already treated him with Maracyn. He's got to be in pain. Advice anyone?

 

[rykitten]

I am happy to report that my swordtail is recovering!

She still has a long way to go but her skin/scales are slowly coming in and she's orange again!

I really think the salt and melafix helped.

Thanks to everyone that helped, especially SMB. You the man!