Gourami Quandry

[russkev]

Hi

You may have seen an earlier post from me regarding 2 Dwarf Gourami's that I had added to my tank last Sunday. Well one of them had a White band of Cotton Wool type fungus down its side and last night died. I did try to put it in a bucket of ater with some Fungus and skin rot additive for a while but it was strggling so I had to put it back into the tank. Anyway as I said it has since died so it's back to the shop !

So the concern now is with the second Gourami and indeed the rest of the fish who upto now have been fine. I have noticed that the other Gourami has a small White patch on the side of its mouth. This I guess could be another outbreak of the disease so should I quarantine this fish as well ?

Should I also consider adding the fungicide to the whole tank ? I don't want to do this as it will affect the water for all of the fish which upto now has been fine. I don't have the luxury of a second tank so a little stuck. What are the recommendations here please ?

Any help much appreciated

Thanks

 

[sylvia]

Isolate and treat but only if the quarantine tank is one with a heater and a mature filter (ie: cycled). If not, treat the whole tank. Most of these anti-fungus/finrot meds. won't effect biological filtration as long as you are careful not to voer-dose. Also make sure aeration is maximum as the med. will reduce the water's capacity for oxygen.

 

[SkiFletch]

I went back to your other post and looked at your pic... What your Dwarf Gourami had was not a fungus, but the often mis-diagnosed Columnaris. That picture looked like textbook columnaris almoast identical in infection location to those of my own dwarf (RIP ). If your other surviving dwarf has that small white patch on his mouth quarantine him IMMEDIATELY in a seperate tank using water from the one he comes from, put an airstone in the quarantine tank, and treat it with a healthy dose of antibiotics. You'll want to specifically use one with the active ingredient Teramyacin (oxytetracyclin) or if not available where you are then just plain Tetracyclin will also work. Its a "Gram Negative" bacterium so Maracyn 2 will also work on it if your LFS doesnt have Teramyacin or Tetracyclin (Regular Maracyn will NOT work, its gotta be 2). If your LFS doesnt have any of those, ask them if they have any antibiotics for gram negative bacteria and hope they know what that is...

This article doesnt say much about columnaris but has some excellent pics. I assume thats what looks like afflicted your lost Dwarf in the later stages... If that looks like the right picture than treat as I described above.

Unfortunately Dwarf Gourami's are VERY succeptible to Columnaris, especially in stressful conditions, and it is very often fatal even with proper treatment. Good luck and if thats what he has get some antibiotics in there fast

 

[kimbowee]

Columnaris is a bacterial infection. Some of the main causes include overstocking, overfeeding, not enough water changes or an uncycled tank.

From what I have read in your previous posts your tank is still cycling. Are you doing daily water changes to lower the amount of Ammonia and NitrItes? If not, please start changing about 20% daily. This will also help clear up the Columnaris. Lower your tank temp to 76 degrees and add an airstone also. Feed your fish only what they will eat in 2-3 minutes every other day until your tank is finished cycling. It would be a good idea also to test your water daily for Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates.

From what I have read when treating with Maracyn you need to use both Maracyn 1 & 2 in conjunction, but Tetracycline is best. Unfortunately, Tetracycline may kill the good bacteria in your filter causing an even longer cycling period.

When I first started fishkeeping I made the same mistake. Added to many fish to an uncycled tank and lost a couple of fish to Columnaris before I could figure out what was going on. Luckily I found this site before I lost them all. I treated with Melafix and Pimafix, which supposedly do not harm your biological filter.

Here are a couple more links that may help. http/www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm and http/www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html#Lernea

Hope that helps!

 

[russkev]

Guys

Thanks for all of the feedback. Very helpful indeed. I have just completed a water change and I have to confess the last water change was on 8/10/2005 - yes I reaslise this is too long but had performed regular tests and it seemed ok ! . I have performed a water test and it all looks good although did notice a slight rise in Ammonia levels. My tests resulted in

Ph Test (High) 8.0
Ammonia 0.25 mg/l
Nitrite 0 mg/l
Nitrate 10 mg/l

The above results were taken prior to the water change. Will let it settle down first and do another reading !

Will check the links now for columnaris

Thanks again

Kevin

 

[SkiFletch]

hummm, 0.25 ammonia in a tank that old? thats odd. how old is your test kit and did the levels subside after the water change?