Help! Cory Dont Look Good

[hillmar77]

Hi,
I noticed today that one of my Cory has a red mark in the back lower area.... how should I go about treating him?

Oh forgot water parameters:
0 ammonia
0 Nitrite
10 Nitrate
PH 7.2

 

[fluffycabbage]

waters good - looks like an internal infection. you need some internal anti-bacterial meds - are you in the uk or across the pond? do any other fish show ill health?

 

[hillmar77]

Nope, all my other fish including another cory cat I had with him initially doesn't have this problem! I'm in vancouver, Canada.....Pond? I'll pick up some anti-bacterial Meds for him! Any good suggestion on brand or name of Med?

 

[fluffycabbage]

i honestly dont know of brand names over there - just go to your lfs (not pets r us etc) and ask for a good quality anti-internal bacteria medication.

i lived in van for a year a few years ago, beautiful part of the world

 

[laxation]

Should he quarantine it if possible?

 

[fluffycabbage]

if possible yeah - im only a newbie so just going with the flow of the convo if poss, quarantine. especially if no other fish show signs of infection.

 

[AstonN24vantage]

does it seem to be injured at all? no fin problems or cuts or anything?

 

[hillmar77]

Just put him in the quarantine tank....Its starting to swell up now, and the bottom looks really white and puffy and swollen!!! Starting to get really worried for him! Is this contagious, do i need to medicate everybody?!! What is it?!!!

 

[fluffycabbage]

if the fish in the main tank arent sick in any way, theres no need to medicate them. my next question was going to be are there any injuries? could he/she hve got stuck in anything? been nipped? i would have said put salt in the tank but you cant with cories! hmmm. hoping someone with expertise will come along, as its way past my bedtime now! hopefully you'll get it sorted today

 

[hillmar77]

if the fish in the main tank arent sick in any way, theres no need to medicate them. my next question was going to be are there any injuries? could he/she hve got stuck in anything? been nipped? i would have said put salt in the tank but you cant with cories! hmmm. hoping someone with expertise will come along, as its way past my bedtime now! hopefully you'll get it sorted today

I have 24 Cory's in the main tank.... I added the majority of them yesterday ( 18 of them) but this cory that has the problem has been with me for over 2 months now! The new cory's I added are from my friends tank that has had them over a year now, and they are full grown! I really don't want anything to happen to this little guy since he has been with me the longest! So I will do anything it takes to see him make it through! I've examined all my fishes in the big tank and he is the only one with the problem?!

 

[hillmar77]

I've got some advice on my local aqua forums.... They are saying its from my low GH. The low GH was confirmed on the weekend when I did my testing but thought nothing of it. exact words:
"check your GH levels. When you see red through the fish like that, there is high likelihood it's an osmoregulation issue....so looking into GH."
Going to pick up some GH booster of some sort tomorrow and treat both tanks! Want to run it by you guys first too!

 

[Tolak]

What's your gH reading now, and what is it usually? Redness like that will indicate a bacterial issue, not a water hardness issue.

 

[hillmar77]

What's your gH reading now, and what is it usually? Redness like that will indicate a bacterial issue, not a water hardness issue.

hardness 75ppm
so is it bacterial?! I'm so confused! should i medicate the whole tank ??

 

[Tolak]

Corys originate from an area of softer water, your hardness is fine. I'd treat it as a bacterial issue, Maracyn & Maracyn II are most commonly available in shops. Treat with both, 50% water change daily & redose, in a separate tank. Run this course of meds for 10-14 days. Only treat the sick fish.

I know what the package says, so when you read it don't be thinking wait a minute... this can't be right. They aren't. Most people won't go through the trouble of a quar, daily water changes & meds for pushing two weeks, they know it, and wouldn't be able to sell their product to the average fishkeeper if they put this as instructions. Think about how a course of antibiotic treatment works in humans, dogs, or any other pets. Daily dosage, 7-14 days. Works the same for fish with all but a few medications.

 

[roadmaster]

Corys originate from an area of softer water, your hardness is fine. I'd treat it as a bacterial issue, Maracyn & Maracyn II are most commonly available in shops. Treat with both, 50% water change daily & redose, in a separate tank. Run this course of meds for 10-14 days. Only treat the sick fish.

I know what the package says, so when you read it don't be thinking wait a minute... this can't be right. They aren't. Most people won't go through the trouble of a quar, daily water changes & meds for pushing two weeks, they know it, and wouldn't be able to sell their product to the average fishkeeper if they put this as instructions. Think about how a course of antibiotic treatment works in humans, dogs, or any other pets. Daily dosage, 7-14 days. Works the same for fish with all but a few medications.
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+ one. I would also suggest that if carbon is being used in the filter that it be removed during treatment. Some medications are light sensitive (oxidise) and I might leave the lights off during treatment.
Would also lower temp slowly to around 75 degrees F to help slow down possible bacterial pathogen which can spread much quicker at warmer temps.
Has worked for me in the past.
Would also monitor the water parameter's closely for the next few days. adding eighteen fish to a system at one go can result in ammonia or nitrite spike until bacteria can adjust to the sudden load.