Problem

[pinkpanther006]

Two of my fish have some kind of yellowish white fungus growing around their gills, I'm not sure what it is but should I take them out, or what. I don't think it's Ich.

 

[ElectricMayhem]

Yes, I'd isolate them. Even a container inside the tank so they can keep warm. Do you have any salt you can add to the water to help them with stress and help them heal? [As long as they're not scaleless fish] Do they have any other symptoms, clamping fins, difficulty swimming etc? How are your tank stats? Do you have any meds on hand?

 

[pinkpanther006]

Yes I do, I have Aquari-Sol and Aquarium salt.

 

[WILDER]

On the gills does it look fluffy or stringy or a dusting, as you can get a golden yellow dusting on the gills and it can be velvet desease.
Heres a link to columnaris which can grow on the gills.


http/www.nippyfish.net/flexibacter.html

 

[pinkpanther006]

No, i don't think it's that. First my two of my tetras have it and second it looks kind of solid, I haven't payed any special attention to it yet but i'll look at it later and let you know. I guess I should do something about it soon before it kills my fish.

 

[WILDER]

Shine a torch on it to see if it glows up.

Any signs of laboured breathing, or flicking and rubbing on things.
http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/heal...thprotist.shtml

 

[pinkpanther006]

So what, is it saying I should darken the tank and add salt.

It also looks like one of them has it growing on their lip.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Everything in your description REALLY sounds like columnaris (aka flexibacter) especially with it growing on one of their lips. This was what wilder was talking about in the first post. There are several different ways this disease can present itself. This disease is often called fungus because it can look like fungus, it can be called saddleback because it will make the fish look like it was wearing a saddle, mouth fungus (self explanitory), and it can cause ulcers. Just because it looks different from what your tetra had does not rule out columnaris.

Adding salt can help with this disease, so that is a good thing. You will need to treat it with an antibiotic. My personal favorite is Kanacyn (aka kanamycin, k-mycin). You can also use a combination of Maracyn and maracyn 2. Tetracycline is also an option, however, it can harm the biological filter.

Best of luck!

 

[pinkpanther006]

Ok, I bought Kanamycin. Should I take my tetras out and put them in another tank or can I leave them in there with all my other fish and use the pills at the same time.

 

[WILDER]

Just keep all the fish in the tank, just increase aeration and keep a close eye on them, good luck.

 

[pinkpanther006]

What's aeration.

 

[WILDER]

On some filters you can turn the flow up, or a airpump with an attached airstone.

 

[pinkpanther006]

My filter doesn't have that, just the carbon filter, the cord and the body with the tubes. And i don't have an airpump either. Are they essential.

 

[WILDER]

Yes as meds reduce 02 in the water.

 

[pinkpanther006]

I'm sorry, but what do you mean by meds reduce "02" in the water.