Sterbai Cory Flashing....again

[FishLover66]

Hi all. I thought I had taken care of whatever was causing the flashing and spastic swimming episodes that my new cories were exhibiting, but I noticed the last couple of days, one of them was flashing again.

Here are the stats on my tank:
Tank size: 27 Gallon Marineland Cube
pH: 6.8
ammonia: 0.00 Last meds I used killed some beneficial bacteria, so I had a mini cycle, but everying is ok now.
nitrite: 0.00 Ditto above (although last I tested, yesterday, it came out less than 0.25, but I've done another water change, so I'm sure it's fine.
nitrate: 10.00
kH: 35.8
gH: 71.6
tank temp: 78F

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Flashing and spastic swimming--especially when feeding on shrimp pellets. Larger of the three cories (had six, but three died of unknown cause--one wasted away to nothing, one lost all color and found floating at top of tank, other found bottom of tank very sick looking ready to die, so I euthanized) has some sort of grey, dark brown film/growth near the tail (started on one side--about 1/2 the length of the body), but it seems to be shrinking after treatment and doesn't seem to be bothering it now. Medicated with two different types of meds, since the first one didn't seem to help the flashing. Second med (for everything) seemed to work, but a few days after stopping treatment, one of the cories is flashing again..... Other than the spastic swimming and flashing when eating, they all appear healthy and none of my other fish are showing symptoms of illness.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: Typically between 25 - 50% weekly, but lately more often.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Typical filter media (Aquaclear 50 w/sponge, carbon, and media for bacteria colony) and water declorinator. Every other week, add liquid plant fertilizer w/iron. Recently meds for internal/external parasites and then meds for everything.

Tank inhabitants: Six neon tetras (the original peeps that started my stock and have not lost a one--hardy little suckers) and four marble hatchets (one died mysteriously the same time I was loosing cories).

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Most recent, six Sterbai cories, three remaining.

Exposure to chemicals: Weekly plant fertilizer w/iron and water declorinator. Recently, treated with Tetra Parasite tabs and then Tetra meds for pretty much everything.... Last meds were recommended by LFS (where I purchased the Sterbais, since he had no clue what was causing the illness.

 

[FishLover66]

Ok, well, hopefully this will help. I have pictures and I really do need help figuring out what's going on with these cories--especially since I've already used two different types of medications, one of which was supposed to cure EVERYTHING..... Please, does anyone know what is going on. Two of the cories are now flashing and swimming sporatically at times. The female (I assume so because she's a lot bigger then the other two) and one of the smaller cories. The female has a weird growth, fungus, ??? on the tail end and one of the smaller cories nose/front of face seems to be rotting away... there is no color and it's definitely indented. Please see pictures.

Front view of injured/rotting nose

Side view

Picture of all three. You can see that the large one and one of the small ones both have the barbells/feelers but the third doesn't and it's all white. You can also see on the larger one the discolored area near the tail, although it's really not a good picture--the color isn't orange, it's more greyish and fuzzy looking.

I really wish I could get a better shot of the female--she's SO skittish and very active.

 

[FishLover66]

Here's a decent video that shows the wierd growth on the larger cory. WHat IS it?!

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxmGx_2WPNE&feature=youtu.be

 

[dfield]

I am wondering if this is what is going on with mine.. I have just this minute lost one that has been sick for ages.. I just cannot get rid of it.

Not all the corys are affected, and no other fish in the tank have ever had it. On mine its started off with the fuzzy growth, looking like some kind of mould. Then the skin surface flaked off and left little bumps of skin. The tail and fin went ragged.

I tried anti fungal meds, and anti bacterial.. nothing worked.. the only thing I didnt try was parasite meds

I wonder if there is anyway to find out what it is with the fish that just died.. would I be able to see parasites??? I'd really like to find out and since the fish has now died I hope I can make its death not in vain and save the other two who have mild cases.

 

[dfield]

Ok

Horrible I know but I did disect the fish. I found a healthy looking liver, no sign of TB, in fact internally the fish looked fine. The only thing was that just behind and upwards from the gills there were two holes, either side.. not sure if they are supposed to be there, but under the magnifying glass I have I could see nothing in them.

It was a female if that is any other clue..

I also would love to know if anyone has discovered the cause and found a cure for this.

 

[PJPJ]

I'll give you the benefit of my experience with Sterbei's but that is all it is, I am not an expert by a long shot.

fishlover, I will direct my questions and statements to you but they will be relevant to dfield too.

I have found Sterbei's to be more sensitive than other Cory's.

I am convinced that most problems are rooted from the fact that they eat and sleep on the ground hence are the first to fall foul to problems but why Sterbei's first I'm not sure, maybe down to the breeding.

You haven't stated how long the tank has been set-up or what your maintenance schedule is.

It is imperative in my experience that the gravel/ sand is frequently thoroughly vacuumed/ cleaned. This will include removing plants and ornaments, especially in the areas the Sterbei's sleep.

Is it an internal filter or external? Have you given this a clean out including flushing the media and squeezing the sponges in removed tank water. Also, the pipes, impeller, water route and pipes etc.

It is probably worthwhile, if you can, stopping the plant ferts. for a while, I found that when I increased my ferts. to coincide with plant growth the Sterbei's reacted badly to it.

Have you been using any salt on this aquarium?

Unfortunately, it doesn't look good for the Sterbei with the face problem.

The issues I have cleared up by simply performing a more thorough cleanup include flashing, paling, thickening of the fins (Looks like skin), slimy looking patches.

A recovery has been pretty quick after doing this.

I hope this helps and things start to improve for you both soon.

 

[FishLover66]

Thanks PJPJ. I'm pretty meticulous with my tank--especially when one or more fish become sick. Typically, I do a weekly 25-50% water change (vacuum the gravel/bottom) rinse out the filter parts (water intake/flow, filter media, including sponge, in bucket of siphoned tank water). I don't remove anything, but I do try to get most of the bottom. In the last week, I've done three water changes and will do another one in a day or two.

I ended up visiting a very reputable fish/aquarium shop today and spoke with the owner (his nickname is the Fish Doctor--lol). Anyway, he said that the nose issue happens with cories when they are aggressive with searching for food in gravel. He has had that happen plenty of times before, and he usually just places his cories in a hospital tank w/sand and the nose heals & feelers grow back. Once my tank's water parameters are back to normal, I'm going to sift out the gravel and put more sand in. I feel a bit better about that issue.

As for the weird grey growth, he said that it sounds like fungus and that happens when a fish is injured and it gets infected. He said the best thing to do with that is to catch the cory and while in the net, scrape off the fungus and then put some Neosporin on the area so it heals, then place her back in the tank. I will need to treat it a few times every couple of days, but he said it should clear up pretty quickly. While I'm glad I don't have to dump even MORE chemicals into my tank, I'm a bit unnerved about having to do this--just don't want to hurt or her or make things worse by stressing her out. He did say, and I already knew, that they are heavily armered, but still.

I am relieved that none of the other fish will be harmed and it's not contagious!

Wish me luck!!

 

[dfield]

Hi

Thanks PJPJ for your advice and help, my tanks are also kept really clean, and I do regularly vacuum, but when I first got them they were on a gravel base rather than gravel/sand.. I wonder if that contributed to them getting the disease.. also I got mine from a chain store which latterly I found to be regularly having to treat diseased fish and even sadly leaving dead ones in their display tanks! (they were some of the first fish I got before I wised up)

Once they have gotten the disease, I have been unable to get rid of it.. the holes behind their head I believe are meant to be there, but should be covered with skin, not open.. its like the skin just peeled off.

Anyway, now I only buy from specialist aquatic stores where I know all fish are quarrantined before being put up for sale, and since I have gone there none of my fish have got sick.

Maybe thats a lesson learned... I'll certainly try and catch that other cory and treat it.. they are in a 400l tank with lots of hidey areas so that will be fun!

Many thanks

Denise

 

[PJPJ]

I figured you would be meticulous but it was worthwhile re-iterating as it seems so important for these guys.

It is very difficult to see the growth in the video, I hope you both manage OK with treatment.

I now seem to remember someone with a Cory with damage to the nose like yours but still cannot remember what it was for sure. It looks serious in the photo.

I hope it all works out for you both.

Best of Luck

 

[FishLover66]

PJPJ, I agree--the nose issue does look serious. I can't wait to get that gravel out of there, but the "Fish Doctor" said not to do anything until the small amount of ammonia in the water is gone, since disrupting the gravel will only exacerbate things. Poor thing--I hate to see him like that. Hopefully, once I remove the gravel and add more sand it will grow back. He is eating and pretty active, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks again!

 

[FishLover66]

Ok, update on the corie nose issue. It's getting worse.

I changed to sand, but it doesn't seem to be helping at all. I have been dealing with a super resistant ich and treating with high heat and salt, which I know cories don't like, but the dose I'm using doesn't seem to be bothering them. No matter what I do, it doesn't seem to help. I noticed that the larger of the three cories (the one with the fungus on it's tail) has a very small white fuzz or rub mark on it's nose. I'm afraid that the same thing that happened to the smaller one is going to happen to my large one. Wish I knew what it was--so sad.

He's stopped eating (I don't think he could even if he tried) and keeps going to the top to get air. Also I noticed that his tail is looking a bit worn? I'm thinking I should put him out of his misery, but I just hate to kill it, ya know?

Honestly. There has got to be something majorly wrong with the fish trade these days--I don't remember ever having THIS much trouble with fish.