White Fluffy Growth Near Mouth

[Mariposa]

Hi one of my rasboras has a white fluffy thing on his mouth this morning. Not sure what it is but want to treat tank ASAP. Anyone have any suggestions?
Is it ich? Is something else? None of my other fish look sick ... yet.

 

[shivvy_girl]

Hiya. One of my mollies months ago had a 'fluffy mouth' and I read up that it could be finrot, my lfs said the same, I'm dealing with finrot just now with methylene blue, which in my opinion anyway, is really good. It helps with finrot, fungus and whitespot. If you have a quarantine tank and only one fish has it, you could put it in there to treat it to save medicating the whole tank. Just my opinion I'm no expert but methelyine blue is good.

Good luck!

 

[Mariposa]

Thanks,
I'm heading out to get some now, do you know anything about Maroxy? I have some on hand, it's for true fungal infections. I am afraid since the infection is in the tank, maybe I should treat the whole tank. Anyone know?

 

[ArielC]

I would treat the whole tank incase the disease might have spread to other fish.

 

[shivvy_girl]

Hey again. I'm afraid I don't know about Maroxy lol. But your right, treating the hole tank is probably better incase it has spread, I hope someone else replys with more info for u!
Good luck again/

 

[WILDER]

White fluffy mouth is columnaris mouth fungus, what are your water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.

 

[steelhealr]

This is a tough call. Mouth lesions are most commonly bacterial in origin, although, fluffy white growths on other parts of the body are usually fungal. If it appears that there may be a mouth ulcer associated with it, I would lean bacterial and treat with antibiotics (Maracyn or Furan 2).

Mouth 'fungus' is contagious. I would quarantine the fish to a hospital tank. SH

 

[tttnjfttt]

I'm going to have to disagree wiht SH with what he said about cottony growths on the rest of the body. True fungus is seen much less frequently than bacterial infections. True fungus develops on dead or dying tissue, so it is often seen as a secondary problem on open sores and ulcers. Columnaris, the bacteria behind mouth fungus, is the bacteria behind most cases of "body fungus"

Other members have posted similar beliefs
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=112082&hl=
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=125450

Here are a few articles with more info in it for you http/www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm
http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases/columnaris.php
http/ukdiscus.co.uk/columnaris.htm

 

[tttnjfttt]

Here is another one talking specifically about "fungus" often being bacterial http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/fungin.shtml

 

[Mariposa]

Thanks, guys for all your replies ... my stats are amonia 0, nitrites 0 and I'll have to do a nitrate test when I get home tonight but it was very low yesterday. My PH is 7.2.
I am treating the whole tank but the infected fish has been isolated in a hospital tank.
I have treated with Maroxy (cux that's what I had at home) but will look into other treatments tonight.
This is my first tank illness ... I just want them to be OK.


Can I use maracyn with suckermouth in the tank ... do they qualify as scaleless?

 

[tttnjfttt]

I don't think there was a specific warning about scaleless fish with maracyn on the box, so you should be fine with the normal dose. Just read the directions and follow them carefully.

I can't find info on what types of bacterial ifnections the maroxy treats, everything i can find says "Certain bacterial infections" and no more, like gram negative or gram positive. I would definatley play it safe and go with a med that is known as affective against it.

 

[steelhealr]

tttnfttt...didn't I say that this was bacterial...or am I missing something? My post says bacterial, Maracyn and quarantine.....please comment. Columnaris is a gram negative bacteria. SH

 

[tttnjfttt]

fluffy white growths on other parts of the body are usually fungal

This was the part that I was disagreeing with. Sorry I didn't make it more clear in my post

 

[steelhealr]

Be careful. I am VERY careful about posting treatment here. Your response came across as confusing as well. SH

PS...I would add aquarium salt to the tank (scaleless fish shouldn't be harmed for brief treatments). Also would gently raise the tank temp to 80 degrees. SH

 

[Mariposa]

When it rains ... it pours, woke up this morning to three more fluffy fish. Have raised the aquarium temp to 80 and am treating the tank will start adding salt tonight. My husband remarked that the 'white mouth fluffy pathces' (for lack of a scientifically correct term) only started after we intriduced a new food into the aquarium.
Could the pellets have somehow damaged their mouths? Any thoughts?