White Mucus on Sterbai Cory

[itiwhetu]

I would love to know what the pH is. Sounds like another Alkaline tank to me

 

[faolteam]

What I find so strange is all the years Since people have had Aquarium fish particularly Sterbai Corydoras that this issue Appears now or has it been here for a while, is it down to the supply of these fish now we're they are coming from ?

 

[Colin_T]

I wonder if it's epistylis.

 

[DoubleDutch]

I wonder if it's epistylis.

That would solve a mystery

 

[faolteam]

Melafix and Pimafix won't do a single thing.

Think it is mucus due to an irritation of some kind. Try some Melafix first and warch what happens. 76F is pretty cool for SterbaI but your other fish do better on that temp.
The reason i mentioned the Melafix was u DoubleDutch had mentioned it when another person had a Mucus issue on another forum thats all.


Edited to remove the name of a rival forum

 

[faolteam]

I would love to know what the pH is. Sounds like another Alkaline tank to me

7.0

 

[DoubleDutch]

Think it is mucus due to an irritation of some kind. Try some Melafix first and warch what happens. 76F is pretty cool for SterbaI but your other fish do better on that temp.
The reason i mentioned the Melafix was u DoubleDutch had mentioned it when another person had a Mucus issue on another forum thats all.

That is correct. Melafix can help Corys adapt to a new tank / new water which sometimes gives a kibd of allergic reaction.
But in these Sterbai-cases there is something different / worse happening.
Have seen a lot of these cases over the years and even asked on Planet catfish, but then didn't have the pics available to show.
Nothing seems to work that's the weird thing.

 

[Colin_T]

A pH of 7.0 is fine

I still reckon salt and a big water change, gravel clean, clean filter.

Salt kills most external protozoan parasites, as well as other things like epistylis, microsporidia, spironucleus and other things. The dose rates I mentioned (1 to 2 heaped tablespoons per 20 litres) is safe for all freshwater fish and it might help. Either way, this has been going on a long time and the fish is getting worse so something needs to be done.

Alternatively, use a broad spectrum medication that treats protozoa, fungus and bacteria.

You could also try deworming the fish so there are no intestinal worms drinking its blood and weakening it. The external problem isn't intestinal worms but treating the fish for worms might reduce the stress on the fish if it has intestinal worms. It might not help either but it is an option. At the very least you would know none of your fish have worms

 

[faolteam]

A pH of 7.0 is fine

I still reckon salt and a big water change, gravel clean, clean filter.

Salt kills most external protozoan parasites, as well as other things like epistylis, microsporidia, spironucleus and other things. The dose rates I mentioned (1 to 2 heaped tablespoons per 20 litres) is safe for all freshwater fish and it might help. Either way, this has been going on a long time and the fish is getting worse so something needs to be done.

Alternatively, use a broad spectrum medication that treats protozoa, fungus and bacteria.

You could also try deworming the fish so there are no intestinal worms drinking its blood and weakening it. The external problem isn't intestinal worms but treating the fish for worms might reduce the stress on the fish if it has intestinal worms. It might not help either but it is an option. At the very least you would know none of your fish have worms

I dont have gravel i have sand , which has plants in it which i find very hard to clean without disturbing the sand

 

[Essjay]

With sand, everything sits on top rather than fall down between the particles. To clean sand all you do is hover the siphon tube 1 cm/0.5 inches above the sand and gently swirl it round to lift the debris off the sand to where it can be sucked up.