Fungus?

[jiffy]

I was watching my tank one night and it looked like my female apisto nipped one of my cory cats. My cory cats are hiding a lot so I didn't get a good look at it for about a week now.

Well, the one that got nipped, its fin looks like it has a cotton like patch on it, which I think is a fungus. I also noticed his barbels have erroded. I do 30-40% water changes weekly, however had been feeding a little on the heavy side the last week. I'm going to do a 50% change tomrrow and have cut back feedings.

I had read that a fungal infection can cause their barbels to errode, so this backs up my thought that it is infact a fungal infection. I'm not sure how to treat this though...

 

[Lotus]

It's more likely a bacterial infection, but many meds treat both fungal and bacterial infections. The long term solution will be to separate the fish that aren't getting along.

 

[jiffy]

Thanks for the reply. Generally, the apistos do not bother the corys much, but when they are displaying breeding behavior is when they defend their territory a little more.

As far as meds go, is there any brand someone could recomend, or are meds meds?

 

[Lotus]

The Mardel brand is usually pretty good.

 

[jiffy]

I checked bigals website and found those two, which seem more specific to bacterial infections:

maracyn plus here:
http://bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xm...id1=2233;pcid2=

But, I also saw marox:
http://bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xm...id1=2233;pcid2=

 

[Lotus]

I think Maracyn Plus would be a better choice. Some info here on it: http://www.virbacpets.com/fish/product.php?pid=186&br=t

 

[jiffy]

Thanks, I will stop out at the LFS today and pick some up.

Also, should I use a hosptial tank in this situation? I do have a spare tank and air filter which I could probably fashion into a sponge filter. I've also got an extra heater, although its old and I don't know if it works. lastly, the cory cats hide much of the day and I'm not sure how I can catch him without tearing the whole tank apart...

 

[Lotus]

It would probably be better to treat in a hospital tank, if you can. That way, you can keep an eye on their progress better.

I know it's a pain if you have to tear the tank apart to get them.