Very ill Barbatus

[wolfie]

Hi
I have a Cory barbatus that has had pink/white mark just back from left eye. Had been there for a month or so and thought it was just a scrape or wound from a fight? Noticed that she was not swimming around much yesterday and took a closer look at her mark to see that it seemed to be deepened by a couple of millimetres. Today she has just barrel rolled around various locations of the tank and has ended up in some java moss. The area now shows blood and I have tried to take a photo. Have added Melafix as suggested by local fish store. Keeping her in community tank as the stress of move I think will kill her. Any advice appreciated.
Wolfie

 

[wolfie]

info

Additional info
Tank been running for just over two years and was a rescue from a friend who gave up and was waiting for the fish to die! 36"x12"x18" with an external fluval 304 filter with spray bar. Planted with Java Fern, Java Moss and Cryptos.Gravel substrate with Bogwood, slate caves and small ship for cover and hidey holes. Stocked with 3 scissortails(r), 1 cherry barb(r), 5 penguin fish(r), 1 clown barb(r), 1 red tail shark, 2 algae eater(1r), 3 cory agazzis, 2 cory barbatus and 4 checkered barbs.(r=rescued) Test done on 5/11/05 pH=6.0 am=0 nitrite=0 nitrate=40ppm. 30 litre water change done on 5/11/05. Usual maintenance routine water change 3 or 4 week of 30 litres (gravel/plants cleaned) and filter cleaned every other time. 15ml of Melafix being added each day now.

 

[FroggyFox]

I dont know enough about diseases to say for sure whats wrong with the cory, but it sounds like you're doing a good job. How is he doing today?

Are you following the directions on the medication regarding water changes etc? I haven't ever used melafix, but I hear good things about it.

On your tank maintenance do you mean you change water every 3 or 4 weeks....or that you're doing water changes 3 or 4 times a week? If its only every 3 or 4 weeks I think you might have better results changing about 35% of the water once every week to 10 days. If you're doing it 3 or 4 times a week then thats probably overkill...but better than not enough IMO

 

[timisu87]

The melafix will help to repair the wound. It sounds like you're doing everything right. What kind of other fish do you have in the tank, you sound like you might have some semi-aggresive fish in the tank.

 

[prettypleco]

My bronze cory had a similar wound. I used melafix and he healed in a couple of weeks completely. Good luck.

 

[wolfie]

Thanks for the encouragement. On the med front instructions say to do a 25% water change after the 7 days of treatment. Water change is every 3 or 4 week mainly to stop disturbing the fish so much, the fact that I have 2 other tanks and just started a 4th.(And cos I'm on a water meter!) Looking at rainwater collection/usage. Semi aggresive fish, yep, but have some many hidey holes that terroritial fights are kept to a minimum.

 

[FroggyFox]

Well...water changes dont disturb the fish enough to be concerned about...but of course budget restraints are things that everyone is familiar with. We can only do as much as we can do right? Main thing is to make sure you follow the directions on the medication.

 

[wolfie]

Unfortunally she passed on the 9th November 2005. Thanks for all your advice.