Big puffy thing on my fish

[kreblak]

I posted some time ago about a pseudochromis with Ich. I am still waging war against that disease, but now there is something new. When the Ich peaked, the pseudochromis was covered pretty well with white spots. The majority of them were located to the rear of his dorsal fin. The white spots are no longer visible, but now there is some kind of growth in that area. The growth is white, fluffy, and hangs off the fin. It almost looks like the fish swam too close to a wet napkin, and got a little stuck to his fin.

I have a theory based on my reading, and I need opinions to confirm or deny what I'm thinking. I believe that the fluffy white thing is a fungal infection that managed to grab a foothold in the heavily Ich infested area.

Am I on target or am I way off? If it is fungal, how do I treat it? You guys really came through for the Ich advice, don't let me down now! ;)

[OrionGirl]

Fungal or bacterial. True fungus is rare in the aquarium, and many bacteria are called fungus. I'd bet it's a nasty bacterial infection that's gotten in there. If you can find a medicated food, that's your best bet.

Check here for more info, and pics to compare your fish to: http://www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html

[kreblak]

Wow, good link. The pictures that the pseudochromis most resembled was the common fin fungus. It gave a few options for treatment, but it didn't mention whether or not those options were reef safe. Also, it looked like the fish pictured for common fin fungus were all FW. Finally, has anyone out there had a fish come down with this and recover? I'm guessing that the fish's immune system could fight off an external fin infection.

[OrionGirl]

I wouldn't trust many medications in my reef. If possible, remove the fish to a hospital tank to be on the safe side.

[kreblak]

Is the pseudochromis contagious? This fish is starting to test my patience....

[OrionGirl]

If it's bacterial, it is contagious, but a healthy fish (ie, no wounds or sores) should be okay. A healthy slime coat protects fish by keeping bacteria out, but wounds, like those from departing ich, allow entry. Think of it like an abcess--if it's on someone else, it can't infect you, but it you handle the fluids from an abcess and have an open wound, then you can 'catch' the infection.

[kreblak]

I see. Thanks for the help!