Sick Panda Cory!

[dewilde2]

I had two panda cories in my 10 gallon with 2 guppies and 6 guppy fry (in a divided section). A few days ago, one of my pandas was missing for a while and I finally found him wedged completely within a fake hairgrass plant. Long story short, he ended up succumbing the next day to his injuries, I assume from thrashing around.
Last night, I noticed that the remaining cory has a white protrusion on his face. I tried to photograph it but you can't tell because it's on the part of him that is also white. It is on the right side of his face near his eye, and is about the same size as his eye. It doesn't look like ich; it sort of looks like a cottony ball or maybe even part of his skin that he has scraped up. Anyway, he also acts like he has trouble propelling himself...he is upright and has moved all over the tank, but sometimes he acts like he's trying to swim but doesn't really get anywhere. He does seem to be hiding more than usual.
I'm not sure if he hurt himself somehow, if this is a result of his buddy dying, or if this is a disease of some sort. All of the other fish appear fine- are swimming all over and eating like little piggies. I have done a 20% water change twice in the last week and the water is testing fine. I also added some salt to the tank last night.
Any ideas or advice? Please help- thanks very much!

[dewilde2]

well, nobody replied but it seems like a lot of people have checked this post, so I thought I would update. The guy at my LFS thought that it sounded like a fungus infection, so I removed the panda and put him in my 2 gallon QT tank and treated with the Jungle Labs Fungus medicine. He seems to be doing well- actually more active in the last day or so- he swims around quite a bit and is eating, so that's good. However, it looks like the spot is bigger, so I am planning to repeat the treatment tomorrow. Still can't get a pic!
Anyway, if anyone has any advice, let me know! THanks!

[Coler]

without a pic its hard to give any view on whether your LFS is right, although its sounds like it could be a fungus...

...best of luck with him

[dewilde2]

Did first treatment last Wed. Appeared to improve in attitude- was swimming around and eating within a couple days. I thought the spot was getting better, but now appears to be larger in size, and possibly there is another one starting in a similar spot next to this one above his other eye. It doesn't look fuzzy though, and is pencil tip size in diameter.
I was just getting ready to do a water change and repeat the Jungle Labs treatment when I realized that now he almsot acts like he has a hard time keeping his rear end on the ground. His tail is not touching the gravel, and he is swimming around ok, but when he is stationary, his back end sorta lifts up.
I totally realize how bad this sucks that this will not show up on my camera. I am asking a friend to come over on Saturday with her nice camera in hopes of getting a better pic for this.

What should I do? I am hesitant to repeat the Jungle Labs meds since I'm no longer sure this is a fungal problem. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks so much!

[Cory Lover]

Hi,

Because your Cory is having trouble staying on the ground, it probably has dropsy or swim bladder problems. Both of those problems are hard to treat. If it is the swim bladder, try dicing up some peas and giving it to your Cory (I know this is a old fashioned way of treating for swim bladder, but it worked like a charm on my goldfish).

But we do need pics of the 'spot' to know what it is exactley.

Good luck!

Cory Lover

[dewilde2]

I don't know what to think now. He is fine now as far as the staying on the ground thing. Doesn't seem to have any trouble getting around or just chilling on the bottom.
I am thinking about not treating with anything for now. I am moving tomorrow, and going to have to move him as well, but thinking I will stop by the LFS on my way out of town with them and have them look at him since I can't get a good picture of his spot. I hope this won't be too much stress for him...

[Kaozman]

Without seeing the infection site the only thing I could suggest at this point is to see if may be it's "hole in head". Only because it sounds like it's confined to the head area. The least you could do is eliminate that possibility.