White fuzz on guppies ... 2nd round

[wendamus]

I am still fighting a problem with white fuzz on my guppies which seems to be killing them very quickly. I'm just about to lose my 3rd (what's a good way to put her out of her misery, just take her out of the water?)

Each time, they develop some filmy white fuzz over the main part of their body, then start swimming at the surface, then swim listlessly, and eventually start getting caught in the filter.

My first time round, I treated for ich, even though there weren't any defined white spots. I did a full 10 day cycle with salt, high temps and a dark tank. I've done one 30% water change with freshwater at this point, and will do another tomorrow. It had no effect, except perhaps to stress my fish and make them more susceptible to whatever this other thing is.

At this point I'm off to buy some antibiotic, because I'm guessing it's fin rot or something similar. Any suggestions on what antibiotic to use? Any other ideas on what it might be?

I know heat/salt/dark isn't the only way to treat ich, but since the symptoms just don't quite fit, I don't want to use something even more stressful, especially since I haven't fully returned them to freshwater.

Please help, I'm down to two living guppies and I'm afraid I'm going to lose them too. :-(

[excuzzzeme]

Despite one of the disease's names, Fungus, this is actually a gram-negative rod bacterial disease. Columnaris bacteria will typically attach themselves to a fish's head, mouth, lips, or inside the mouth. Columnaris has different possible appearances:


The mouth "fungus" is commonly called cotton-mouth because the fish's mouth seems to be covered with a thread-like cottonish substance. Since the initial leisions look somewhat like cotton, columnaris is often confused with true fungus. Note that when examined very closely, fungus has distinct hair-like filaments which shoot out, whereas columnaris is more like fuzz or lint.


Columnaris usually affects the mouth area but can also appear as yellowish-brown, white, or grayish-white spots on some part of the head, fins, gills, or body which are usually surrounded by a reddish area. This type commonly takes what is known as a saddleback pattern on the fish's body.
Labyrinth fish and Apistogrammas are highly susceptible to this disease. Prevention includes keeping the water very clean by performing frequent water changes. As with any disease the fish is more susceptible to contract columnaris following stress. Also keep in mind that bacteria bloom in higher temperatures.

Treatments include:
Malachite green (except for fry), salt, Melafix, acriflavin, or antibiotics as a last recourse (such as Spectrogram, Furanace, or Sulfa-based products).

[Quinn1928]

to eauthanize cut off the head or place in a bag off ice cubes