Cory with Problems

[elinore]

I have an albino Aeneus Cory that just isn't well. I got "her" (no idea as to gender) about 4 or 5 years ago as a very young fish, maybe 3/4 in long and perfectly healthy from the lfs (I live near where the company Foster & Smith have their headquarters, and every fish I've gotten from them has been healthy and happy...exept for this one). Within a month, I noticed that her fins didn't look right. It looked like they were slowly disappearing. I came back from a 2 week vacation to find them greatly diminished. I treated for fungal and bacterial infections and it seemed to stop progressing...until the day a few months later when her tail suddenly half disintegrated. Since then, her condition has slowly but surely deteriorated. Now, this poor fish has very little in the way of fins, and her body is a little crooked and strange looking. Most of her fins have been reduced to little nubs, and her tail is basically two parallel strips, like a V missing the part that connects each line. I have NO CLUE what's wrong with her, or what to do! I've tried to research this but haven't made any progress whatsoever. Has anyone any advice for me? I had wanted to get her several friends for company, but I've been afraid to because of this horrible wasting illness. It hasn't affected the guppies or neons she was kept with. Thanks for any help!!!

[fishycat]

Could it be fin rot?

[Chrisk-K]

Sounds like fin rot. I'd treat with Maracyn Plus in a QT.

[GuppyGirl1230]

Sounds like fin rot. I'd treat with Maracyn Plus in a QT.

I absolutely 100% agree. Good Luck and I hope the fishy is alright!

Maribeth

[elinore]

I tried exactly that years ago when I first noticed the problems beginning. I think I put her in QT for several months (I don't remember if it was 2 or 3), and treated with Maracyn Plus. It seemed to have stopped progressing, but I think it was just such a slow process that I didn't really notice it happening till it was pretty pronounced. Should I try Maracyn Plus and QT again? I've been careful to keep her away from other cories, just in case it's contagious.

[elinore]

Also, I don't know if it matters in diagnosing or not, but there was never any red or irritated-looking patches on the fins, ever. I checked carefully for redness or white fuzzy growth or anything like that, but it was like the fins just disappeared. Does fin rot work like that, coming and going over a period of years? I also tried treating with Pimafix and Melafix, which I have used in the past on goldfish and koi with tattered fins and had excellent results, but I just don't notice them helping this time around. I just don't know what to do besides keep the water clean, change the filters, and feed a decent diet. She's fed flakes plus daily dried bloodworm and algae wafers as well as occasional fresh foods.

[GuppyGirl1230]

If it is fin rot, it is contagious to every fish in the tank with her. Treat heavily, no need to QT, all the other fish have been exposed. I had this problem when I introduced guppies that were free into my tank because a lady just dropped them off at my lfs, and they called me. ALL of my fish got the fin rot, I had to treat heavily for several weeks. But the fin rot stopped and their fins grew back, and are still growing back. Good Luck!!! I really hope she makes it!

[elinore]

I'm just so confused! This has been going on for at least 4 years now! I've treated heavily several times over the years, especially at the beginning, using several different medicines/combos. I've tried salt in the water, Maracyn Plus, Maracide (I think that was it, though maybe it was called something different), Melafix, Pimafix, Paragon...umm...I know there was another antibacterial in there but it seemed to shock the fish so I stopped using it. Could it be that the fin rot is lying dormant in her or something, then periodically flaring? I've never had any of the fish kept with her get fin rot, and there have been several generations of guppies. I figured if it was contagious the guppies would have it for sure, especially when they're weak or young or old or giving birth, but they've been perfectly healthy! I just feel so bad for the poor cory. It eats fine, and seems healthy, despite the stumpy fins thing...really they're not fins anymore, just bumps. Is fin rot ever species specific? I've never had it before (except for some on some second-hand goldfish that was very easily cured with Pimafix/Melafix).

[GuppyGirl1230]

elinore~

If your guppies have not had it it is not fin rot-- they would get it so easily and it burns through their fins very fast, so it is not fin rot. In my opinion, it has to be some sort of genetic disorder of the fish. That is the only thing I can think of right now because the other fish do not have it. The best thing you can do is to euthanize the cory. I know this sounds cruel, but it is worse for her to lose all her fins, she would no longer be able to move, she most likely will not want to eat and will waste away. I know how hard this is, I have had to euthanize guppies in the past. I am a huge lover of corys, and I have 10 myself, but for her, it would be better to let her go. It is not bacterial or fungal, nor is it viral. If it was any of these things your other fish would have it, and it would immediately show. This is just my opinion. See if you can find more opinions. Jpappy is one guy on here who knows a lot and gave me some great advice with my problems. PM him and see if he has any other ideas. I am so sorry, and I hope, I really hope I am 100% wrong. Good luck!

Maribeth

[fishorama]

What kind of substrate do you have & how often do you deep vacuum it? Is the cory the only bottom fish? Fin rot can be from contact with dirty substrate but it sounds like a chronic problem with this fish.

You were gone for 2 weeks, did you have someone "fishsit"? Water quality may not be as good as usual if they overfed, didn't do WCs. That could be part of the problem.

[elinore]

I use a substrate of small smooth natural rock, probably about 1/8 in average diameter. I vaccuum every week and a half. My fish are "fish-sat" while I'm gone. They don't get vaccuumed but have very specific feeding instructions, so I don't think they get overfed. I'm pretty careful about their water quality.

I've suspected that it may be genetic for some time now, since I just can't find any environmental causes. I don't want to euthanize the fish, since she seems to be getting about ok even without her fins, and is very active. I really want to get her a friend or two, since I've read that corries are extremely social, but I thought I'd check here to see if anyone had ever had a similar problem first. I don't want to introduce new fish till I'm entirely sure it's not contagious, but after 5 years I'm pretty much ready to just accept her the way she is and give her a little school to swim with so she's as happy as I can make her. I really don't think I even could euthanize her, but I don't think it's quite to that level, anyway. As long as she gets along ok, I'll just accept that she's a little odd lol. I have an adopted tail-less koi that I was told to euthanize, and he's just about good as new. It's 3 years after the accident that ate his tail, and he's the friendliest koi in the pond so I'm really glad I stuck it out with him. I'll just do the same with the cory :)

THANKS SO MUCH for all the help and suggestions!!!!!!