Maybe a few people around here have seen me complaining about losing 3 otos over the course of the past several months. I now think that perhaps my tank has been suffering from an ongoing infection of aeromonas, a gram-negative bacteria.
Last night I noticed what looked like a blister on the nose of one of my male rosy barbs. I did a small water change and waited to see how things looked in the morning.
When I fed the fish in the morning, the rosy barb did not come out to eat but instead hid in the corner. NOT a good sign, right? The blister on his nose appeared to be bleeding. I started researching online and found this information on aeromonas:
1) It is not necessarily a quick killer; fish may die one by one, over the course of many weeks (this would fit the description of what's been happening to my otos).
2) It causes blisters, which often become bloody open sores (like my rosy barb's nose).
3) Initial symptoms include not eating and sulking in corners (again, like my rosy barb).
4) It likes warm water (my tank is at 82 degrees, due to the summer heat).
I think the evidence indicates my fish may be battling this bacteria. Nitrofurazone was highly recommended by several online sources, a medication which I already have at home in the form of Jungle Labs Fungus Clear. And, I have just enough left to treat my 55 gallon tank once. So, at the risk of harming my filter bacteria, I have decided to treat the entire tank. I'm in the middle of a 40% water change right now, and I'm adding the medication as I fill the tank back up.
If my diagnosis is right, then hopefully I've caught this sore early enough to save the fish. And, if I'm right about this being what was killing my otos, then hopefully I'll be able to clear up what I now think was an ongoing problem.
We'll see..... I'll keep this thread updated. I rarely see aeromonas mentioned around here, although several other sites say that it is a common infection, so maybe this info will help anyone else who might have fish with similar symptoms.
Last night I noticed what looked like a blister on the nose of one of my male rosy barbs. I did a small water change and waited to see how things looked in the morning.
When I fed the fish in the morning, the rosy barb did not come out to eat but instead hid in the corner. NOT a good sign, right? The blister on his nose appeared to be bleeding. I started researching online and found this information on aeromonas:
1) It is not necessarily a quick killer; fish may die one by one, over the course of many weeks (this would fit the description of what's been happening to my otos).
2) It causes blisters, which often become bloody open sores (like my rosy barb's nose).
3) Initial symptoms include not eating and sulking in corners (again, like my rosy barb).
4) It likes warm water (my tank is at 82 degrees, due to the summer heat).
I think the evidence indicates my fish may be battling this bacteria. Nitrofurazone was highly recommended by several online sources, a medication which I already have at home in the form of Jungle Labs Fungus Clear. And, I have just enough left to treat my 55 gallon tank once. So, at the risk of harming my filter bacteria, I have decided to treat the entire tank. I'm in the middle of a 40% water change right now, and I'm adding the medication as I fill the tank back up.
If my diagnosis is right, then hopefully I've caught this sore early enough to save the fish. And, if I'm right about this being what was killing my otos, then hopefully I'll be able to clear up what I now think was an ongoing problem.
We'll see..... I'll keep this thread updated. I rarely see aeromonas mentioned around here, although several other sites say that it is a common infection, so maybe this info will help anyone else who might have fish with similar symptoms.