Been a lurker here a while and have learned alot. I have a 125gal Malawi Cichlid tank, running since January. Livestock consists of mostly yellow labs, malawi blues, and drawf yellows, and a peacock. Total of about 12 fish now and I am having a miserable time with a disease that may have been not diagnosed properly.
About two weeks ago I saw the first symptoms in one fis and with the aid of a LFS determined that he had cotton mouth. I was given some bad information on what to do and now I have a mess that fish long since died and I am standing to lose more. I'll try and give as much detail s possible, I think I might have had a misdiagnosis or even an additional problem.
The current fish are demonstrating symptoms of what appears to be a fungus. Three of them have cotton like strands of debris angin fom the mouth and lips. One fish has "potholes" or the infection has spread past the surface and is eating away at the head area. As a result, it was reccommended that I treat the entire tank (ouch!) so I began a dose of Triple Sulfa. This dose did not seem to make any improvement so I did a 30% water change and am treating now with Erythromyacin. I am on day 4 of this and It does seem to be slowing the progression, but has not stopped it completely. I was also trying Melafix in addition to the antibiotics, but I don't know that this has much effect on anything.
Then this evening I noticed that several of the yello labs are demonstrating symptoms of a bacterial infection, they have redish orange spots near the dorsal fin and one has some exposed flesh areas and are deteriorating.
Most of the fish are eating, although their appetite and eagerness to feed has declined. The two worst fish are not eating, but are showing signs of improving (or so I'd like to think).
Water qaulity is OK, Nitrites are 0, Amonia >.25, Nitrate is 20, PH is 8.1, GH about 220ppm. One other bit of noteworthy information is I noticed small hair like tufts on the walls of the aqaurium, and within the water itself. I am not sure what it is it is more pronounced on the walls than in the water. There is some sediment in the water itself though as well.
I appreciate any help or advice that this community has to offer. My LFS has been of little to no help other that to sell me more meds and tell me I can replace the fish if they die. (NOT very helpful! :duh: )
Photos are available if they would help in assesing the problem.
Regards,
Kev
About two weeks ago I saw the first symptoms in one fis and with the aid of a LFS determined that he had cotton mouth. I was given some bad information on what to do and now I have a mess that fish long since died and I am standing to lose more. I'll try and give as much detail s possible, I think I might have had a misdiagnosis or even an additional problem.
The current fish are demonstrating symptoms of what appears to be a fungus. Three of them have cotton like strands of debris angin fom the mouth and lips. One fish has "potholes" or the infection has spread past the surface and is eating away at the head area. As a result, it was reccommended that I treat the entire tank (ouch!) so I began a dose of Triple Sulfa. This dose did not seem to make any improvement so I did a 30% water change and am treating now with Erythromyacin. I am on day 4 of this and It does seem to be slowing the progression, but has not stopped it completely. I was also trying Melafix in addition to the antibiotics, but I don't know that this has much effect on anything.
Then this evening I noticed that several of the yello labs are demonstrating symptoms of a bacterial infection, they have redish orange spots near the dorsal fin and one has some exposed flesh areas and are deteriorating.
Most of the fish are eating, although their appetite and eagerness to feed has declined. The two worst fish are not eating, but are showing signs of improving (or so I'd like to think).
Water qaulity is OK, Nitrites are 0, Amonia >.25, Nitrate is 20, PH is 8.1, GH about 220ppm. One other bit of noteworthy information is I noticed small hair like tufts on the walls of the aqaurium, and within the water itself. I am not sure what it is it is more pronounced on the walls than in the water. There is some sediment in the water itself though as well.
I appreciate any help or advice that this community has to offer. My LFS has been of little to no help other that to sell me more meds and tell me I can replace the fish if they die. (NOT very helpful! :duh: )
Photos are available if they would help in assesing the problem.
Regards,
Kev
