My first disease...HELP

mdbaskett

mdbaskett

AC Members
Jul 12, 2005
50
0
0
Seattle, WA
Yesterday I got 6 beautiful boesmani rainbows from an online source. Was I smart? Did I quarantine them? Of course not.

When I got them yesterday one of the juveniles seemed to have two small white spots on his dorsal fins. when I checked this morning it had spread. He now has 2 fuzzy white spots on his fins that have spread slightly to his body. I have my very first case of fungus. <sigh>

I did a water change before I put them in the tank and I will do another today. I use test strips so my levels aren't as exact as I would like but they are Ph 6.6, KH 60ppm, GH 50ppm, Ammonia 0, NO2 0, NO3 10ppm. I have a couple pieces of new driftwood which I am assuming are the cause of my low Ph and lack of minerals (my other tanks use the same water source with different results). Ideally I'd like to raise these but I want to wait until the environment is stable (wood has been there longer, new plants are rooted). I do a 25% water change once a week.

So, my questions: Do I treat the fungus with a fungicide? Do I pull that one fish out and quarantine him? I figure he's pretty stressed from being kept in a bag overnight with 5 other fish and gradually introduced to a new environment with less than ideal conditions. Will the fungus go away without treatment if I change the water more frequently? Do I just let him get used to the new tank for a few days and see if his own immune sytem will kick in once he has settled into his new life? I have carbon in my filter but it is old and spent and only there as a home for bacteria. If I do use a fungicide do I have to take the carbon out or will it be ok since it is spent?
 
Thanks. I think you're right. The white spots are more fuzzy than stringy and they are spreading down both sides of the back.

 
I'd quarantine and treat for columnaris and keep an eye on the rest of the fish for signs of illness. Hopefully your other fish will not contract it, as it tends to take hold on fish that are stressed.
 
Rainbows, and especially Boesemani, contract fungus *very* easily and it's not unusual to lose one or two from shipping.

Quarrantine the two sick fish, treat with fungucide.

Not to depress or dishearten you, but chances are they won't make it. I've never had a rainbow with fungus recover once they've gotten it like that, especially a Boesemani rainbow.

When you buy rainbows on line, and assuming they aren't sold in lot sizes, always buy two more than what you want.

Keep us updated, please. Especially if they recover. I'll want to know what you did and when and what you used.

Thanks
Roan
 
Roan, would it be advisable to treat with both a fungicide and an antibiotic?

mdbaskett, how much are these fish worth to you? I spent over $20 treating my $2 molly. If my daughter hadn't picked her out, I would have treated this molly on the cutting board (quick and painless). I've got the clove oil on order for future problems.
 
I went back and forth over the fungus vs. columnaris thing. The spots are in a standard "saddleback" pattern, greyish white, thin and fuzzy rather than stringy. I decided to treat for columnaris. I turned the temp down to 74-75F. I am using both Maracyn and Maracyn Two - about $30 worth. I don't think the money for treatment vs. the cost of the fish is a good comparison to make. I do whatever is necessary to keep my fish healthy as long as I can afford it, just like I would with my cats. I reserve the clove oil for when the fish are obviously beyond saving and are suffering. Right now the one with the fuzz seems quite content and active. It's one of the others that is listless and failing.

I don't have a quarantine available. I usually use my 5g but it's a bit small for 6 Rainbows and I currently have a SA puffer in there.

I did order 2 extra fish. I think I'll probably lose 3 when all is said and done. Unfortunately, the ones that are sick are the more female shaped. I suspect that I will end up with 2-3 males and a female.
 
Last edited:
mdbaskett said:
I did order 2 extra fish. I think I'll probably lose 3 when all is said and done. Unfortunately, the ones that are sick are the more female shaped. I suspect that I will end up with 2-3 males and a female.
Click to expand...
Interesting.

Any way you can post close ups of the ones in question? I have never lost a male, only females. I often wondered about this, but kept forgetting to ask the RML guys.

Roan
 
DirkW said:
Roan, would it be advisable to treat with both a fungicide and an antibiotic?
Click to expand...
I've tried both. I've tried erythamicine, tetracycline, acriflavine, Maracide, Maracide 2, Nitrofurazone, Methylene blue, Malachite Green (was trying everthing I could think of, regardless of what it was supposed to be for) Mela, Pima, salt, constant fresh water. Nada.

I've never been able to save a fungused Boesemani. I've also never had one get sick in my main tank, either, so don't feel they are sickies. Only had problems with new ones.

If the fungus spreads down the sides, and then sort of disappears, and the scales start to look raised and white, it's got about a day or two left. If it starts to turn reddish, keep your hands *out* of the tank. Wear gloves and euthanize immediately. That's what the beginnings of TB look like.

Roan
 


This is the best pic I can come up with. My camera's not that hot. The detail is better if you click on it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom