Rainbows with gray lips

[NotGumbel]

My mother has a pair of dwarf rainbows (link to species here), male & female, in a quarantine tank, where they've been for about a month.

Originally, they had white fuzz on the lips. After treatment, it's almost entirely gone ... there's a fine amount of gray or white on their lips.

Here's how she decided to treat them ... not that I'd necessarily agree with everything, but then again it's not my tank & all I can do is advise ...

Fungus Clear for four days ,did water change .thenrepeated for four more days.
Parasite Clear one day , then repeated it two times.
Pepso food for three days for parasites.
Furan-2 for two days , did water change then repeated dose.
PimaFix and MelaFix for seven days.
they are very active and eat really good. but have gray on lips

As she notes, their appetites are great, and so is their activity level.

Is it safe to return them yet to the primary tank?

TIA,
Bryant

 

[Leopardess]

I would not yet.

Here's why. I keep rainbows and I've noticed that no matter where I get them from, the vast majority arrive with a columnaris infection (fungus on the lips). In the past, when I've been treating it, it will look like it has gone away...then it comes back. I would keep the fish in a hospital tank awhile longer. I would use unmedicated water (after all signs have gone...maybe keep medicating for a few days after this point) because that will help tell if the disease is ready to come back. Also, I'd advise her against using so many medications. That's going to create a noxious soup and can actually make the meds less effective. Salt in the water is a good treatment; fungus doesn't like salt.

If there is still grey on the lips, it means that it's not completely gone yet. But I would tell her to check again and make sure she's seeing fungus layers and not just natural coloring or something.

 

[NotGumbel]

I'd advise her against using so many medications. That's going to create a noxious soup and can actually make the meds less effective.

Maybe she'll listen to you ... same words coming from a non-relative often carries more weight

I appreciate the fast response and have passed it along.

Thanks,
Bryant