22 replies to this topic

[Bugzey]

Not 100% it is cotton wool disease but looks like it and would like clarification.Seem to be happy and only symptom if white cottony film, bristlenose and place seem to be fine,I'm not sure the Melafix is to effective on it and would like advice on what methods are effective and what others have found useful in treating them.
Type of fish:2 oscars
Symptoms: white cotton like film on pectoral fins and head
Other tank mates:1 Gold Spot pleco 1 bristlenose
Tank size / capacity:150L
Type of Food fed:hikari cichlid
Feeding frequency/amount:8-14 large pellets
Substrate:4-8mm brown gravel
Type of filtration:Ehiem 2213 and Internal filter for k1 moving bed
Frequency of filter cleans: weekly
Frequency and % volume of water changes:20-50%
Last water change:40% change 2 days ago to begin medication
PH:7.4
KH:unsure
GH:unsure
Nitrite:<0.25ppm
Nitrate:<5ppm
Ammonia:<0.25pp
Phosphate:unsure
Water temp:26 Celsius
Medications used recently to date:Melafix 2nd day now
Any recent changes..new fish/filters/power outages etc etc:no

[Riggers]

Sounds like a fungus mate, you can try malachite green, not sure about it with catfish though. For a less brutal approach tea tree oil and salt is less aggressive. Fungus isn't contagious so you can treat the fish separately.

If you've got a spare tank set it up bare and use it as a hospital tank, take your effected fish out of the main tank and put them in the hospital tank
Use the melafix after the fungus is gone the help the growth of the fins or effected areas

[Bugzey]

I had treated them with Pimafix and blue planet multi cure with not much effect, that's why I'm not sure if the treatment is wrong or the type of disease they have is different.
Also one oscar sometimes attacks the other and he gets a few marks which may be why they only have it, but then the oscar who get nipped, nips the pleco.

[malawiman85]

Best thing to do mate is post a couple of reasonable pics so someone can help out with IDing the problem for you.

[Riggers]

Yeah it's hard, some fungus can be caused by flukes or parasites that can't be seen without a microscope.. If it's around the gills that could be your problem then a fungus/parasite cure would be the way ot go.

At this stage the malachite green is going to be your best bet, it's more aggressive than both the pimafix and multicure, but it will stain the silicon in your tank, that's why it's good to have a hospital tank

[Bugzey]

Sorry about the bad quality couldn't get him to hold still and the other on is the same. On the pectoral fin

Attached Files

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Edited by Bugzey, 04 November 2014 - 07:37 AM.

[Bugzey]

Couldn't get a good pic if you need a better view I'll have to catch him out and take a pic tonight

Attached Files

•  image.jpg   91.78KB   4 downloads

[malawiman85]

Melafix/Pimafix are totally useless in my experience... OK for reducing the risk of infection of wounds but otherwise not worth buying.

As Riggers said fungus is usually a secondary condition. You may succeed in ridding your fish of fungus but unless you identify any other conditions affecting your fish, the fungus will be right back.

Have your fish been behaving differently at all? Flashing, etc?

 

Riggers, Im pretty sure multicure is a mix of malachite green, methylene blue & acriflavin... Bugzey correct me if I'm wrong.

[Bugzey]

Yes, also on the bottle it says use half the dose for 'scaleless fish' does that included my pleco and britlenose?

[Riggers]

Yeah that will include any catfish you've got, hence why a hospital tank is a good idea.. It's possible that it could be fin rot, I don't have time to go through it right now but here's a good link with simple explanations of rot

I'll check the multicure tomorrow at work

http://m.wikihow.com/Treat-Fin-Rot

[Bugzey]

Ok thanks I have got a tank that's about 50L but I might be able to use a tub for a bit, I'll set it up tommorow

[Bugzey]

Ok thanks I have got a tank that's about 50L but I might be able to use a tub for a bit, I'll set it up tommorow

[Riggers]

50lts is plenty for a treatment tank

[Bugzey]

For two oscars about 15cm big?

[malawiman85]

Yep will be fine as long as you filter properly... Ive used 50ltr tubs as hospital tanks for way bigger fish than that.

[Bugzey]

Ok thanks and a 50W heater will do fine then too and I'll use bio balls in the internal for filter?

[Riggers]

Yeah 50w will be plenty, if your using an internal filter just the regular sponge works best, I just use a plain old sponge filter and an air pump for small tanks. theres no need for anything to high tech and things like activated carbon just make the treatments less effective.

[Riggers]

 
Riggers, Im pretty sure multicure is a mix of malachite green, methylene blue & acriflavin...

If it's the Aqua master multi cure then you're spot on with those ingredients! So yes that does have the potential for staining the silicon both the malachite green as well as the methylene blue..

[Redevilz]

Agree, that looks identical to the Oscar I sold recently haha.

[sandgroper]

If you don't have a quarantine tank you could catch the fish and lift it out of the water and apply directly the the affected area but keep it away from the gill area. It's more efficient this way as well.