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Post by 1mysterygirl on Jun 6, 2019 9:02:56 GMT -5
I've started treating this Sterbai Cory for what I believe to be Columnaris. He is in a hospital tank and getting the Kanaplex/Furan 2 combination treatment, along with Methylene Blue baths daily. Questions: 1- From the pics, do you agree that it looks to be Columnaris? (there is no visible 'matter', just a sharply defined whitish patch & no red edges) 2- If so, should I be giving him the full dose of these drugs? (I understand cories are sensitive to drugs, therefore so far I've given him a 3/4 dose of both, and have not used salt for the same reason). 3- If it doesn't respond to this treatment, what would you suggest as next steps?   Thanks so much. DETAILS: 20 gallon heavily planted-no co2; AMMONIA: 0; NITRITES: 0; NITRATES: 10; (6 cories, 2 rams, 5 rummy nose tetras, 3 panda garra loaches) |
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Jun 6, 2019 11:03:53 GMT -5
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Post by 1mysterygirl on Jun 6, 2019 11:35:55 GMT -5
Thanks for your reply, Devon.
KH = 4
GH = 9 I use a GH BOOSTER and he has a little aragonite running in the filter
You sound doubtful that it's Columnaris...? If not, then what?
(I can't find anything on symptoms that match. He's actually my second to have this, I just lost another who'd had his barbels worn down for some time then became pale across his whole face/head then more. So diffuse and with no sharp edges at all, so we didn't catch on for some time. When we went to treat he was already thin from not eating and weak)
Would you take a different approach?
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Post by 1mysterygirl on Jun 6, 2019 12:35:01 GMT -5
Another note... I just read the thread "Probable columnaris treatment advice' by shakeslady - Jan 13/19... and her pic of it is great (I'd love to see you use this on the columnaris article!).. Anyway, my guy's patch does NOT look like this... his is simply a translucent whitish area. I wanted to order wonder shells and other meds from you, but as most all meds have now been restricted in Canada, I thought it might be problematic. I don't know if the restriction is just on sales here but it's okay to bring in.. any idea on this? A few more pics in case it can help. This didn't look to me like saprolegnia because it doesn't seem to have the depth with hairlike structures in it, but could it be that anyway or something similar? Re: the very red snout... I don't 'think' this was like this earlier.. I just found him stuck behind a piece of foam I'd placed in-tank so he couldn't get sucked up beside the internal filter, but he got himself into a pocket beside that.. so anyway, I believe it's an abrasion from struggling to get out of that spot..    |
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Jun 7, 2019 11:33:40 GMT -5
an abrasion seems more like it!
It should heal on it's own. There's some stress reducers and slime coat additives that I would suggest, but they're from the US.
I know AAP sends product to Canada. I don't know the laws about it though.
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Post by Carl on Jun 7, 2019 11:47:30 GMT -5
an abrasion seems more like it! It should heal on it's own. There's some stress reducers and slime coat additives that I would suggest, but they're from the US. I know AAP sends product to Canada. I don't know the laws about it though. I agree with Devon's opinion. At most I would recommend switching to Res-Q as your water conditioner and also directly squirt some on the area in question Resource: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquatronics.html#resqAs for Canada, we ship these products regularly and have never had an issue. While I too do not know all Canadian laws, I know that Wonder Shells & Res-Q in particular are simply water conditioners that do not violate any laws Carl |
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Post by 1mysterygirl on Jun 7, 2019 14:24:38 GMT -5
Thank you Devon and Carl for your responses! Sorry for yet another note, but I feel I need to confirm that when you say 'abrasion', you are in fact referring to the original symptom I was asking about  and NOT the red snout I pointed out in my second set of pics where I said he'd got himself wedged in a tight spot resulting in an abrasion on the snout. I know you probably have to deal with these posts quickly and there are lots of them, so I may have confused you mentioning that detail... The symptom in question is the whitish patch on the fish's side extending above the eye. Today I'm thinking it may look a little greyer, 'possibly' a tad fuzzy.. is this what you're saying is an abrasion? Order on the way to finally try your wonder shells, and res-q if still indicated Many thanks!!! |
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Jun 8, 2019 11:18:34 GMT -5
Yes the grey is the abrasion. I can't say for sure about the red nose. If it looks a tad fuzzy, it could be infected. More of the reason for the Res-Q and wonder shell.
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Post by 1mysterygirl on Jun 10, 2019 11:01:24 GMT -5
Great news then that it’s just an abrasion. I never even suspected that from the appearance, so that’s a huge lesson for going forward  . It was actually looking much improved so the treatment was helping (not to promote giving treatment that’s not necessary!), but now he’ll get a few days of supportive care then go back with his buddies. We’ve given Stress Guard (and IAL) as we have it on hand and the sore is all but gone. It does make me wonder about the other Sterbai that I’d just lost who’d had his barbels worn off for some time but then developed a general paleness around the snout then spreading over his face and more. By the time we decided it WAS something to treat (it was subtle) and got him into a hospital tank, we saw he wasn’t eating and was thin, started him on the Kanaplex/Furan2 (for lack of knowing what might be better), but lost him a couple days in. We really thought it was something bacterial and that the second fish had the same thing. I wonder now if it was another case of a surface infection that started with a skinned snout and spread helped along by less than ideal electrolytes etc and a poor slime coat..possibly? BTW we’re fixing the water conditions and all in this 20g tank are soon moving up to a 54g planted tank WITH SAND!!! People have told me cories love the fine gravel to rout about in but this isn’t our first case of worn off barbels so I can’t agree. Thanks again so much for all your help. Did not expect a reply over the weekend either-you guys rock!!! |
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Jun 11, 2019 10:55:50 GMT -5
Great news then that it’s just an abrasion. I never even suspected that from the appearance, so that’s a huge lesson for going forward . It was actually looking much improved so the treatment was helping (not to promote giving treatment that’s not necessary!), but now he’ll get a few days of supportive care then go back with his buddies. We’ve given Stress Guard (and IAL) as we have it on hand and the sore is all but gone. It does make me wonder about the other Sterbai that I’d just lost who’d had his barbels worn off for some time but then developed a general paleness around the snout then spreading over his face and more. By the time we decided it WAS something to treat (it was subtle) and got him into a hospital tank, we saw he wasn’t eating and was thin, started him on the Kanaplex/Furan2 (for lack of knowing what might be better), but lost him a couple days in. We really thought it was something bacterial and that the second fish had the same thing. I wonder now if it was another case of a surface infection that started with a skinned snout and spread helped along by less than ideal electrolytes etc and a poor slime coat..possibly? BTW we’re fixing the water conditions and all in this 20g tank are soon moving up to a 54g planted tank WITH SAND!!! People have told me cories love the fine gravel to rout about in but this isn’t our first case of worn off barbels so I can’t agree. Thanks again so much for all your help. Did not expect a reply over the weekend either-you guys rock!!! Its hard to say, but an injury could lead to a weakened immunity, which then if the fish cannot fight disease, will have an illness. Some fish can fight it better than others. |
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Post by 1mysterygirl on Jun 11, 2019 14:32:51 GMT -5
Still a great outcome for this little guy .. he’s back with the others now.. and lots learned. Thanks again to both you Devon and Carl for all your help!
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Post by Carl on Jun 11, 2019 17:12:15 GMT -5
The other difficulty we face is if an infection goes systemic, it is often difficult to treat as the medications we dump in our tanks does not readily get to where it needs be, A fish food with medication is one way, but even this has mixed success from my experience with systemic infections Sometimes it is often a blessing in disguise when there is an open infection, as then the medication will much more readily penetrate into the fish where it needs be. Problem is the slime coat in fish not only helps protect the fish, it also repels medications in the water too This is where a strong bath with medication can help, as it is more likely to get into the fish via the gills or simply soak in to weak spots in this mucous coating ( AAP Res-Q is very helpful for fish with stopping minor problems before they become major) Carl |
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and NOT the red snout I pointed out in my second set of pics where I said he'd got himself wedged in a tight spot resulting in an abrasion on the snout. I know you probably have to deal with these posts quickly and there are lots of them, so I may have confused you mentioning that detail... The symptom in question is the whitish patch on the fish's side extending above the eye.
. 