Can someone tell me what this is? Pictures included
- Thread starter alve
- Start date
Alve,
Ahhh, I was afraid of that - the lesion goes all the way through the fish. It looks like a bacterial plaque infecting the site of an injury to me.
Saprolegnea fungus DOES NOT LIVE in saltwater - in fact, one of the best cures for it in FW fish is a mild salt solution. There are some marine fungus problems, but most of them, like Ichthyophonus, are internal, and not sapprophytes. Forget the garlic and vitamins, there is absolutely no indication that these will have any affect on a serious issue such as this.
I'm afraid that it looks like this infection is on the verge of becoming systemic (spreading throughout the fish). There is nothing to be done if that happens, but it is unlikely to affect any of your other fish. The only suggestion I would have would be to move the fish to a QT and treat with a broad spectrum gram negative antibiotic with low toxicity such as neomycin.
JHemdal
Ahhh, I was afraid of that - the lesion goes all the way through the fish. It looks like a bacterial plaque infecting the site of an injury to me.
Saprolegnea fungus DOES NOT LIVE in saltwater - in fact, one of the best cures for it in FW fish is a mild salt solution. There are some marine fungus problems, but most of them, like Ichthyophonus, are internal, and not sapprophytes. Forget the garlic and vitamins, there is absolutely no indication that these will have any affect on a serious issue such as this.
I'm afraid that it looks like this infection is on the verge of becoming systemic (spreading throughout the fish). There is nothing to be done if that happens, but it is unlikely to affect any of your other fish. The only suggestion I would have would be to move the fish to a QT and treat with a broad spectrum gram negative antibiotic with low toxicity such as neomycin.
JHemdal
alve
New member
Oh wow. Thanks for that information JHemdal. When I was looking for fungus medication last night I noticed that all of them said that they were for fresh water. For example the Fungus cure powder packets from API. It said on the box that it is for fresh water fish. On Dr Foster and Smith website it says with their info for that product it is also for saltwater, on the Marinedepot website says it is only for fresh water.
When I did more searching for fungus medications for marine fish I found Kordon's Malachite Green.
"Kordon`s Malachite Green is an effective medication used for the control of various external parasites of freshwater and marine fishes. When used as directed the medication will control or prevent the following common protozoan parasites: Ichthyophthinus (freshwater Ich), Costra, Chilodonella, Ambiphyra, Cryptocaryon (marine Ich), Epistylis, Oodinium and Trichodina. Kordon`s Malachite Green is also effective against common external fungal infections of fishes and eggs which include Achlya and Saprolegnia."
I went ahead last night and ordered it with overnight shipping.
JHemdal, if I understand correct this is a combination of a bacterial infection and a fungus? If fungus is bacterial, would Malachite Green work or should I tread with Malachite Green AND/OR Neomycin in QT?
When I did more searching for fungus medications for marine fish I found Kordon's Malachite Green.
"Kordon`s Malachite Green is an effective medication used for the control of various external parasites of freshwater and marine fishes. When used as directed the medication will control or prevent the following common protozoan parasites: Ichthyophthinus (freshwater Ich), Costra, Chilodonella, Ambiphyra, Cryptocaryon (marine Ich), Epistylis, Oodinium and Trichodina. Kordon`s Malachite Green is also effective against common external fungal infections of fishes and eggs which include Achlya and Saprolegnia."
I went ahead last night and ordered it with overnight shipping.
JHemdal, if I understand correct this is a combination of a bacterial infection and a fungus? If fungus is bacterial, would Malachite Green work or should I tread with Malachite Green AND/OR Neomycin in QT?
Actually true fungus infections are rare. Most likely a bacterial infection. Treat with antibiotics in a quarantine tank. The malachite won't hurt either. Treat immediately or the fish will die. I think the white tufts is actual tissue being extruded out of the body. Saprolenia looks like fuzzy cotton, and that is not what it looks like to me.
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Malachite green is a good anti-protozoal drug with secondary anti-fungal properties, but I would not rely on it for anti-bacterial use. It is also a carcinogen. Do not exceed the label instructions if you do decide to use it - it is highly toxic if dosed more than the recommended number of times (seems to build up in the fish's blood stream and tissues). Don't dose your main tank with it either.
I guess I would still go with my advice at the end of my previous post.....
JHemdal
I guess I would still go with my advice at the end of my previous post.....
JHemdal
alve
New member
Thank you Percula9 and JHemdal,
I followed your advice JHemdal and already ordered neomycin with overnight shipping. Now I have to hope I can catch the fish tonight.
This is the only medication I could find online searching for Neomycin and that I ordered:
Aquarium Products Gel-Tek Neomycin is a broad spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic that exerts anti-bacteria action on susceptible organisms. It is mainly effective against a number of Gram-positive bacteria but has demonstrated activity against Gram-negative bacteria associated with fish diseases. Use for bacterial infections that cause ulcers, sores, swelling body and fin rot. It is also effective against secondary infections from gourami and neon tetra diseases, loss of color, and furunculosis.
I followed your advice JHemdal and already ordered neomycin with overnight shipping. Now I have to hope I can catch the fish tonight.
This is the only medication I could find online searching for Neomycin and that I ordered:
Aquarium Products Gel-Tek Neomycin is a broad spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic that exerts anti-bacteria action on susceptible organisms. It is mainly effective against a number of Gram-positive bacteria but has demonstrated activity against Gram-negative bacteria associated with fish diseases. Use for bacterial infections that cause ulcers, sores, swelling body and fin rot. It is also effective against secondary infections from gourami and neon tetra diseases, loss of color, and furunculosis.
odyssey1
New member
I found this which looks to help both problems and is safe for marine fish.
Nitrofuracin Green
Our special formulation of Nitrofurazone, Furazolidone, Methylene Blue and sodium chloride.
USE: Anti- microbial, anti- protozoan, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal. Wide spectrum. Good for newly arrived fish in quarantine situations. Also good for healing wounds and ammonia burn on newly arriving fish. Widely used for shipping or packing water. Works well for sores on fish
Nitrofuracin Green
Our special formulation of Nitrofurazone, Furazolidone, Methylene Blue and sodium chloride.
USE: Anti- microbial, anti- protozoan, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal. Wide spectrum. Good for newly arrived fish in quarantine situations. Also good for healing wounds and ammonia burn on newly arriving fish. Widely used for shipping or packing water. Works well for sores on fish
I like Furan2 myself or Maracyn2. Are there not any local fish stores by you that sell antibiotics? Most fish diseases are gram-. The gram positive ones are harder to treat. I am presently taking a course in fish diseases. It can be very confusing to identify what is killing your fish and find a treatment that works. We study diseases that affect fish that are raised for food. You wouldn't believe all the diseases fish can suffer from, and not all are caused by pathogens. I think the black spot was the beginning of necrosis( Dying tissue)
alve
New member
I think it is too late. My mother in law has been watching my son all day today and she has been keeping an eye on the tank and said she did not see the fish all day.
I didn't see it either when I got home, fed everything in the tank and it didn't come out either so I think it is too late and died somewhere inside a rock.
Last night I ordered Malachite green and this morning I ordered neomycin, both with overnight shipping and will have it all tomorrow. My QT has been setup since last night but all this seems like I was too late. I didn't mind buying medication at two different online stores and pay almost $60 for shipping both of them overnight because I wanted to try to save this fish.
I will keep looking for the fish but now I think my attention has to shift to the remaining fish. Do I have to worry about the other fish getting infected when I can not find the fish or even if I find the dead fish, can it still affect the other ones?
I want to thank all of you for the great help you have been! I really hoped I could save this fish.
I didn't see it either when I got home, fed everything in the tank and it didn't come out either so I think it is too late and died somewhere inside a rock.
Last night I ordered Malachite green and this morning I ordered neomycin, both with overnight shipping and will have it all tomorrow. My QT has been setup since last night but all this seems like I was too late. I didn't mind buying medication at two different online stores and pay almost $60 for shipping both of them overnight because I wanted to try to save this fish.
I will keep looking for the fish but now I think my attention has to shift to the remaining fish. Do I have to worry about the other fish getting infected when I can not find the fish or even if I find the dead fish, can it still affect the other ones?
I want to thank all of you for the great help you have been! I really hoped I could save this fish.
odyssey1
New member
If the fish have been in there for a while they should be fine until you can get it out. I had a small blue tang die and didnt find it for almost 2 days and everyone was fine. The fungas shouldnt transfer to the other fish unless they have some other problem that it can attach to. Hope that it is just hiding really good. I had to move my rocks around to get to my fish. I really sucks for you I am sorry!!! If he has died already it worked on him really fast kind of unusual?
alve
New member
Odyssey1, I have been searching everywhere for it for the last 2 nights and can not find it anywhere. I even moved all my rock around. I have quit a few bristle worms and hope they will take care of it. I will keep an eye on my water quality and have 35g of NSW ready for a water change. All other fish seem in perfect health and I don't see any of them that have a wound or scratch were the fungus can attach to.
Hopefully it will stay with loosing just this one fish.
Thanks again everyone for all your help, I really appreciate it!
This shows again the importance of quarantine. If I would not have had a big power outage that caused me to have to move it after only 5 days to the main tank, that fish would still have been in QT since it developed within 2 weeks of receiving the fish.
Hopefully it will stay with loosing just this one fish.
Thanks again everyone for all your help, I really appreciate it!
This shows again the importance of quarantine. If I would not have had a big power outage that caused me to have to move it after only 5 days to the main tank, that fish would still have been in QT since it developed within 2 weeks of receiving the fish.
