The mysterious diesase is back again!!

Amethyst123

A lot of things that look like fungus are actually caused by bacteria. In addition, sick fish (from whatever cause) are at risk for secondary bacterial infections. If it were me, I'd try an antibacterial product first. I use Melafix when I suspect bacterial problems, and it has cleared up things that looked like fungus, including fuzzy white areas.

Also, I don't know the symptoms, but I do know there is a disease that tetras are prone to, and Jungle has a medicated food that they say works for the tetra-specific disease. I haven't used it, so I don't know if it works.

small fry

Sounds good.

I use a filter that uses carbon, but I don't have a cartridge in it. It is just for aeration. All my meds say to remove the carbon filter while medicating, and I assume that is because the carbon would absorb the good effects of the medicine.

I am still doing water changes. Never knew it got that bad really. My Hornwort died reciently, and that was taking up a huge part of the tank and I added afew other fish. I guess that wil do it. It was long overdue for a gravel vac, though. Planted or not.

I think as for treatment I will try a 50% water change followed by an anti-fungal and a parasite med. I am just wondering if there is a possibility that it will hurt my plants, because I don't want my $40 collection of plants (including my $23 collection of Amazon Sword for my soon-to-be 55g amazon tank) to die or suffer any ill effects.

small fry

I am sorry, I often miss the posts on the second page.

Sounds good. I will look into that. I do have some Melafix on hand, but I have heard that it can be hazardous to fish with labyrinths, and I heard somewhere that corydoras have labyrinths. If someone could confirm or deny the corydoras with labyrinth organs that would be very helpful.

I guess I am off to a huge water change (like maybe 50-70%). I wish I could get pics, but the camera doesn't focus very well on the white spot, even with macro mode.

Amethyst123

I have never heard anyone associate labyrinth organs with cories. Since cories are bottom dwellers (more or less) and labyrinth fish often breathe from the surface, it doesn't seem to make sense that cories would be labyrinth fish. Anyway, I have 8 cories in my community tank (2 emerald green, 3 each peppered and albino) and have used melafix numerous times in that tank. In fact, my emerald green female has had white fuzzy spots that melafix has cured. Despite looking like fungus, pimafix, which is supposed to be antifungal, did not fix the same spots on the same fish.

Good luck with your fish.

1077

Yes cory's have to be able to rise to the surface to take a quick gulp of oxygen or they will not last long.
Once placed a artificial fern in the aquarium with some cory's only to find them all dead the next day tangled in the fern. They could not get to the surface quickly enough because of the dense nature of the artificial fern that *I thought looked cool.
Googling info on cory's will confirm that they have the need to rise to the surface to take in oxygen throughout the day/evening.

fish4ever

if its like a little white film it could be protozoan parisites i think i spelled that wrong though.

small fry

Hey guys. This morning I am really depressed. My favorite corydoras, my Bronze corydoras, was found dead at the bottom of the tank today.

I can't tell any signs of any kind of fungus. His barbels look just as fine as they ever did. His mouth looks Ok. His coloration is fine. It is eating me up, I don't even know why it died! All I know is that this diesase has changed the rules of the game, and I need to take it out now.

So they do have labyrinth? Do you know if Melafix will work without hurting them? I have heard of hobbiest who wont even medicate their bettas and gouramis at half dose with this stuff.

Do you have live plants in the tank? I am trying to figure out if Melafix is going to do harm to my plants or my corydoras. Thank you so much for your imput!

No, it is not a protozoan parasite, but thank you for your suggestion.

I really don't want to lose any more fish. I really want to start the melafix and anti-fungul today if that is Ok. I really need an answer before 3pm, because I am leaving until Saturday and wont be able to treat the fish until then if I wait.

Thanks for all your help! I just need a little bit more.

small fry

Guys. I am really pressed for time. I added a teaspoon of Melafix. The tetras seemed to breathe faster, which I thought was a little bit odd. They seem to be fine. I gave them a 50% water change Wednesday and yesterday. I am wondering if I need to do another 50% water change.

I was reading the label on my box of Jungle Fungus Clear and it was saying it is safe for plants and fish. I will start the treatment at lunch if there is no opposition. I personally think that the parasite med will be more effective, but I think I will start with this first.

Thank you all.

small fry,

redchigh

I think it's pretty unlikely it's a parasite, and it may kill your ghost shrimp. (some parasite meds target invertebrates rather than just parasites).

Antifungal could help... Antibacterial would probably help too.
Of course, it might kill your biological filtration and kill the fish faster than the disease..

Salt would be nice, if it wasn't for the cories...(Although the affects of salt on cories is debatable.)
Also, can you increase the temperature?

Andyandsue

While I am daling with my own my own mysterious deaths, I noticed your thread.

If this were me, being so unsure as to what the problem is, I would do a 30% water change, clean the filter like you always do (make sure there is no carbon), and add a small dose of both melafix and primafix, both are natural "meds" and neither are harmful in any way to any of your fish. I've used both many times without any issues to corys or tetras. I'd also raise the temperature a few degrees.

Corys are absolutely labyrinth fish by the way.

Best of luck to you.