fishlover78

I only use salt with guppies, goldies, mollies and platys.

CHoffman

I won't use salt..But i would like to know what I should be using to kill this stuff..I gave the first dose of the fungus guard this morning after a water change..I'll give a second dose tomorrow after another waterchange. I could order something I just need to know the name and where to get it..I just really want to make sure whatever I order will take care of this pesky fungus..This fungus and I are at war now!!!!..

fishlover78

maybe lowering the temp would help? also as a tip, when you get your fish, if at all possible net the fish yourself. the owner of the fish store I go to will let me net my own fish because if you don't and just tell them "I want that one" they really don't care and say "ya' get what ya' get" did this gourami come from the LFS you wanted to check out?

CHoffman

NO..I didn't end up getting any fish there. THey were mostly saltwater..This came from the best LFS that I know of...She didn't pay much attention to which one she netted..She did ask me if this one would be ok and I looked and said yes..The other Gourami looks great. I just didn't pay close enough attention I guess..That's ok..I'm glad he's with me and not with someone who wouldn't treat him or didn't care. There is a reason for everything so I'm just gonna do the best I can with this little dude..

fishlover78

do you think that as she gets to know that you are serious and know what your doing in the hobby that she will let you net your own fish?

CHoffman

Oh yeah..I'm sure they would that anybody net their own fish if they asked..I'm not very good at catching the little buggers..lol..But I'm sure she would let me.

soldieroffortune1974

Most of them around here don't let anyone net their own fish.They want to count them as they come out.Even if it is only 1 fish,they say it's better for an "experienced" fishkeeper to do it.........(AHEM) my thoughts can't be properly placed on this forum.

jdhef

I've has success getting rid of Fungus with Mardel Maracyn. I got it from PetSmart. You can order on line here:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2753392

I've also used Mardel Maracyn Two, but it didn't work as well.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2753391

fishlover78

Lol SOF! well, I guess I am lucky that I rust my friends and they trust me

Emory

I just can't help but think it looks like a bacterial infection. Especially the way it billows up in a tower/column from each location along his dorsal fin.

Anybody else zoom in and notice that?

And good luck to your fish - I've got my fingers crossed for you DOC!

fishlover78

me too! I know you ca do it CHoffman!

soldieroffortune1974

Take a look at this site: http://badmanstropicalfish.com/fish_...html#Finfungus

It looks a lot like Cauliflower disease (Lymphistis) but it could also be Cotton Fin fungus or the early stages of velvet. All are fairly similar in appearance.

In either case they're generally secondary infections caused by the stress factors of some other underlying bacterial infection.

Since the meds are not working at this point,I would say a stronger remedy is required. Tetracychline or Kenamyacin both come to mind.Both are strong antibiotics and should be used sparingly.

I hope you can figure it out and your fish gets better soon. Good luck.

CHoffman

To me it looks like the cotton fin fungus..But he does have a few spots on his body...can it spread to the body..I feel like the two meds that I gave him were just time wasters..He has just been getting worse and worse..I figured it was a secondary infection..I should have looked a little more closely when I bought him..His dorsal fin is way shorter then my other gourami and it already had some spots on it when he got home. Should a LFS or Petsmart have Tetracychline or Kenamyacin or will I have to order it from somplace.

soldieroffortune1974

You should be able to get it from a vet,especially the tetracychline.The Kenamyacin is available at most Fish supply stores.If they don't have it,they should be able to order it. I get most of my meds from my vet.

Kemamyacin comes in drops,or powder form.Tetracychline comes in tablet or capsule form.

Cotton fin fungus is contained to the fins,hence it's name,just like fin rot,is on the fins. Velvet appears anywhere on the fins,body,head,nose etc.The treatment is the same in both cases.

CHoffman

I'll check with my Vet. How much should I give??

soldieroffortune1974

Each vet is different in prices. I paid $1/capsule for the tetracychline,and bought 10 capsules. The Kenamyacin cost me $18 for the bottle of drops (small bottle) Both last a long time. Unless you get a lot of outbreaks.1 capsule is good for 2 treatments -1/2 now and 1/2 later.

CHoffman

LOL..Sorry..I wasn't clear.. I meant How much meds should I give the fish??..Also..I don't think it's velvet either..These white round things are bigger then ICH..I can clearly see them just glancing at the fish..They aren't flat and even with the scales but more round like balls on him.

Just read...Half now half later...How much later and how many doses??..He's in a ten gallon does that matter or will I need less or more meds

CHoffman

Well,,I was looking for a site that showed exactly what it looked like and I came up with this..He's not as bad and it's mainly on his fins but yeah...It looks like this..This pic says it's ICH but I read somewhere that ICH lays flat on the body not round, I thought ICH was a lot smaller then this too..What do you guys think??

Attached Images

ICH.jpg (34.0 KB, 8 views)

soldieroffortune1974

That's definitely ich,and a severe case of ich. What you're describing is the early signs of ich,small 'salt-like' spots.The case pictured is in the farther advanced stages.

1 capsule of tetracychline treats 10 gallons.I normally put my fish in a 5 gallon quarantine and split the capsule into 2 treatments.1/2 now then the other 1/2 12 hours later. Then 1/2 a capsule every 12 hours,with water changes every 24 hours,so you'll treat with 1 capsule total (can be added to 10 gallons as 1 treatment) 12 hours after the treatment,change the water,and treat again. (if treating 10 gallons change water after 24 hours and retreat)

SO.........in 10 gallons treat with 1 capsule then change water after 24 hours and treat again.

In 5 gallons treat with 1/2 a capsule wait 12 hours treat with other half of capsule 12 hours later change water and treat again.

k19

all you can do is research and make sure it is a fungus and keep try the meds hope it goes well

good luck

CHoffman

I have never seen a a pic of ICH that looked like that before..All the other ones I've seen had very small specks of white. Not ball looking things Where I found this pic had several different pics of ICH..None on them looking similiar..crazy.. That's why I ruled it out..My guy has more of ball looking things like this guy..Not NEAR as bad but they sure look similar and it's mainly on the tips of his dorsal fin.

CHoffman

Thanks SOF..To the rescue again!!!!!..

Lucy

Ich can be treated without meds. You can raise the temp slowly to 83/84F, increase aeration due to the lower levels of oxygen in warmer water and do a good gravel vac to pick up the leftover spores.
Leave the temp raised for at least 2 weeks.

I'm surprised you weren't able to identify what was going on from this link I gave you: Pictures of Fish Diseases It looks very similar to the pic you posted.

I'm really glad you've gotten it figured out...now your fish can be on the way to recovery.

CHoffman

The 2nd and 9th pic do look similiar...I think when I was lookin at those I was more looking at the fungus then..Thanks again for the link Lucy...I'm still not sure it's ICH or a Fungus..I'm going to treat for ICH first..without the meds because I feel it's safer and I've already treated the poor boy for fungus..So I"m going to raise the temp and give it a week if it's getting better I'll keep treating for ICH..If it's worse then I'll know it's not ICH and start with the tetracycline. I'm hoping it's ICH..How long with raised temps should it take before I see a noticable difference if indeed it is ICH.

I would make a poor fish Dr.

fishlover78

you are a great fish doc! well, I would raise the temp for 1-2 weeks, give or take how bad it is, someone else could tell you better. but remember , raising the temp will add to the fungus's growth (if it's fungus) so you will see that getting worse if its fungus so raising the temp could also show you pretty quickly what he has, then you can take it from there.

Lucy

I guess it depends on how bad it is, but I'd give it at least 2 weeks.

Isn't it amazing what we do for our fin babies?

CHoffman

Also do I need to increase airation if I already have a good amount going. I have a NOISY..filter..lol..meaning it makes a pretty good splash and I have a airstone going.

fishlover78

I know check this out, goldie surgery! here is the link to a site I belong to, people bring their fancy goldies to aquatic docters: http://thegab.org/Links/GoldfishProcedures.html
and http://thegab.org/Articles/SurgeryWen.html that's a lot of money, but its well spent!

sirdarksol

It seems that we're presuming this is ich, but I want to verify something:
CHoffman, how big are the balls on the ends of the fins?
It looks to me like they're pretty big. Ich doesn't cluster like that. It spreads out like individual grains of salt. They are, indeed, raised, but there's a limit to how much they're raised.

Could you try to get zoomed-in, better pictures? With a digital camera, the easiest way to get a good pic is to take a hundred of them, then look through them on your computer. It may be best if folks can take a clear look at your fish before we start suggesting treatments (all of which are going to be harsh on your fish's body).

fishlover78

well, I guess I agree with SDS, could you get us some more pics CHoffman?