Melissawater

Hello again everyone. My albino cat has some sort of puff ball on his fin. It almost looks like he has a tulle skirt on his arm. I had looked this topic up and found some things on fungus and columnaris, but it is not whitish yellow it is more see through-white. There are a few white spots on the glass like someone else described that I only noticed today, but they look like air bubbles so they could have been there longer. Pinkie (the cat) only had 1/2 a fin when we bought him, but it wasn't red or weird looking it just looked like an old fighting injury. It is a little pink under the fluff, but he seems to be doing the same as far as energy and eating.
I will try to attach a pic, but they are not to clear. I will also put them in my albumn. My parameters are from yesterday ammonia 1, Nitrites 1, Nitrates 5, and pH 7.2-7.4. I am hoping it is just something I can take off with a qtip and put bacitracin on like someone mentioned in one of the other threads.

Lucy

Just so everyone knows, Melissa is aware of her water issues and doing water changes to get the tank cycled.
Unfortunately, while the fish are fighting the toxins (ammonia, nitrite) other illness can take advantage of their weakened immune system.

Post the pic, see if someone can ID it.

Melissawater

I am trying to post pics, but for some reason it is not doing it I even switched my web browser to firefox. It didn't have much of a problem with my last albumn.

Lucy

You can upload a pic to photobucket then just copy and paste the image code.

Melissawater

Thank you Lucy, that's awesome I didn't know you could do that!



It's the furry looking thing to your right, his left fin the poor little guy.

Shawnie

I lightened up your top pic melissa and it looks like a bang on something in the tank more than fungus....but cant be sure..can you try to get a closer pic as neither is really visible with the white thing...dont medicate yet especially where you are still cycing....frustration is awful isnt it ...keep the faith!

Melissawater

Ya I tried with my camera to get closer pics, but that was the closest I could get without it being completely blurry>< He swims fine with it on there, I'm just worried it will spread on him because it is close to his gill. I refuse to give up on my little babies they are more than worth it!!
Thank you for all your help, I really hope it is nothing...


Here is a couple more, but the furry looking stuff just looks like a blur (which is what it looks like on him anyway).

Lucy

Sorry Melissa, I can't tell what it is either.
Have you tried the macro stting on your camera?
A lot of members say they get better pics using it. Not me, my pics usually stink no matter what setting I use. lol

Melissawater

Lol same here, I used every setting I had on the camera with zoom, without, etc.

ynaggo

If the puff ball looks soft and hairy it could be fungus

Sort of like this

aquarist48

Hello Melissa. Here is a link you may find helpful. Warning: it contains some graphic fish diseases. Maybe it will help you to identify it.
Best wishes!
Ken
JBL - Online Hospital

Melissawater

Thank you Ynaggo and Ken. By looking at the pics I am 90% sure it is a fungus and I think it is growing too. Pinkie started to get lathargic last night and I am not sure he is really eating, he nibbled at the rocks for a minute and then just layed there. Is there a good cure that I can do while my tank is still cycling and without another tank? I only have the main tank unfortunately

aquarist48

Hello Melissa. You may not have a choice but to medicate. Let's get some thoughts on using Melafix. I don't see any labyrinth fish in your profile (someone chime in and double check me) listed that it would be harmful to such as betta's so.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=11269
Too, at the link it says it won't harm the bio filtration. As to what it may do to a tank still cycling I'm uncertain
Ken

jdhef

I would try using Maracin or Maracin 2. I think Triple Sulfa is supposed to be good for fungus also.

The biggest problem you are going to face is that if you medicate the tank, you will not be able to do daily water changes and your fish will be exposed to ammonia. You may want to consider using AmmoLock or even Amquel+ since they will detox higher levels of ammonia than Prime will (as far as I know). Then instead of doing a water change just add the product. Note that if you use Amquel+ and the API ammonia test kit, your ammonia test will read positive for ammonia whether there is ammonia present or not. I use Amquel+ and bought a Kardon (maker of Amquel+) ammonia test kit for that very reason.

Also there is always a chance the meds will kill off your benificial bacteria. The meds I listed aren't supposed to hurt the cycle, and I've used them in the past with success.

Also if medicating the tank, be sure to remove your carbon, since it will just remove the meds from the water.

Melissawater

Thank you for your quick responses You are correct Ken there are no labyrinth fish in my tank. I checked the link you gave and looked at the Pimafix and melafix, I think this may be better suited for our tank because it doesn't hurt the biological filter or our plants. Plus the smallest bottle of Amquel+ we can get here is a big gallon+ for $60 at petsmart.
The ammonia was down to .5 before yesterday's water change and nitrites were at 1, so not doing water changes scares me...
Anyone ever use the pimafix and melafix during a cycle?

ynaggo

I had, nothing really happened though that I recall, it does require you to remove your carbon though and it smells whack :]

Melissawater

Lol thank you ynaggo, now I know to cover my nose then!
I just got back from the pet store to buy both and some how walked out with a 60 gal tank....I just want all of you to know that I blame all of you lol just kidding! At least this time it will be set up right and I got a great deal on it with the stand so I paid what I would of for a used one

aquarist48

Yeah!!!!! Congrats on the new tank Melissa. Another reason I suggested the Melafix over medications is because it's all natural. I have some and I kind of like the smell. I haven't had to use it in years so I guess I should throw it out LOL.

Last week or so I just bought 1g Amquel + on Sale at Petco for $33 with my Pals card.

I hope you share some photos of your tank when you can. Before and after
Ken

Melissawater

Wow $33 is cheap! I will have to stop at petco next week and check it out lol. I will share many photos, but first we have to find a good place for it!
Thank you for all your help Ken, much appreciative to everyone

ynaggo

Was that with the filter hood and heater?

And most importantly what about a stand :]

Melissawater

It was aquarium, hoods, lights, and a nice stand with doors at pet smart.

aquarist48

Good morning Melissa. I was ordering my Amquel + and Nova Aqua from on line at $40 a gallon + shipping. Not that I know PetCo carries it, I'll be buying it there. Even if it isn't on sale at least I can save shipping charges. (I always buy my chems by the gallon. Saving even more $)
Ken

Melissawater

I tried to talk the fiance' into buying it yesterday, I even tried "well I am getting you a bigger fish tank" lol! It didn't work I will be working on him now that I know it is on sale lol. Shouldn't be to bad switching from prime to amquel+ I wouldn't think since they are essentially the same thing.

Melissawater

Here is our early Christmas present, Thank you



Now we have to decide how to decorate it and if we put new fish or the fish we have already in it when it is ready.....decisions, decisions.
Should we put prime in now that we filled it or after it cycles and we clean it?

aquarist48

Hello Melissa. Wonderful new tank and love the cabinet as well. Personally I would go ahead and add the Prime. That way you won't forget.
Prime has a slime coat additive that Amquel + doesn not. That's why I also use the Nova Aqua +
Ken

Melissawater

Oh okay, we will add the prime then. It's too bad they do not sell big tanks of prime at our pet stores Thank you

Melissawater

RIP Pinkie

jdhef

Sorry to learn you lost Pinkie

Lucy

I'm so sorry you lost Pinkie.

Melissawater

Thank you so much He will be missed.....