Birdo

One of my ghost/ glass catfish seem to have discoloration/foggy spots on it but I am pretty sure it doesn't look like ICH or body slime. My fish with body slime seem to die quickly, but this catfish swims around like nothing is wrong at all! He isn't turning a slight milky whiite either, which is usually the color of sick catfish. I am not sure what to do.

I tried bringing the water up to 82 degrees and adding more freshwater aquarium salt (aka sea salt you can buy in the grocery store and is the same thing as long as there is no added iodine lol) in the water to check to see if it is ich, since I heard that treatment could work. The spots got more plentiful probably due to stress of rising the temperature and different water salinity, though I tried to introduce more salt slowly. Additionally, I am still trying to cycle a tank which also adds to the stress. pH 7.8, ammonia between 0 and .25, nitrite between 0 and .25, and nitrate 5.0. The tap water where I live naturally has around 10.0 nitrate in it already, so I know something is going on due to cycling, probably algae eating the nitrate? Anyway, I heard that these glassfish are very sensitive to treatment, and I was going to try and treat him for body slime when I saw in a different forum a picture of a glass catfish with the same spots as he had and some people believed it was caused by lymphocytis. This fish pictured in the forum was also was swimming around like nothing bothered it meanwhile looking like it was getting body slime. I really tried to take a picture of my fish with the macro setting on my camera, but could not get a good picture of him. The reason I am opposed to treating my ghost with antibiotics is that I hear it isn't good for fish, especially due to a recent rumor that they cause birth defects in fry, of which I have had one experience with (possibly coincidentally spine deformity in my molly fry) and they are EXPENSIVE! I was hoping someone had a suggestion or experience that helped their ghostfish with lymphocytis, or columariis/body slime disease that can help me out. I hope if it is lymphocytis, that it is not contagious, however I read an article on the gourami plague of the iridoviris on this forum of which is related and causing lymphocytis, and in this article it said there is no cure. I am not sure what to do with my fish? If I separate him he is a schooling fish and he will surely die and my tank is cycling so putting antibiotics in will completely distroy my cycle! What should I do??!!

Dino

Lymphocytis appears as white califlour like growths, not spots.
It can be held in check with garlic, but the fish still carries the virus and can have flair ups later in its life.
I would suggest doing daily 50% water changes for a few days rather than drugs.
If after a week, there is no improvement, I would then look to antibiotics.

Birdo

Thanks Dino, but how much garlic should I put in the water? Should it be cooked? mashed?

Dino

I generally add a little garlic juice from a jar of minced garlic to the flake or pellets I am feeding the affected fish.
Some of the minced garlic added to the tank would not hurt either, the fish generally munch it up, if they are large enough to eat it.

Birdo

Thanks Dino! Do you know how many teaspoon per gallon or anything specific like a 1/4 teaspoon per gallon or do you just eyeball it?

Chief_waterchanger

Eyeballing it is fine. Anywhere from teaspoon to a tablespoon per 10g should be fine.

Birdo

Wow that's a lot of garlic! So not only will I be able to help the disease I can keep vampires away too hahaha! (Just kidding bad joke).

Chief_waterchanger

. Teaspoon to tablespoon of the juice I should've said, but yes, if they eat bits of garlic that is fine also.

For some reason garlic and garlic juice seems to be a very BROAD spectrum medicinal thing for freshwater fish.

Birdo

Thanks Chief Waterchanger! So if I put this in will the whole room or tank smell like garlic? Could I use the garlic for other bacterial diseases? Should I take out my carbon filter or is there anything else I have to do to use the garlic? Should I watch out for ph change? I am not sure if garlic is acidic or basic or in between.

Chief_waterchanger

That small of an amount shouldn't have an effect on overall tank chemistry. You don't have to make any modifications to anything you are doing, just pour some garlic juice in. I don't think the odor would permeate that much, if all.

Birdo

Thanks again! I am going to try it today after my 50% water change. How often should I put it in to treat the fish after my tank is cycled? 1 tablespoon per gallon once a day or every few days? Should I replace it everyday that I do the 50% water change? Sorry for all the questions! I feel like I am being a question hog!

Dino

I would dose the fish about once a week with the garlic.
It would probably be best to do it the day before you do your water change.

Birdo

Well, I tried the garlic...and my ammonia level immediately spiked after I put it in...to .25...and my nitrates are the same between 0 and .25...my nitrates are 5...Does this mean I have to re cycle the tank? I really hope not! Plus the whole room smells like garlic...I put in 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons. Not only will the garlic keep vampires away, but also will keep PEOPLE out of the room...The whole room smells like garlic!

I am not sure what to do!!! Should I change the water again!?

Dino

No, you do not have to recycle the tank.
Another waterchange would not hurt.
What size tank is the ghost in?

Birdo

It is in the 29 gallon one that is cycling. The ammonia was 0 before I put the garlic in. I put 3 tablespoons in, but I think next time, if this treatment works in him, I will just put 1 teaspoon per 10 g and see if it doesn't stink as much.

I am doing another 50% water change today and will update you on the parameters.

I have 0 Ammonia, 0-.25 nitrites, 5.0 nitrates, and ph 8.0. Whew...that's a relief. The nitrites don't seem to be forming any more than in between 0 and .25, still is dark blue. The nitrates are holding steady at 5.0.

Oddly enough, my ghost fish seems to be healing on his/her own. (Can you tell what gender the fish is, or is there no way to tell?)