10 Gallon Tank Boraras maculatus developed white patch on scales?

Hi guys,

As the title says, one of my Boraras maculatus has developed a white patch on its scales, just above the front black spot (pictures attached, including the tank).

Is this anything to worry about? They were all treated for 4 weeks with antibiotics and antifungals before being introduced to the tank, and it is acting completely normal aside from the white patch.

Parameters are as follows:

• pH: 6.6
• Ammonia: 0ppm
• Nitrite: 0ppm
• Nitrates: 5ppm
• KH: 8dKH (143.2ppm)
• GH: 11dGH (196.9ppm)

Tank mates are just a colony of red cherry shrimp.

Cheers!
Anybody?

 

Hi, does it spread across to his other side? Is it grayish white in color? Is it fuzzy like a cotton ball or smoother? It’s hard to see but I can see it a bit covering the spot.

What antifungals and antibiotics did you use? I am wondering why you treated with an antibiotic initially? Were you treating an illness?

 

Hi, does it spread across to his other side? Is it grayish white in color? Is it fuzzy like a cotton ball or smoother? It’s hard to see but I can see it a bit covering the spot.

What antifungals and antibiotics did you use? I am wondering why you treated with an antibiotic initially? Were you treating an illness?

Hi, thanks for your response. Yes I was treating an initial suspected Columnaris outbreak (two fish died of it).

I used Blue Planet trisulfa (Blue Planet Tri Sulfa 100 Tablets) and Blue Planet aquaricycline (Blue Planet Aquari Cycline - 100 Tablets) for 3 weeks as directed in a hospital tank. When they were symptom free for 4 weeks I moved them into the main tank.

The fish in the picture has definitely gotten paler, and I think another fish is developing the same lesion but just above their caudal fin.

It looks smooth and grey, I can't notice any fluff to indicate fungal (though it is small). It is just on the one side. I've attached one more image, but its hard to see cause theyre so small haha

 

It sounds like it’s in your main tank. Smooth and grey or white does sound like columnaris. I think with columnaris it’s best to treat everyone. It’s a very frustrating disease as it thrives in clean well oxygenated tanks. What temp is your tank? It doesn’t do as well is 24-25C. Hopefully you have a slow moving bacteria. I don’t think tetracycline has any impact on columnaris but I’d have to double check. Your best bet might be the tri-sulfa. The sulfa drugs should not impact your bio-filter.

 

It sounds like it’s in your main tank. Smooth and grey or white does sound like columnaris. I think with columnaris it’s best to treat everyone. It’s a very frustrating disease as it thrives in clean well oxygenated tanks. What temp is your tank? It doesn’t do as well is 24-25C. Hopefully you have a slow moving bacteria. I don’t think tetracycline has any impact on columnaris but I’d have to double check. Your best bet might be the tri-sulfa. The sulfa drugs should not impact your bio-filter.

Hey, thanks for the reply. Yeah, I was concerned that it was Columnaris returning. Does the bacteria thrive in the tank in the absence of fish then? I really don't want to take apart the whole tank - it took months to get it looking so nice. My tank sits at 26 degrees, but we've been having a crazy heatwave this year in Australia (most days above 40 degrees Celsius) so the tank has been varying between 26 and 30C. Will adding the medication directly to my tank affect the plants?

 

Hey, thanks for the reply. Yeah, I was concerned that it was Columnaris returning. Does the bacteria thrive in the tank in the absence of fish then? I really don't want to take apart the whole tank - it took months to get it looking so nice. My tank sits at 26 degrees, but we've been having a crazy heatwave this year in Australia (most days above 40 degrees Celsius) so the tank has been varying between 26 and 30C. Will adding the medication directly to my tank affect the plants?

My understanding is columnaris and saprolegnia bacteria are always in our aquariums but do not necessarily cause disease until the right conditions exist. But once a fish has it, best to treat the whole tank as it spreads easily. I don’t think you need to tear down the tank as like I said some level of these bacteria are always present.

I double checked and tetracycline products have zero effect on columnaris but the sulfa drugs can help and if you can get a hold of nitrofurazone or malachite green a combination of these can help. Also, salt at 1 tsp per gallon of water (diluted in some tank water first) and poured in slowly over 15 -30 minutes can be helpful.

I don’t “think” the sulfa drugs will effect your plants and low levels of salt are tolerated well by most plants.

 

Cheers for continually answering my questions.

Okay, I'll give aquarium salt and the trisulfa ago; though I will need to look into whether they will affect my cherry shrimp - not sure if you know that?

I do have some malachite green, however, isn't it just an antifungal?

 

Malachite green is an anti-protozoan mostly, maybe you’re thinking of methylene blue? But yeah, you’re right malachite green won’t help much here now that I’m thinking about it. A methylene blue bath though could really help Though.

The “go-to” treatment for columnaris is actually kanamycin and nitrofurazone along with some methylene blue baths but I am not sure what you have access to. Tri sulfa can work but the methylene blue bath is highly recommended for the sick fish once or even twice a day For 30 minutes.

If you have access to methylene blue you would use 1 gallon removed tank water, or a plastic container you can float and double the dose of methylene blue you’d use in a tank (adjusting for the 1g or smaller volume), so probably a couple drops or so. It stains everything so make sure to have surfaces covered. When 30 minutes is done put the fish back in the tank and pour out the methylene blue.

 

Malachite green is an anti-protozoan mostly, maybe you’re thinking of methylene blue? But yeah, you’re right malachite green won’t help much here now that I’m thinking about it. A methylene blue bath though could really help Though.

The “go-to” treatment for columnaris is actually kanamycin and nitrofurazone along with some methylene blue baths but I am not sure what you have access to. Tri sulfa can work but the methylene blue bath is highly recommended for the sick fish once or even twice a day For 30 minutes.

If you have access to methylene blue you would use 1 gallon removed tank water, or a plastic container you can float and double the dose of methylene blue you’d use in a tank (adjusting for the 1g or smaller volume), so probably a couple drops or so. It stains everything so make sure to have surfaces covered. When 30 minutes is done put the fish back in the tank and pour out the methylene blue.

I do have some Bactonex (Aquasonic Bactonex 250ml Bacterial Treatment - Australian Made), which is methylene blue and Aminocrine hydrochloride. I do worry, however, with how small these fish are and how fragile they can be, that moving them for baths daily will stress them out a bit too much.

 

Yeah I hear you. Will maybe, only do the bath if the sore gets worse or is not getting better.