Cory Catfish Tail Partially Gone On 2 Out Of 5 Cories

Hey all. So I have my 29 fully cycled and slowly building up my fish stock. I have 5 Cories (almost 4, one isn't doing so hot), and 5 horned Nerites. Anywho, 2 of the cories have ripped off tails, or portions ripped off. They seem to be swimming fast, almost like trying to "shake" something off. The other healthy 2 are fine, and then there's the one kinda laying around, losing color. My question is, do you think it could be parasites or bacterial? I had another Cory that died a few days ago, and when I found him (2 days after death) he had no tail. Sometimes I see them flashing also. Water parameters are Ammonia 0 PPM, Nitrite 0 PPM, Nitrate 10-20 PPM, PH 7.4-8 (kinda hard to tell). HEELLLPPPP I'm sending my bf to the pet store after work and don't know if there's anything I can get to help? I don't want to mess up the good bacteria either. Thanks

Here are the best pics I can get of the 2 with the fin issue and the sick/dying one

I posted this elsewhere with no remarks. I need guidance!! I cycled my 29 with 6 cories. Last week I noticed one was dead. After finding it, I realized it’s tail was missing. Now I have 2 cories with tails almost completely gone. The one is swimming frantically nonstop. The other doesn’t seem to mind. I have 2 healthy cories and one that has been laying and not eating for over a week, but still has its tail. I don’t want to medicate if unnecessary, as I just established healthy water parameters less than a week ago. I also have 5 young horned nerites in there. Parameters are ammonia 0 ppm. Nitrites 0 ppm Nitrates 10-20 ppm and PH 7.4-8.0. I hate watching the one act erratically. Sometimes I notice them flashing as well. Thanks in advance!!

 

Any other fish in the tank? With those wounds, you ought to add some stress coat of some kind and keep the water pristine

 

HI thanks for the response. I have 5 young horned nerites in there. Nothing else. I have, on hand, Dr. Tim’s first defense, prime, melafix, kanaplex and tetra easy balance plus. I have added some first defense and I use prime during water changes.

Can you view these photos? Unsure why but will not let me, says I do not have permission? If you can’t, I’ll delete.

 

Can't see them but I saw the pics in your first post. Do you have 2 different species if Cory? One of the looks different. If it is it may be the culprit but not necessarily.

 

That I’m unsure of. Purchased from Walmart, there were all diff kinds in one tank. Side note, went back today and they have the cories in with rainbow fish. None of the cories has eyes. I am saddened. But to answer your question, the sign on tank said emerald cories, albino cories and another (maybe pepper or panda) when I purchased.

I’m standing about 18” from my tank, observing. They all look the same to me. Possibly was lighting when I took pic. Or possibly I’m wrong.

 

So, Corys are schooling fish that do best with their own species. I'd pick out one species and see if you can return the others.

The pic that has the two side by side look different. One is a lot lighter than the other.

 

So, Corys are schooling fish that do best with their own species. I'd pick out one species and see if you can return the others.

I honestly do not see a difference in any of them. They all have orangish fins on top and dark bodies with emerald coloring. Someone else said they looked like bronze cories, not emeralds.

The pic that has the two side by side look different. One is a lot lighter than the other.

It does appear that way. I’m watching them now, all swim side by side together, and they look the same.

I’m charging my camera. When done, I’ll take video and upload to YouTube and provide a link. Tell me what you think. Doing a water change now then camera should be good to go. I’ll shoot ya a message when I post vid and give me your opinion.

 

Okay, well if you have a quarantine tank then remove the wounded ones and see what happens. Orange? They kind if look like Venuzualan Corys. Google that and see if that's what yours look like

 

Okay, well if you have a quarantine tank the is remove the wounded ones and see what happens. Orange? They kind if look like Venuzualan Corys. Google that and see if that's what yours look like

Ok will do. No quarantine tank at moment. Waiting to add a few fish here then my betta and neons from the 12.

Okay, well if you have a quarantine tank then remove the wounded ones and see what happens. Orange? They kind if look like Venuzualan Corys. Google that and see if that's what yours look like

You’re right. They do look Venuzualan.

I’ll grab a tank from Walmart tomorrow and quarantine the injured.

You know what!?? The light one in the corner. Lost it’s color. Been lying on ground, barely breathing, not eating, for a week or so.

 

I’ll grab a tank from Walmart tomorrow and quarantine the injured.

Your going to need a filter and heater and take some media out of your other filter so it will have the bacteria to have a cycle

You know what!?? The light one in the corner. Lost it’s color. Been lying on ground, barely breathing, not eating, for a week or so.

That's stress

 

Your going to need a filter and heater and take some media out of your other filter so it will have the bacteria to have a cycle

Yeah I got all the extras. Actually I have a 10 gallon that was a hamster cage. I’ll disinfect and get it going.

That's stress

Poor baby. Melafix. Safe for hospital yank? Or stick to dr. Tim’s first defense?

 

Poor baby. Melafix. Safe for hospital yank? Or stick to dr. Tim’s first defense?

I'm not familiar with Dr. Tim's. I'm aware of Melafix but have never used it. Its used for infections and open wounds. Open wounds invite all kinds of bacteria and infections. I'm not sure but it might hurt your snails

 

 

View attachment 463283View attachment 463284

Looks good and come to think of it Melafix isn't a good idea with betas. I think it has some kind of oil that interferes with the gills

 

Looks good and come to think of it Melafix isn't a good idea with betas. I think it has some kind of oil that interferes with the gills

That is true, about bettas. My betta is not in that aquarium...yet. He’s safe in a 12 gallon.

Got a good video of all 5. At around the 2 min mark you’ll get a good view of all together. Idk I think they all look alike? You can def tell the sick one, lost its color. But the rest....lmk what you think. My bad for the water marks on front of tank. They would freak if I attempted cleaning off lol they’re pretty skittish.

 

That's normal behavior for Cory venuzuala......the swimming that is. I have 10 ofotjem in a 55 LookI at that I thought I saw some white on the torn tail??? A couple thoughts, Did you notice if the tails were intact when you got them? I ask because you said the remaining ones at Walmart had no eyes. They might have already been damaged when you got them. If not then the white indicates fin rot....if not that you have a bully. Nice tank BTW.

 

That's normal behavior for Cory venuzuala......the swimming that is. I have 10 ofotjem in a 55 LookI at that I thought I saw some white on the torn tail??? A couple thoughts, Did you notice if the tails were intact when you got them? I ask because you said the remaining ones at Walmart had no eyes. They might have already been damaged when you got them. If not then the white indicates fin rot....if not that you have a bully. Nice tank BTW.

Thank you. Well, I did not notice anything like that. But I didn’t have them in the tank right away, I was trying to fishless cycle. Things went south in the bucket so I added them to tank. Good possibility they were damaged. The guy getting them out of the tank had no clue about fish in general. Put them in straight tap water!!! No nothing to condition it. Soooo idk.

 

Thank you. Well, I did not notice anything like that. But I didn’t have them in the tank right away, I was trying to fishless cycle. Things went south in the bucket so I added them to tank. Good possibility they were damaged. The guy getting them out of the tank had no clue about fish in general. Put them in straight tap water!!! No nothing to condition it. Soooo idk.

Just wow. Well go ahead with the separation. I'd get some aquarium salt and dose per instructions for the tank size. Add the Dr Tim's, that has the stuff stress coat does. Keep the lights off to reduce stress. Hope they respond.

 

Just wow. Well go ahead with the separation. I'd get some aquarium salt and dose per instructions for the tank size. Add the Dr Tim's, that has the stuff stress coat does. Keep the lights off to reduce stress. Hope they respond.

Have you personally tried aquarium salt with cories?? I read all over they’re very sensitive to it. In the meantime, I’ll get them transferred tomorrow. Thank you.

 

Looks like severe / progressive finrot to me (maybe caused by the cycling issue you had going on earlier). I'd separate it. ur defintjy treat with a stronger antI bacterial med.

For the species : I noticed there are sold "emerald green" Corys overthere that seem to be aeneus x venezuelanus cross breeds or so. They are all in the same group and easy to breed if one isn't that interested in keep species / lines "clean". The outcome is depending of the rate of cross and een inbreeding.

 

Have you personally tried aquarium salt with cories?? I read all over they’re very sensitive to it. In the meantime, I’ll get them transferred tomorrow. Thank you.

No I have not. Well as a routine additive every time you change water for example isn't something recommended for corys as they are sensitive to salt..My bad for not ponting that out. I have read on other forums that 1/2 dose is okay for Corys. So I guess it would probably be risky under the circumstances to add salt. Glad you caught that.

Ari840 Too add, and you seem to be up on this anyway but aquarium salt is used for mild cases of fin rot, but in your case with Corys it might be risky as you helped me realize. Also salt can be bad for snails. Sorry if I sent you in the wrong direction.

 

Ari840 Too add, and you seem to be up on this anyway but aquarium salt is used for mild cases of fin rot, but in your case with Corys it might be risky as you helped me realize. Also salt can be bad for snails. Sorry if I sent you in the wrong direction.

No, no! You're fine I try not to start a conversation ignorantly, I attempt to do a bit of research before I reach out. But I have an update. The poor one that has been lying around, not eating, got wedged in between the wall and bubbler wall thingy and passed away last night rip poor lil thing. I also noticed the beginnings of a fungus on possibly a wound on the side of another fish (the one who has been darting frantically btw) and last night I was thinking about how they all looked to have some white film like substance covering their heads. That explains the flashing and scurrying around the tank. I dosed just the slightest bit of Melafix (a 1/4 teaspoon in a 29 gallon tank, directions call for 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons. I also added some Dr. Tims First Defense after I did a 30% water change. I gotta tell ya, call me crazy but that 1/4 teaspoon did justice. Not only is the water extremely clear, but the cories have been enjoying an algae pellet and don't have that white mist covering their heads anymore. No more darting or flashing either. Thank goodness Because I do believe they have a labyrinth organ, like bettas, so I dose mildly I try to stay away from medications, unless necessary.Happy I caught it early on. I had 2 African Dwarf Frogs die from a nasty fungus once. I will not be fooled again! Thanks again for the convo...I was super worried about them last night and had a feeling that one was not going to make it much longer...

 

Looks like severe / progressive finrot to me (maybe caused by the cycling issue you had going on earlier). I'd separate it. ur defintjy treat with a stronger antI bacterial med.

For the species : I noticed there are sold "emerald green" Corys overthere that seem to be aeneus x venezuelanus cross breeds or so. They are all in the same group and easy to breed if one isn't that interested in keep species / lines "clean". The outcome is depending of the rate of cross and een inbreeding.

Thanks. And I totally didn’t see your message, I’m sorry. Today I figured out rot/fungus. I have them in the 29 still, the other is completely buried. But I added a quarter of the dosage of melafix, because of their labyrinth organ. They were all laying around until I dropped another air stone in. That freaked them but now they’ve calmed and are doing their thing. Nerites don’t seem bothered one bit.

Looks like severe / progressive finrot to me (maybe caused by the cycling issue you had going on earlier). I'd separate it. ur defintjy treat with a stronger antI bacterial med.

For the species : I noticed there are sold "emerald green" Corys overthere that seem to be aeneus x venezuelanus cross breeds or so. They are all in the same group and easy to breed if one isn't that interested in keep species / lines "clean". The outcome is depending of the rate of cross and een inbreeding.

I’ll go get the other tank shortly. What do you recommend I treat with? On hand I have kanaplex and melafix, although I don’t really like it with the cories.

 

In all honesty, I have only ever owned four of each species in different tanks. All lived perfectly health and good lives. Zac, Crackajack, cody and cory are all fine, had them for ages now. If you are going to get some and they are going to be vicious towards each other, then it's not worth it.

 

I’ll go get the other tank shortly. What do you recommend I treat with? On hand I have kanaplex and melafix, although I don’t really like it with the cories.

Use the Kanaplex (real med) and leave Melafix

 

Use the Kanaplex (real med) and leave Melafix

thank you

So the other tank was cracked. My luck. Didn’t have a way to get to store to get another so I added kanaplex last night. Keeping an eye on things. Water parameters are ok. Ammonia .25 or less ppm. Nitrites 0. Ph 7.4 and nitrates between 10 and 20ppm.

 

Update. Cories tales are back!! Ritual like water changes are to thank. I appreciate everyone’s input, that saved the day