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Can you please tell me from where does Fungus come?. Can you prevent it & any other things about it?. Thanks alot in advance.


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http://www.deathbydyeing.org/



http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

I'll have to skip the scientific explanation, but can tell you that true fungus will grow on rotting food and organic matter, as will columnaris (bacteria that looks like fungus).

All tanks have the potential to allow an open wound or injury to become infected with true fungus or columnaris, especially if there is much in the water column from rotting decay in the tank. This is why it is good to keep the tank free of rotting food and organic matter.

People prevent fungus on non-fertilized eggs (where it can spread to healthy eggs), by dosing methylene blue or other substances.

Preventing it on a fish involves carefully looking at your fish once or twice a day for mechanical injuries or infections. Parasite bites are often infected so it is wise to take action as soon as injuries or parasites are seen to prevent fungus. I even dose melafix when I see my two white cloud boys really fighting hard for dominance. One always looses scales and lost scales can easily give way to infection. Adding a low dose of freshwater aquarium salt helps prevent osmotic shock, as can happen with open wounds.

Hope this helps.

Thanks alot for your help. I asked this question, as i lost a couple of fish in 8/10 days & i am thinking it might be Fungus. To be honest i'm not sure, but i saw some fluff on the Lemon Tetra & also some on my Angels. What do you think?.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.deathbydyeing.org/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Well, columnaris infections are a common threat after netting a fish. The slime coat is removed and small abrasions on the scales or skin create openings for it to grow. This is why I use melafix and/or pimafix for 3-5 days after transferring fish.

Are the fish flicking against objects? If not, then just use Melafix or Pimafix (preferrably the latter if you can find it). This may cure the fuzz. If not, you'll need to move to an antibiotic.

If the fish are flicking, then certainly there are likely parasites involved and an anti-parasitic should be used.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 18-Apr-2005 12:45

Well, honestly i had alot of losses & cannot see what happened. I was thinking of Fungus, because i had my Angels fighting alot & there where marks on their bodies. I lost Angels, Lemon Tetra's, Black Neons & a Ram. In the tank i have RummyNose Tetra's & lots of Corydoras & 3 BN. I never saw any fish flicking, but for sure something happened in my tank, as i lost 14 fish in 10 days.

Can it be that adding 1 fish, can cause all these problems?.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.deathbydyeing.org/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Oh my - that's a lot of fish. Well, one of the four strains of columnaris is capable of wiping out a tank in just 24 hours. There are chronic strains and there are acute strains that will do much damage and killing in a short time. If any gets into the gills it can be quite lethal, and you may not necessarily see it if you aren't looking for it.

Netting eliminates slime-coat and gives abrasions from the net a chance to infect, especially if there was a high volume of the pathogen in the original tank (and in your bag water). All it takes is a drop of that water and the right conditions for it to breed and wait for vulnerability in your other fish.

For this reason, I dose Pimafix for the first few days after netting. It is a prevention I take and I feel it is well worth it.

Thanks alot for your help Cory_Di. I never had all these deaths in a week & i'm really sorry to see my tank like that. I am treating the tank for Fungus & hopefully the deaths will stop. I just have to be patient & wait & wait & wait, to start re-stocking it again.
Thank once again.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.deathbydyeing.org/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com