Unusual fungus/bacterial wiping out tank.

[Rpul]

Seems to be having an issue in the pond. I've had nothing but trouble since I attained this large Niger.

I've currently tried several treatments and it doesn't seem to be doing much, but control the issue for a few weeks, then it starts again.

What seem to be struggling the most just lately, is the male meglodoras uranoscopus and the large female isn't her self at the moment either, but no where near the same as the male. Which is worrying me.

I've just started a 5 day treatment with Myxazin (2nd day in) and a half api salt dosage. I'm hoping this will sort my issue, but I'd like some other opinions, as Im frustrated with the whole thing and I'm worried I'm going to lose half my stock before I figure it out.

Currently the male meglodoras is sticking his head out out the water alot. (See video) a few days before he was constantly hoovering near the top and also had an bloom of what look like a "fungus" appeared on his left hand side, within a few hours. Big water change. Put the uv on and salted. Within 5 hours, the "fungus" vanished.
(See picture)

The water is as it should be.

All the fish look fine are acting and eating fine. The only one with something odd would be the silver Arowana. He seems to have something on his back along his scales, but after treatment. It's starting to reside. (See picture)

Sorry for such a long post, but I've lost some expensive fish since the start of this ordeal. including one that's irreplaceable and cost me a ridiculous amount of money.
Which was my my azul. Within 24hrs what ever it is in the pond, what started as a small white mark around 6mm turned into a gaping whole in a 24hr time scale. (See pictures)

I'm consider bathing the fish in a MB bath. To see if that would help, my only issue with this is the fish range from 20"-40".

If anyone has come across anything similar. Please say. Thanks.

 

[Rpul]

I've now raised the temp to 31c to see if that help with the salt dosage.

 

[Audaxcity]

I've never heard of something like this before. I'm as confused as you are.

My 10 cents: Do the bath. I also suggest draining the tank and dosing some epsom salt to treat any remaining bacteria/fungus, though to me this sounds almost like a parasite in which case you need something else. Do you have anywhere to quarantine the fish meanwhile? Also, is it possible at all that the cut on the azul was from the niger's thorns?

I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Rpul]

I've never heard of something like this before. I'm as confused as you are.

My 10 cents: Do the bath. I also suggest draining the tank and dosing some epsom salt to treat any remaining bacteria/fungus, though to me this sounds almost like a parasite in which case you need something else. Do you have anywhere to quarantine the fish meanwhile? Also, is it possible at all that the cut on the azul was from the niger's thorns?

I wish you the best of luck.

Yes. I'm confused myself on the actually diagnosis of this.

At first I thought, costia. But not. There was a few other similar I looked at. (Long words, cannot remember them of the top of my head) but that being the case. All the fish would have died within 48hrs if it was said bacteria.

I have a large enough tub to treat the fish signally one at a time whilst doing the bath. But no where for them where I can move them into smaller space.

No, I don't think so. It started as a small white mark, not a cut. Around 6mm in diameter and spread like wild fire and killed a perfectly healthy bass within hours.

I did find something sort of similar on the aro fanatics page on a large niger catfish, a aggressive bacteria that killed quickly. But the lacerations looked much different.

But this has been going on for nearly a month now. Straight after the move. Was the biggest loss. Big azul, jumbo red pike, black Arowana and a panaque. (Not water related issues.)

Almost like little white sores, hopfully not a virus, I'm thinking more bacterial.

But as I moved everything out and back in, to get this pond in the fish room. I cross contaminated my whole collection. Two other tanks. And another pond.
So everything has said issue.

One of my Wels has it worse. A huge gaping whole on her side, what started as a while mark. But today. She is starting to look better after treatment. Bloody tough fish. I'll give them that.


I'll attach a picture of the Niger when she arrived. You can see the issue on her mouth area. But she's completely fine now and healed.

 

[skjl47]

I've now raised the temp to 31c to see if that help with the salt dosage.

Hello; Sorry that I do not have anything useful to add as far as identity of the pathogen nor of the possible treatments.

If it does turn out to be bacterial then raising the temp might not be such a good idea. Might make the situation a bit more ideal for bacterial growth.

The only other suggestion I can think of is to set up some treatment tubs for things such as dips. If I read correctly you have several infected fish. Could be a bit risky but might try different treatments in each tub to see what works best.

Also if I read correctly you introduced a new fish and that fish showed the first symptoms? If so it may be that fish is sort of a carrier in a sense. The drama of collecting and shipping may have triggered an outbreak but the fish has the ability to recover. The other fish may not have any natural resistance and this may be why they are showing worse effects. All this is just a guess and could be very wrong.

good luck

 

[kno4te]

Could be columnaris. Looks like fungus and kills quickly. Cont with MB baths or hydrogen peroxide swabs. Would add kanamycin (watch ur pH) and furan. Keep ur your temps around 78-80 degrees. Add salt 1tsp per gallon.

My suggestion.

 

[krichardson]

Just....horrible.Hope you can stop whatever is going on there.

 

[kendragon]

I've experienced this when I collected kois. The old kois would always be the ones affected the most because they lived a protected life and can't deal with incoming disease.
I think you are correct in assuming the new fish was a carrier of something (costia) which kills very quick. All your pictures show secondary infections (aeromonas) which can be treated with antibiotics. Assuming you have gotten rid of the parasite, they just need clean water to recover.
The aro scales is most likely mixture of certain medicines which causes them to drop their slime coat. If you run your hand over it, it will feel like sandpaper. Malachite and salt will cause this.

 

[Rpul]

I've experienced this when I collected kois. The old kois would always be the ones affected the most because they lived a protected life and can't deal with incoming disease.
I think you are correct in assuming the new fish was a carrier of something (costia) which kills very quick. All your pictures show secondary infections (aeromonas) which can be treated with antibiotics. Assuming you have gotten rid of the parasite, they just need clean water to recover.
The aro scales is most likely mixture of certain medicines which causes them to drop their slime coat. If you run your hand over it, it will feel like sandpaper. Malachite and salt will cause this.

Very useful information! Thank you

I'm guessing the parasite has gone. I was adimit I'd shifted it with a few esha dosages. Untill the meglodoras had the white appear then disappear a few days back.

What ever it is effecting them. Is very resistant.

The meg isn't his self still, but he's finally back to the bottom now, compared to being around the top a lot. He still has been coming up and swimming around them settles. Still very unlike this fish.

 

[krichardson]

That's one of the best looking megas I've ever seen.