Channa Aurantimaculata

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chronick

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Oct 18, 2009
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Canada
Hello Friends! :D

I am planning on setting up a 72 gallon with 6 juvenile channa aurantimaculata. This will be my second attempt at raising a group of aurantis after i lost my previous group of 4 to the infamous aurantimaculata fungus.

I am hoping this time, the community can help me rear the group successfully. I wanted to start by asking how i can prepare my tank properly for the species, as i will most likely be purchasing them shortly after shipment and it will be my responsibility to quarantine them. The last time i had aurantis, i treated them with melafix and primafix, salt, and MB. I can confidently say that they did little to stop the rapidly spreading fuzz of fungal infection that formed slowly but quickly in many parts all over the body. What water parameters are ideal for this species, and how should i treat the tank in preparation of their arrival.

This is the fish i have planned on keeping ever since entering the hobby many years back in highschool and i would really appreciate any advice, comments, or considerations; especially from previous owners with experience.

Cheers, I plan to keep this thread filled with pictures and updates as time goes. Hopefully others may use this as a reference in the future

Nick
 
Hi Nick,

I don´t know if yoú´ve seen my thread with my group of aurantis: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?556279-My-group-of-aurantimaculata

As regards the water parameters, I believe they´re not very demanding. At least I didn´t take special atention to that. I used a 600lts (162g) tank filled 50-60% with old water that came from my other tanks and the rest with water that I had in a barrel with a circulation pump for a week or so. Did a normal acclimation and put the 5 fish in the tank.
I did not treat the tank of the fish prior to introducing them in the tank

The temp was around 22º when I got them and I just let it swing accoring to my garage temperature. Nowadys it´s at 19-20º.

Luckily I had no issues - so far at least - with the fungus.

From the original 5 (2 bigger; 3 smaller), one was a serial killer and after 4-5 days started to attack violentely all the others. I separated that one and she is solo even since. In the remaining 4, I noticed (what could be) a pair forming so I separated the other 2.

The supposed pair has been living peacefully - although with some quarrels - for a few monts now in the 600lts tank.

Recently, the bigger one (male) has been more aggressive with the smaller female. I put a 1mt cork pipe in the tank and the female uses it whenever the male is more aggressive. She enters into the pipe and waits untill his mood improves.

Good luck with your group!

João
 
Just replied to your e-mail. I do not use salt with any snakeheads, just Pimafix and Melafix. I've always believed it the shipping stress that makes them so susceptible to the infection.

I think the real KEY to success is making sure the fish are stress free and early/Preventative treatment. Once it starts to spread it's very difficult to stop. When My current pair arrived it was a group of 5. I was lucky clearly 2 were a pair the other 3 were sold the next day. I lost a pair to the fungus just a few months before hand so i checked them literally hourly for ANY sign of infection. I spotted the slighest grey discoloration in a round spot and i started treatment with melifix and pimafix right away, i had it on hand ready incase.

The Melifix/Pimafix seemed to stall the progression at first, then instead of fluffing up into that cottony white mess and infecting them further the spots faded away. I treated for another week just in case.The other 3 were split up, 2 went to one guy a solo one went to another. Both of them has the infection appear the exact same time it did in my tank, even though they are in different homes. They did not start treatment AS quickly and those fish didn't make it.

After seeing the first spots it only takes a couple hours tops before the next set of spots start to appear, at that point you have a very big problem!
 
If I went down this road again (I almost did, but opted for C. Sp. Fire & Ice), the first thing that I would do is make sure that the KH, GH, and PH are up. I'm sure that you have already taken a look through my Dreaded Auranti Fungus thread; there is a good link in there about the fungus being less effective in harder water with higher PH. I would have the PH 7.6 before they arrive.

The use of Maracide (Malachite Green) and Triple Sulfa together were most effective. I think that if I had the time to keep up with treatment (I was gone for 72-96 hours at a time and unable to dose daily) I could have saved some.

As soon as there are any wounds, most likely from fighting, I would keep a very close eye on them.

Good luck.
 
Agreed ^ there is some great info in the links as far as understanding the how, why, and when this fungus likes to attack. I also believe firmly the MG/3X combo would have cured this in combination with the correct water parameters. Once it gets a foot hold it's tough to beat but it's curable. This fungus is much more virulent in acidic and soft conditions, Bottles has seen this problem first had. GL
 
Thank you all for the depth of your insight!

João, your aurantis are beautiful and I hope my efforts to raise them go as well as your have been going. I am also hoping to form a pair from the 6, and i know just how aggressive they can be so i will certainly be careful and watchful.

Thank you again devon for all your help. The way you've described the infection was exactly how i lost all of my previous fish. literally 2 hours after the first spores appeared, they began deteriorating rapidly. I really do agree that stress and a weakened immune system some of the major factors contributing to the ferocity of the fungus. I'll do my very best to make the tanks as stress free as possible.

Bottle's, I have read your thread several times and I am prepared to manage my water chemistry in preparation of their arrival. I also plan on using melafix and primafix for at least 2 weeks along with the maracide and the triplesulfa. I think your information with treatment and Aquanero's recommendations will prove quite useful and I intend to make the tank environment as inhospitable for the fungus spores as possible. Are there perhaps any concerns i should have with using so much medication for the 2 week period?

Thank you all again, I will keep you all closely posted!
 
Unfortunatly I've seen it a few times, I've owned 6 auranti over the years, every one had it pop up within a week of arrival I also find it interesting that it always seems to start on the head Of the thats one aspect that i dont quite understand. Of the 6 i've treated i lost one pair saved 2 pairs. I also have had it a few times on Auranti and gachua after fights, but whatever catches on after a fight seems to be much easier to treat it looks like the same fungus but it starts at the wound and not on the head, is does not spread rapidly and clears up quickly with just a bit of Pimaifx and melafix. I dont know if it's truly a different infection that's not as aggressive, or if it's really not that strong of a strain to begin with and the lethality is due to stress effecting the immune system and making them more susceptible to it.

If it were me I would treat preemptively with melafix and pimafix, I know many people have mixed opinions on these products but I've used them on many occasions with many species and it always seems to work and i think it will help as a preventative measure.I would keep the Trip and maracide on hand but i wouldn't use them unnecessarily, I'd give the milder treatment a chance. If it manages to still pop up and you see patches forming hit it with the harder stuff before it can take hold.

I also agree it would be worth it to keep the PH up as bottles suggested. Channa prefer softer water and lower PH, but the higher ph and harder water wont harm them and is less suitable for the fungus, It'll also be better to have it there in case you do need the harder meds rather then having to put the fish through a ph swing if the infection does show up. Just be careful when adjusting the PH test and retest and make sure to keep it stable !
 
-DC- said:
Unfortunatly I've seen it a few times, I've owned 6 auranti over the years, every one had it pop up within a week of arrival I also find it interesting that it always seems to start on the head Of the thats one aspect that i dont quite understand. Of the 6 i've treated i lost one pair saved 2 pairs. I also have had it a few times on Auranti and gachua after fights, but whatever catches on after a fight seems to be much easier to treat it looks like the same fungus but it starts at the wound and not on the head, is does not spread rapidly and clears up quickly with just a bit of Pimaifx and melafix. I dont know if it's truly a different infection that's not as aggressive, or if it's really not that strong of a strain to begin with and the lethality is due to stress effecting the immune system and making them more susceptible to it.

If it were me I would treat preemptively with melafix and pimafix, I know many people have mixed opinions on these products but I've used them on many occasions with many species and it always seems to work and i think it will help as a preventative measure.I would keep the Trip and maracide on hand but i wouldn't use them unnecessarily, I'd give the milder treatment a chance. If it manages to still pop up and you see patches forming hit it with the harder stuff before it can take hold.

I also agree it would be worth it to keep the PH up as bottles suggested. Channa prefer softer water and lower PH, but the higher ph and harder water wont harm them and is less suitable for the fungus, It'll also be better to have it there in case you do need the harder meds rather then having to put the fish through a ph swing if the infection does show up. Just be careful when adjusting the PH test and retest and make sure to keep it stable !
Click to expand...

Good post, agreed.
 
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