Fin Problem

[coventree]

Hello,
I just noticed one of my albino cories has lost his dorsal fin and one of his pelvic fins. They are just gone, ie down to spine on pelvic and 'chopped' off close to his back on the dorsal. He is in community tank with pleco; other cories; and mollies. Just took water parameters and they are excellent.... using a chemical kit. All other fish are fine. A couple of days ago I did have a chocolate pleco that suddenly displayed ragged fins and I treated with tabs ( Jungle fungus). He didn't make it. He came from a different aquarium than the cory. I am very consistent with checking the fish in my aquariums (checking many times a day) and changing water every week if not more often. I just had fry and have been involved with their care and somehow didn't catch these problems.There does not appear to be any fungal infection with the cory; just clean edges. No streaks, etc. Does anyone know what this might be and how to treat? Thanks.
CovenTree

 

[Lupin]

Hello,
I just noticed one of my albino cories has lost his dorsal fin and one of his pelvic fins. They are just gone, ie down to spine on pelvic and 'chopped' off close to his back on the dorsal. He is in community tank with pleco; other cories; and mollies. Just took water parameters and they are excellent.... using a chemical kit. All other fish are fine. A couple of days ago I did have a chocolate pleco that suddenly displayed ragged fins and I treated with tabs ( Jungle fungus). He didn't make it. He came from a different aquarium than the cory. I am very consistent with checking the fish in my aquariums (checking many times a day) and changing water every week if not more often. I just had fry and have been involved with their care and somehow didn't catch these problems.There does not appear to be any fungal infection with the cory; just clean edges. No streaks, etc. Does anyone know what this might be and how to treat? Thanks.
CovenTree

to MFK!

What test kit did you use? What exactly are the results? Any pics of the fins? What else are in the tank aside from mollies and other cories?

 

[coventree]

to MFK!

What test kit did you use? What exactly are the results? Any pics of the fins? What else are in the tank aside from mollies and other cories?

Thanks for the concern. I used Tetra Laborette chemical test. PH: 7.0; ammonia: 0 mg; Nitrite: < 0.3. Didn't do the water hardness as my water is well water and in the soft slightly alkaline range. I don't know how it could have been better using this test. I put the cory in the hospital tank and treated with Jungle tabs for fungus; then treated with tabs for parasites; and finally I treated with 125 mg tetracycline in a 5 gallon tank. I had a Micky Mouse platy that had what I thought looked like a couple of raised scales along the dorsal fin in the same tank and a dalamation molly that appeared to have a bent spine. So they all got all the drugs. Not the best treatment but something worked. After about two weeks the molly seemed to be swimming better; her spine seemed to be more straight; Micky Mouse platy's scales were healed and the cory's dorsal fin seemed to be growing and nicely shaped. His right lower fin that was completly gone (even the spine of that fin) seems to be growning and the barbels on right side of his mouth look like they are growing nicely. So, Get Out......who knows what seemed to work! The platy had a gazillin babes and last night I spent hours finding them and putting them in the nursery. It was like the goose that laid the golden egg; there just seemed to be more and more as I cleaned out the tank. Now that was fun. All fish went into respective tanks and we shall see what happens.
When the cory was in the original tank and I noticed the damage he was with another albino cory; two bronze corys; a pair of sword tails and three mollies and one small pleco. Lots of fish I know but I change water frequently and although a lot of work it is worth it.
Thanks for your email. I appreciate it.
Heather/CovenTree