Fungal ball on stinger

[Tunnel Rat]

Hi gang
My mates large female has formed a fungal ball at the very end of her stinger.It's like the sharp point at the end is gone and has been replaced by a big white fluffy ball.He has salted up the tank but I think he should be treating it with something ?
Anybody know what would be the best to teat it with I was thinking Melafix ?
The water all test perfect he does 30% W/C every three days with aged water.
She had pups about 6 weeks ago so maybe she is still a bit weak.


thx
Rat

 

[jdepasqu2]

really need pics to no for sure.....

 

[Lode]

The water is not clean enough. Clean water --> no fungus. Just do water changes often

 

[Lode]

[edit] aparently something wrong with filter system or bioload, because I see you do water chamges often

[edit 2] huh dubbel post

 

[csx4236]

Add salt to the tank and get the temp to 84 or higher. Melafix will not hurt the situation either.

 

[Miles]

I have seen this white fuzz ball alot when I was importing rays, especially if the tail gets curled up out of the bag..

We had success treating them with salt, heat, very light doses of pimafix, and directly administered methylene blue on the 'fuzz ball' daily until it fell off and filtered out.. Meth blue seemed to not bother the rays in light doses, but stopped the fungus from spreading... Did daily 30-40% water changes, as most were in smaller tanks.

 

[DaveB]

Bumping an old one instead of starting another on the same topic... I recently picked up three 4" retics (sold as teacups) and am quarantining them while getting them eating and while I prepare my giant tank for occupants - eventually they'll live in that with some eartheaters. For now, though, while I'm eager to get them into 400+ gallons of water, I'm just doing daily water changes.

But today I noticed a small white fuzz ball on one of their tails. About midway up. The location is different from the original poster but I assume it's the same thing - fungus. I haven't had fungus in a tank in years, and I thought the daily WCs was enough, but I guess you guys aren't kidding about these being dirty fish. They finally started eating (gobbling up dozens of ghost shrimp - expensive diet) so it could be the waste has really kicked up.

Anyway, I'm not terribly worried about it - I can toss in another heater to get it up to 83+ and add salt and I have some concentated Pimafix I can put in too - but the last thing I want is for it to spread, or force me to keep them in a small tank longer than necessary when 400 gallons awaits. Is there anything else I should do? Tips on how to handle them for a new ray owner that's a bit scared to reach in and apply the meth blue? If I follow the directions above, how long should it take to see it work, and how much longer should I give them before feeling safe to move them? I anticipate the big tank being full and ready to go this weekend.

Thanks.

 

[Miles]

Not sure about heat + fungus.. usually makes the fungus grow faster. Salt treatment.. Pimafix or Melafix might be a good choice, just use very low dosages. (1/4?) ... I always found squirting the tail directly with meth blue worked well.. dont get stung! Make sure there is nothing that could be bothering the tails either, such as nippy tankmates or dirty substrate.. also young rays will often 'bob' up and down against the glass, landing on their tail over and over.. and IMO if its a fine silica type sand this will compromise the slime coat and lead to a fungal infection.

but its probably nothing you did.. Retics are overcrowded when they are shipped to bring down cost.. 8 rays in 1-2" of water in 1 box.. alot of time their elongated tails wil come out of the water and dry up, thereafter breaking off or causing a fungal infection.

Good Luck!

 

[topdog78]

Hey tr, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this has happened to me twice, and despite regular/numerous water changes, increased temp and melafix/salt they both had fin curl after 7-9 days.
I spoke to the vet after the last one died and he suggested it could be down to me keeping the rays at a high temp ( 79- 80 ) and that increasing the temp only spead up the fungal growth, he said i should of tried lowering the temp by 5-6 degrees with double the dosage of salt, maybe worth a try....hope the little fella makes it, regards.

 

[DaveB]

also young rays will often 'bob' up and down against the glass, landing on their tail over and over..

This is very reassuring, thanks. He does exactly that and I have some PFS in there. (Though the fungus is on the top, not the bottom part that would make contact.)

I got super nervous after making that post - I went in to the room, turned the lights on, and did a 50% water change but with a bucket instead of the python (left it at my girlfriend's house)... They got super stressed. Sand stuck to them, and after reading a bunch of threads about death curl I convinced myself I was seeing that too (probably just the current from all the filters pouring several inches down though). Thankfully, I ran out to get more salt and by the time I got back they looked to be back to normal.

Man, I feel like such a beginner. I take good care of my fish but these guys really are a lot tougher. It's amazing that I can skip one day of a daily water change and smell a difference. These are not for the novice fishkeeper.