Green terror with Fungal Infection

[DylanSpright]

Have you tested your water?

Yes

If yes, what is your ammonia?

0

If yes, what is your nitrite?

0

If yes, what is your nitrate?

10

If I did not test my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.

Do you do water changes?

Yes

What percentage of water do you change?

41-50%

How frequently do you change your water?

Every two weeks

If I do not change my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

So about 2 weeks ago I noticed my green terror was growing a cotton like fungus and after doing a little research/asking around I decided to treat her with salt. I took her out of her community tank and put her in isolation. Started off treating the tank with 1tbsp of salt per 3 gallons of water, then continued to increase the salt to water ratio until I got to 1 tbsp. per gallon about a week later.

After about a week and a half it had only gotten worse. So I’ve also added some ichx. I’ve read on some forums that it has worked for some people. I’m now on day 3 of salt and ichx with no improvement. (Since adding ich x I’ve been doing daily 30% water changes) She’s only eaten once in the last 2 weeks.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[Adictd2Fsh]

I would like to know what this is. Did you figure it out? Is fish still alive?

 

[duanes]

What fish was it with in the community?
What size is the community tank?

To me, a 40-50% water change every two weeks is not a healthy situation for cichlids that come from pristine water,
and in many cases with such maladies, its not about meds, or salt,
its about getting to the root of the problem, and fixing that,
whether its an aggressive tank mate, or more alpha tank mate vying for territory
or a nocturnal predator tank mate that takes bites when the cichlid is resting (such as a catfish or?even a carnivorous pleco, or ????,
or whether a water change routine is too lax.
To me a 40%-50% water change routine per week would be considered a minimal routine for good health, depending on tank size.
50 to 75 gals 40% twice per week , but if its over crowded more.
with 100 gals or more , you might have a little more leeway, if the tank is not overcrowded
(and crowding is relative,) two territorial cichlids in a 50 gal can be over crowded.

 

[Adictd2Fsh]

Looks like some sort of flesh eating bacteria or fungus. Definitely change water more often tho. I know we get busy but even if you did twice one week and skipped a week it would be better than every two weeks. If it’s still alive or gotten worse I would try methylene dip.

 

[DylanSpright]

What fish was it with in the community?
What size is the community tank?

To me, a 40-50% water change every two weeks is not a healthy situation for cichlids that come from pristine water,
and in many cases with such maladies, its not about meds, or salt,
its about getting to the root of the problem, and fixing that,
whether its an aggressive tank mate, or more alpha tank mate vying for territory
or a nocturnal predator tank mate that takes bites when the cichlid is resting (such as a catfish or?even a carnivorous pleco, or ????,
or whether a water change routine is too lax.
To me a 40%-50% water change routine per week would be considered a minimal routine for good health, depending on tank size.
50 to 75 gals 40% twice per week , but if its over crowded more.
with 100 gals or more , you might have a little more leeway, if the tank is not overcrowded
(and crowding is relative,) two territorial cichlids in a 50 gal can be over crowded.

Yes, the green terror was in a 125 gallon community tank with an Oscar, a blue acara, common pleco, and 3 silver dollars. All pretty large.
I believe the issue first started as a result of fighting with the Oscar. I first noticed what looked like fungus in the green terror around November 20th. The day after thanksgiving I found my 3 year old Oscar dead. Not entirely sure what happened but I believe he swallowed gravel. He used to always move it around the tank and when I found him his mouth was packed full of gravel.

Anyway, shortly after the Oscar passed away I noticed the “fungus” on the green terror had gotten worse so that’s when I began all those treatments.

She’s still alive, not doing much better. I am getting her to eat every couple days. Since moving her to this 29 gallon hospital tank I have been doing tons of water changes. At least every 3 days, but sometimes even more often depending on what medication I

I tried many variations of methylene blue/salt dips and all seemed to work a little at first and then the next day the fungus would look worse.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[DylanSpright]

Looks like some sort of flesh eating bacteria or fungus. Definitely change water more often tho. I know we get busy but even if you did twice one week and skipped a week it would be better than every two weeks. If it’s still alive or gotten worse I would try methylene dip.

Since moving her to this hospital tank, I’ve been doing a ton of water changes. At least every 3 days, but sometimes more often depending on what medications I’m using. I was doing different variations of methylene blue dips. Most recently it was: 1tsp methylene blue per gallon with 1 tbsp of salt per gallon for 30 min. Then (out of desperation) after not much progress I decided to try dropping methylene blue directly onto the fungus and that actually somewhat has seemed to work.
However, after a couple days it’s still not any better so I don’t want to keep trying that and end up poisoning her.

 

[DylanSpright]

Here is a picture of what she looks like today.

 

[DylanSpright]

I would like to know what this is. Did you figure it out? Is fish still alive?

No idea, still trying to deal with it

 

[TheBtchWhisperersWife]

Looks like possibly columnaris. Try oxolinic acid.