Help! White stringy stuff on Oscar and Jag.

[DownWithTheCichlids]

Hi folks,

Trying to catch this quickly. I’ve already done a round of API General Cure, API Pima Fix and MelaFix.

There’s this white string stuff hanging off my fish, and it looks to be spreading. Just added a midevil from PetSmart, and I think that’s the culprit.

I’ll take pictures, but can anyone help me identify this illness and how to treat if?

 

[tlindsey]

Hi folks,

Trying to catch this quickly. I’ve already done a round of API General Cure, API Pima Fix and MelaFix.

There’s this white string stuff hanging off my fish, and it looks to be spreading. Just added a midevil from PetSmart, and I think that’s the culprit.View attachment 1370477View attachment 1370478

I’ll take pictures, but can anyone help me identify this illness and how to treat if?

Looks like the Oscar was attacked to me. When you added the Midevil it probably was fighting the jag or vice versa to establish dominance. Observe the aquarium for aggressive behavior. What size aquarium are the Cichlid's in?

 

[kno4te]

I agree with Tom. Clean water and can add some salt 1 tsp per g. Observe and if worsens then separate till healed up.

 

[duanes]

I would agree its probably due to injury from territorial squabbles, but....
I assume you did not quarantine the new mid-evil, so it is possible it could have been carrying some type parasite, or bacteria that often causes newly infected fish to produce excess slime to ward it off.
Unless you actually know which parasite, how would you know what to treat it with? and the symptom could be from any number of different phages.
Bacteria?
Protozoa? (infectious copepods, Lernia)
Saprolegnia? (toxic fungi)
One size treatment does not always work for all, often each type requires a different med.
But as others have said, salt is probably your best bet.
It can be used at a salinity that is not harmful to the fish like cichlids, yet may provide enough osmotic pressure to keep the infectious element from spreading, eventually ending their life cycle..
For me this means a salinity of at least 3ppt=
3 lbs of salt per 100 gallons by weight.
Just for reference, sea water is 35 lbs per 100 gallons.
And i never use aquarium salt, any kind of NaCl from the hardware store is useable (50 lbs for @ $5, as long as ingrediants stated are NaCl and nothing else.

 

[DownWithTheCichlids]

Okay, I did add salt but most likely not enough. Will continue with that.

The Oscar could have been attacked, but I really doubt it. He is absolutely huge compared to all the other fish, and runs the tank without challenge. He might have scraped himself on the drift wood, but I will keep an eye out for aggression.
It’s a 130 gallon tank with 2 FX4s. Water is good, too. I also have a 225, so I can move fish around as needed. But will keep these guys over here for now until this is sorted out.

 

[DownWithTheCichlids]

Also, thanks immensely for your help. This morning when I checked the tank the stringy stuff is gone. There are a couple of white spots left, but not as stringy.

You guys are the best, thanks.