Pearsei problem

[koltsixx]

I recently purchased 2 Pearsei and they seem to have arrived with fungus. I'm not sure though if it is definitely fungus since though I've been keeping fish for awhile my experience with disease has been minimal. Usually between my tank maintenance and the quality of the vendors I buy from I rarely deal with disease, so I was hoping to get confirmation here and treatment recommendations.

Tank parameters are Ammonia and Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate between 5-10ppm, a ph of 6.8 and water temp of 80 degrees. The fish arrived with their affliction after a same day airport to airport journey. They are about 8 inches and arrived only single bagged and with only one tiny heat pack for a 17" x 17" x 11" box. The box was indeed styrofoam but had no cover and the bags had leaked badly leaving the fish in barely any water and the water they where left in was really cold(50-60 degrees). They arrived upside down and barely breathing but luckily recouped well and where eating the next day. Currently they're eating well and aren't showing any signs of stress. No hiding, no acting easily spooked, no clamped fins, no fast gill movements they are very active and personable. Still I'd like to take care of this as soon as possible and would greatly appreciate any help you guys could give, thanks.

 

[xraycer]

Maybe try some Pimafix

 

[Rocksor]

I would begin with addition of 2 tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons, added over a 48 hours period. With your pH, Nitrofurazone (like Furan-2) is an effective medication for gram negative bacteria like fungus.

 

[Wailua Boy]

It could be a fungus but I would suspect a bacterial infection. I would not medicate but keep your water pristine and increase immune response by offering a healthy diet(veg. matter, live foods, high quality pellets, etc) If I had to guess(that's all you can do without microscopic exam)it's actually gram positive infection, like columnaris, although there are many strains.

 

[predatorkeeper87]

It looks like the stuff I'm dealing with on my pickerel. I went through the Pima/Melafix combo, furan-2/kanaplex combo, and I can't tell you how many bottles of paraguard lol. Everything would knock the fungus back but it would flare up way worse a couple days later. Last thing that seems to have finally killed it was Jungle's FungusGuard. Good luck...if its the same stuff its a pain to knock out.

 

[notho2000]

Could be early stages of lymphocystis. Not necessarily life-threatening but unsightly. It is a virus and I believe there is no known cure. Just good water conditions and tank maintenance can put it into remission.

 

[Aquanero]

Kolt try api Funguas Guard combined with Malachite green at half stregth, Should knock it out quickly. It wouln't kill your BB either but watch the levels, you know the drill.

Also one of the posters above stated coulminars is gram-positive, it is infact a gram-negative aerobic bacteria where an exaample of an aerobic gram-positive bacteria would be Streptococcus treatable with erythomycin.

 

[Wailua Boy]

Thank you for the correction Aquanero. Forgot to proof read that post...Looking back at pics, I still feel its a bacterial infection with a secondary fungal infection and at this point can be treated with clean water. In a more advanced case, you could treat the bacterial infection and fungus will heal on it's own...

 

[Aquanero]

Fungus cure is a combination of Acriflavin which is an effective antiseptic in treating topical gram negative bacterial infections, while MG is effective in treating Saprolegnia. I can't rule out either 100% so this would be the best two pronged attack for either situation. This is also a sutable in tank treatment due to it's low impact on BB.

 

[Wailua Boy]

Thanks for info Aquanero. You seem to have a lot of knowledge and have helped a lot of people on MFKs. Big respect