still looking for help - bacteria or abraision?

[ukgoffer]

My to largest silver scat have sores on their upper lips below the nostrils. No other sores or signs of stress that I can see. I'm not sure whether or not this is a bacteria. I recently treat 2x with Prazipro for what I suspected were signs of a parasite on a tank mate. I have a large blue malawi crab (the section you can see below is about 4" across) and understand that some treatments for bacteria may be harmful to invertabrates(?). I've posted on this a few times but haven't had any suggestions. I am going to begin to add ocean salt and raise the salt content to a medium brackish level.



Thanks for the suggestions on the brown algae. I have reduced the light to 6.5 hrs and slightly less food. 55 Gallon Tank mates include:
4 scats (2 silver, 2 red)
2 Monodactylus
2 Columbian Catfish Sharks
1 Blue Malawi Crab
1 Rogue Firemouth

 

[ukgoffer]

Oh yea - and 1 7" Datinoid

 

[FHlov]

Prazipro won't fix the sores on your scats lips. The sores may be self inflicted or water conditions, which ultimately can cause problems with infections later. From the looks of it, it looks like a typical sore from a self inflicted wound. Maybe hitting class or being picked on by other fish? What are you water parameters?

I haven't read your other posts about this specific issue, but if you have brown algae blooms your ammonia and phosphates may be out of control. I see that the others must have covered that as you have lowered your feeding, etc. You may also have inadequate filtering. What filters are you running on your 55g? If your water is brown, you should probably do 20% water changes and a few days later again, and so on until the water is clear.

Keeping your water tip top will prevent any nasty infections, fungus, or bacteria from taking hold on wounds.

As for diseases....
When treating for anything, I would remove your invertebrates to a temporary tank or vice versa, move the sick fish into a hospital tank.

My fist suggestion for treatment is melafix, water changes, and Aquarium salt (sodium chloride). You should start seeing results over a week if this is a self inflicted wound.

 

[ukgoffer]

Thanks - its possible that they are associated with eating dried algae from a clip (see my post "scat and m" in the introductions forum). They look like piranhas in the video.
i run two Eheim classics - a 2213 and a 2215. My ph is 7.8, ammonia and nitrates are 0 ppm. I haven't tested phosphates. I'm going to increase the salinity to a medium brackish level over the next week, stop using the algae clip , increase wc levels and add a UV sterilizer.
thanks for the feedback.
Eric

 

[duanes]

Scats and monos don't really do well in totally fresh water, they seem to be prone to fungal infections and other maladies, they'd probably do better in straight seawater. The firemouth and crab should be able to handle the increase in salinity you propose, especially if it is brought up gradually, I can't speak to the catfish though, with that, I'm out of my element.
If it were me, I'd trade in the catfish and the firemouth, and get an Etroplus suratensus

, and/or an archerfish and maintain a strictly brackish tank, that is if the scats and monos are your favorites. A few mangrove plants might suck up whatever is causing the brown algae.
If the tank is to become saline enough, you might be able to maintain a crop of caulerpa.

 

[ukgoffer]

Thanks - the columbian cats do fine in brakcish water. The Dat is actually my favorite but the scats and monos are very interactive. If I can catch the firemouth without tearinig up the tank, I'll move him. This tank was originally designed for archers - I built a hood 5" above the water surface to hold crickets. Once while doing a wc, I also changed my canister filtration. The spike killed the two archers that I had. Absolutely Fish in NJ have some beautiful Tiger Archers. I'd love to get a pair but if I recall they are about $175 ea.
[video=youtube;TwHR5hCpjdE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwHR5hCpjdE[/video]

 

[RedDwarf]

The sores on the scats are from them rubbing their nose on the sides of the tank.