I noticed that my Black Moor started to get this white cottony looking stuff on his back, and belly. Not a lot just two spots. I looked it up on the internet on two diff. sits and they said it was fungus. So what should i do???
2007-04-12 13:23:14 · 4 answers · asked by mikki_sue94 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Can i treat the whole tank for fungus b/c i dont want to move him again and the only other tank i have is a one gallon and its really small...help!!!
2007-04-12 13:36:34 · update #1
Be really sure it's fungus before you treat it. It may really look like fungus but actually be something called columnaris.
The best way to tell them apart is that columnaris always grows in a very round circular spot while fungus rarely does. Columnaris is also pearly or opalescent white while fungus is a flatter, grayish white.
Columnaris: it can occur anywhere on the fishes body and there have been documented lab cases of it being a systemic, or body wide infection. It's not real easy to treat as it only responds well to a very limited number of antibiotics. The best treatment for columnaris is Furanace. It is the only known antibiotic that will treat both the surface and internal parts of the infection and the only one that will treat it if it becomes systemic. Other treatments are usually very harsh and include copper sulfate, potassium permanganate and Oxolinix acid. Treat with Furanace for 2 weeks to be sure you are rid of the disease.
Fungus - Hopefully this is what you have and odds are good it is. Fungus is easy to treat and responds well to common Malachite green ick medications. There are several fungus medications that also contain Malachite Green and work very well. Treat until you have seen no signs of the disease for 5 days.
Warning: Malachite Green is a known carcinogen so be very careful to keep it off your skin!
Hope this helps
MM
2007-04-12 14:25:49 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
It is more than likely a fungus and not Columnaris.
Columnaris is often mistaken for a fungal infection because of its mold-like lesions, Columnaris is a common bacterial infection that is cultured fish, particularly and mostly in livebearing fish and catfish. Its name is derived from columnar shaped bacteria, which are present in virtually all aquarium environments.
Columnaris enters the fish through the gills, mouth, or via small wounds on the skin generally thru the mouth area. The disease is highly contagious and may be spread through contaminated nets, specimen containers, and even food.
chances are if your fish's gills are not infected, it is a fungus not Columnaris. Treat with fungual meds. Ich as well is usually but not always started in the gill and head area.
Yep, sounds like fungus to me.
P.S. There are rare occasions where you should remove your fish from the tank. Any contagious fungus, bacterial or parisitic infections are prone to have already spread by the time you catch the desiease on the fish. It is always better to treat the entire tank to ensure it is ALL cleared out of the tank.
2007-04-12 14:39:25 · answer #2 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
If it's in the tank with other fish, separate him. Try not to treat the whole tank if you don't have to.
In some cases, just swabbing the affected areas with iodine can clear it up, believe it or not. If not, either treat with Jungle Fungus Eliminator or do 2 salt dip baths per day. ( 0.03% solution aquarium salt)
2007-04-12 13:32:28 · answer #3 · answered by Barb R 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
DanielleZ is correct do not remove your fish from the tank. Treat your fish in the tank.
Good luck
2007-04-15 15:13:41 · answer #4 · answered by Chelsea I 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pet supply stores sell drops to put in the water for fungus.
2007-04-12 13:28:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
do a test on the tank water
and find a largter tank because if not treated he could infect the whole tank ecosystem
2007-04-12 13:50:30 · answer #6 · answered by efrain r 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋