Loaches Online Forum

I have 2 golden dojos and just this weekend I was reflecting on how they were doing so well. Then yesterday, I noticed one had a split tail...the following morning I noticed one of the top fins was jagged on this same fish. The other dojo looked to be fine. Tonight, the first dojo was the same, as I can tell, now almost always in gravel. Now, the one that looked fine this morning, tonight, looked like a big part of skin had dissolved, although the tail fin was intact. I fear this is a deadly bacterial infection gaining ground fast. My water parameters have been good, and I just completed 30% water change sunday.

Some extra information that may be irrelevant: The dojos had liked laying on a java ball that had become more like a rug which I placed on top of stone and I fear in was accumulating something due to its fuzziness...I should of got rid of it, I now think. Also, I have been doing a treatment of adding fresh garlic to food past 2 weeks due to suspected parasite with my clown loaches, who although recovering from ich 2 months ago have nonenethess been hiding much more then they did before ich. I may have been contaminating my ground with garlic particles not all being eaten or taken up promptly. I am just shocked they have gotten so sick so quick.

I added some melafix to the water tonight...had ran to nearest store, and that was available and the young clerk suggested "fungus guard", that was available treatment for fin rot and other fungus and bacterial infections...is that safe....what should I do? I do not have a tank to separate them into currently, and I suspect whatever they have may spread to the other fish regardless, but I am also very fearful of killing them with treatment. Should I go forward with Tetra's "fungus guard" which I have in my hands tonight...wait to see impact of "melafix", get tommorrow another medication or something else?

I tend to stay away from the melafix products (that includes bettafix- the same think, only diluted!)- they don't really work for too many things. I think if I were you I would discontinue the melafix, as it can actually hurt the fish!

ok...I will not use melafix...the fungus guard has: nitrofurazone, furazolidone, potassium dichromate...product claims to "clear fungus and bacteria fast"

After researching archives I think it would be best to treat with Maracyn and Maracyn II, and do more vacuuming and water changes.

Most medicines, including Melafix and Pimafix can attach to organic debris in the tank instead of the disease organisms. Vacuum VERY thoroughly, this may mean a couple of big water changes to thoroughly clean the whole tank.

Look into Flavobacteria columnaris. This is a bacterial infection that is one cause of fin rot (disintegrating, or splitting fins) It is not the only one.
There are several strains, and some can move really fast, so do not delay treatment, if you think this is the problem.

Some companies that sell fish medicines will label the product according to what is common names for diseases, even if it is misleading.

Several bacterial infections look somewhat like a fungus infection, and have names that make them sound like fungus. Then the cure is labeled something like 'Fungus Cure' when the active ingredient actually treats bacteria.

At the moment you are looking at symptoms: Something is wrong with the fish. This is not a diagnosis, and certainly does not suggest a specific medicine, yet. Here is a link that may help you figure out what might be wrong, and how to treat it.

http://www.nationalfishpharm.com/fish_d ... /fins.html

Remember also that most Loaches have sharp weapons, and can injure each other, including tearing each others' fins.

thanks for the info. I did get some maracyn and maracyn 2, but I did not begin, because I was not sure. I noticed that the other dojo that I thought was also infected looked fine the next day, I think it was the lighting and perhaps me being a little too hypervigilant. The one dojo (Goldie) does have a split in fin and some raggedness on top fin...it is not worse, but I don't think better. I did vacuuming and water change, have a uv sterilizer in tank. All the other fish look healthy. I had been concerned about the clowns because they hide so much, but I am starting to conclude that this may be what they do. I have a rainbow shark that goes after the dojos and so it may be from injury. I have been setting up new tank so that they will be separated. I added some Kordon's "fish protector" when I did water change, which is touted to aid in healing/reduce infection. I will wait on medicine until I see further or persevering symptoms. Does this seem sound? How long does a split fin take to heal?