Clown loach with mouth fungus

[Auntsally]

Hi Have only just found this forum. Fantastic! Sorry that my first posting is a prob. I have kept clowns for a while with no prob. However bought another tank but it had two 4/5inch clowns as sitting tenants. Had to transport them or they were going to be destroyed. Reset the tank with original filters and gravel. Used treated water (cycle and aqua plus). All levels are reading 0 although the ammonia did go to 0.25 for a day.
Even kept the drain pipe that the clowns were used to hiding in so that they had their security blanket. Tank is a 260ltr. It was very gungy when I bought it but they survived all of that. Mow they have lovely clean water and one has developed mouth fungus. Just at the discolouring stage turning to white at present. Cannot put the tank temp. too high as a keyhole cichlid and a little khuli loach came with them. Have started to treat with eSHa2000 at half strength. Can anyone think of anything else I can do? Do not have a spare tank to treat clown in, and do not want to risk putting the other fish into my established tanks and risk spreading infection. Really want to help this little fellow.

[helen nightingale]

it sounds like you have already improved their lives by the efforts you have gone to.

i cant really advise you, as your problem isnt something i am familiar with, but other people with plenty of experience will be able to help soon. to help them, can you give a bit more info please?

what is the temperature at now, and have you raised it at all? if so, what was it?

how long have you had the tank for? it sounds quite new to you (the tank, i mean, and the inhabitants, not that you are new to fish)?

what are the nitrate and nitrite readings like over time? if you have seen the ammonia go to 0.25, then have you had subsequent rises in nitrIte then nitrAte? you should have a low level reading of nitrAte if the filter is healthy.

could you manage to get a small tank as a Q tank so as you can separate the fish? putting the other fish into your established tanks doesnt seem a good idea, i agree

do the fish have plenty of hiding spaces?

an idea of water hardness and pH might be usefull info too, and do you know if the hardness and pH changed much from the fishes old owners water to your water? and TDS?

was the old water very high in ammonia or nitrates, as you say it was gunky?


good luck with the loach, i hope he does well

[Auntsally]

Hi Than k you for your reply. The temp. is 80 degrees and have raised it from 77 but not sure if can raise further with the other inhabitants. Have only had the week and sitting tenants a week exactly. Over the week the nitrites and nitrates have remained at 0. Did partial water change yesterday (45 ltrs) so have not measured today. Yes plenty of hiding places including their piece of pipe. The PH is 7.5 don't know what it is where they came form and do not know the levels before we had them. Hope this adittional info helps.
My aim is to have a Q tank, the reason for this one is to free up a small tank when this one can be used.
Many thanks [/list]

[Diana]

Mouth 'fungus' is often a bacteria, Flavobacteria columnaris. Is the medicine you listed a fungicide? or an antibiotic?

This bacteria becomes more active in warmer water, especially over 76*F. If this is indeed the problem, then I would lower the temperature, not raise it.

[Auntsally]

Thank you for answering. Right, will now started to lower temperature, it is 77degrees at moment. This eSHa 2000 is fungus, finrot and bacteria treatment. It names this condition as being on it's hit list. Recommended by LFS as the safest for clowns at half strength. So worried about using a treatment that may do more harm than good. I am being positive for the little fellow, but if the worst happens and I cannot save him (last resort) what is he kindest way to euthanise?

[tariesindanrie]

Hi AS, and welcome to LOL

It sounds like you are doing everything possible for your new addition. I will keep my fingers and toes crossed for him!

Hopefully, you'll not need to worry about it, but if it should become necessary, there is an excellent article by Emma Turner, right here on the forum about the best way to euthanise a sick fish that is not recovering. You can find it here:

http://www.loaches.com/disease-treatmen ... in-the-sky

Best of luck with your clown's speedy recovery. Please keep us posted!

Kate

[Auntsally]

Thank you so much for all the advice. I hope I will not need the link, and will keep you all posted on progress.

[Auntsally]

Hi all
Well, day five of the treatment and both the clowns are lively and gainng in confidence. The one I was worried about is no worse, and still simply has a whiteish nose and "chin, but it looks like pifmentation and doesn't stop him throwing gravel about quite happily. The other one sometimes shows white on his mouth and sometimes doesn't. Could this be simply behaviour? Other fishes fine and am still filtering without charcaol of course. Do you think we are over the worst with them still alive and eating well?

[Diana]

It sounds like they are settling in and adjusting after the move. That the white comes and goes would worry me. Keep up the medication for the full course, and find out if a second course is OK. Likely do a pretty big water change and run some carbon for a day between courses.

[Auntsally]

Thanks Diana. Have read instructions re repeat treatment and seems vague. Says OK to extend treatment for a few days , so will do that as using half dose and maybe repeat treatment after a 7day break with filter run in the middle. Will water change again too. Very helpful. Thank you. I am using eSHa 2000 has anyone experience of this?