Serious Fungus Problem

**PandaLUV** · 02-09-2013, 10:19 PM

Hey guys.

Recently i purchased 3 new congo tetras for my tank to add to the school of them. After i few days i noticed one has a small white spot on its fin, so i instantly started doing regular water changes. Then i woke up yesterday and two more of the congoes have developed fungus growth, one of them being really serious and in its mouth.
Iv had this tank for two years and the only fish that have had fungus are the occasional feeder fish, which i scoop out immediately.
I've also had a large protein build up in my tank, and so only a week ago introduced a bag or "Purigen" into my eheim canister, could this be what is stressing the fish out?
Anyways, any tips guys for combating this?

Thanks

**homemadepopcorn** · 02-09-2013, 10:22 PM

Pictures will help identify what your problem is. It could be as benign as fin rot or as serious as columnaris.

**fishmommie** · 02-09-2013, 10:38 PM

+ to popcorn. photos would help.
In the meantime, as a safe guard, I'd net the affected fish and put them in a QT/hospital tank and start doing large daily water changes. I'd do some big W/C on the display tank as well since these sick fish were introduced into it. As Homemade popcorn says - if it's something as serious as columnaris it could wipe out your entire stock. Better safe than sorry. Make certain you watch your other fish closely and I would not medicate until you figure out what's wrong.
It's unfortunate you didn't QT these fish before introducing them to your stable tank :o( Good luck and I hope all goes well.

**PandaLUV** · 02-10-2013, 12:26 AM

sick congo 2.jpg Sick Congo 3.jpg sick congo.jpg

So these are all photo of the one with the really serious fungus in his mouth.
Im fairly certain the others are just fin rot, coz they are rather minor and both have their fins held close to their body.
Sorry about the poor photography, dont have the best camera, so i couldnt get photos of the other two, the fungus was too small :P.

**homemadepopcorn** · 02-10-2013, 03:59 AM

It's hard to tell, but clamped fins are not a good sign. I would do three things with the last being up to your own discretion. First, reduce the temp in the tank so as to slow down the spread of whatever it is. Next, start medicated baths with the fish. I use QuIck Cure which is a combination of Malachite Green and Formalin, some real nasty stuff. 1-3 drops per gallon in a bath for 30 mins every other day. It's a little rough on the fish but it'll get the job done. Last thing you can do is start dosing the tank with API Triple Sulfa. It won't ruin your cycle and I've found it much more effective than the API antibiotics which kill your cycle and thus reduce water quality which isn't conducive to your fish healing.