fin rot

[haleybeth30]

wow fin rot progresses quickly.. I see patch on his body near the anal fin that's not colored anymore with a little cottony appearance. =( I raised the temp earlier today, but either my heater or thermometer doesn't seem to be working. I did a 60% water change and added salt. I think I' m going to switch heaters with my other tank. Should I pick up meds tomorrow or no?

ammonia 0
nitrite .25 or less
still adding salt slowly, only replacing what I took out, should I add extra?

Thank you!

 

[Mebbid]

It's hard to tell how bad it is from your pictures but fin rot can usually be treated with better water parameters. I usually only suggest using medication as a treatment when the fin has rotted down to almost nothing. What are your nitrates at?

 

[haleybeth30]

I work from home will test nitrate on my lunch break. He didn't eat today and breathing seems labored =( I already medicated the tank

 

[haleybeth30]

It is almost nothing, and it happened, fast! It's spreading both sides of his body one worse than the other. I'll try to get better pics in about half hour too. Thanks to all for your advice

 

[Mebbid]

If it's that bad then I would quarantine and treat with a broad spectrum antibiotic such as maracyn plus asap. If you dont have a separate quarantine tank you can use a bucket with an airstone in it.

 

[haleybeth30]

there are more pics under the thread anal fin injury, and fin rot, that's what I thought it was at first, or could be both, I don't know. The pics show a progression maybe although they might not be that good

 

[haleybeth30]

my nitrate = 0
you don't think the melafix will help him or I need antibiotic too. It says on bottle repairs open wounds

 

[HUKIT]

It's hard to tell from the pictures but doesn't look like fin rot, looks more like Columnaris. Google those pictures and see if that fits.

 

[haleybeth30]

thank you, I will right now, if that's it will melafix help him

 

[haleybeth30]

It looks like it could be, there's not a lot of cottony looking stuff but maybe some, though, this pic better?

 

[Mebbid]

Melafix is there for small wounds, nicks, and scratches. That fish is beyond a wound and has what looks like a full blown infection.

 

[haleybeth30]

ok quarantine and back to lfs for maracyn, discontinue melafix on the rest of the fish, right? Does he have a chance if I get maracyn asap

 

[haleybeth30]

I think I need to give him methylene blue baths after reading up on columnaris.

 

[Mebbid]

Yeah, methylene blue is a great treatment for just about any problem. Too bad it is really difficult to find. I had to go to a pet store an hour away to get some.

 

[haleybeth30]

thank you to all who responded!!

 

[haleybeth30]

another question, of coarse, about my other fish.. should I continue with Melafix for them? my fiance just went to get methylene blue for sick fish, my local lfs has it