Nasty sore and white mould on my bristlenose

[mandymoo]

Hi All,

New to this forum, one of my lovely female bristlenose has this nasty sore on her head, her tummy looks like it is coated in cornflour. I got some PROTOZIN and have done one treatment, is it white spot (ICH)?

 

[Hholly]

Please look at this web page, at the description of hole-in-the-head disease. It's caused by poor water quality. What are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels? Water change schedule?

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/fish_palace/tropicalfish_disease_identification.html

 

[mandymoo]

PH = 7; Ammonia = 0; not sure what nitrate is, (by the way, I have two clown loaches and they ALWAYS tell me when the water is out & they are fine, I did a water change today, vacuumed gravel. Never seen this before, trying to find a photo that looks anything like it, it doesnn't look fluffy really, it looks more like mould on block cheese

 

[Hholly]

Nitrates are the waste product produced by the bacteria that convert nitrite to nitrate. They are also toxic to fish when levels are too high. They should ideally be below 20 ppm. Over 40 ppm they are toxic and can cause fin rot and things like hole-in-the-head disease. water changes are meant to reduce nitrates. You should be changing 20 - 50% of the water per week, depending on how heavily stocked your tank is. If you aren't doing that, there's a good chance you have toxic levels of nitrates.

 

[mandymoo]

Thanks Holly, I know what Nitrate is just dont have testing kit for it, will get. Bristlenose died, I will do all that you have suggested though, continue treatment. Looking at her, I reckon she may have hurt herself and then gone on to get a secondary infection. Thanks again for your help and your interest

 

[Hholly]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[redsea]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[boadams87]

Thanks Holly, I know what Nitrate is just dont have testing kit for it, will get. Bristlenose died, I will do all that you have suggested though, continue treatment. Looking at her, I reckon she may have hurt herself and then gone on to get a secondary infection. Thanks again for your help and your interest

Amazon has the cheapest API FRESHWATER TEST KITS!!!!! Use these liquid kind, the sticks aren't reliable.