[Nathan43]

I don't think there is any coming back from this. It got into a scuffle with another fish when I was sleeping and the wounds formed a raised cotton appearance I am pretty sure it fungus. There even seems to be some bubbles in the raised fungus and it looks to be very severe. What would be the best solution? I was thinking termination but what would be the best way?
Thanks

 

[cichlidaholic]

Well, it might be fungus, but it might also be a bacterial infection from the wounds. My main concern would be that it is Columnaris.

It isn't affecting any of the other fish?

Do you have a hospital tank?

How long has this tank been set up?

What are the water parameters on the tank?

Any red areas around the white cottony stuff you are seeing?

Is the fish still eating? In a upright position?

Kim

 

[Nathan43]

all the other fish are fine, this fish is isolated by a divider but I have had the tank running for couple months. It was the tank I had two oscars in and was pretty dirty. I have cleaned it quite a bit though and the nitrates are slightly high (20) but no nitrite. The fish in question has been hiding or hanging out at the top the whole time with not much movement. It really looks like its suffering. There is not red, but there is some grey and the fish even looks to be getting a little bit more pale...

 

[cichlidaholic]

So you don't have a hospital tank?

I would remove him and treat with daily water changes and some broad spectrum antibiotics, such as a combo of Maracyn and Maracyn II. It will be much easier (and cheaper) in a smaller tank.

If you can't do that, you could try daily water changes and Pimafix, but from what you're describing, it sounds like he may be too far gone for that to be much help.

If you do decide to euthanize, I find that putting them in a bowl of tank water and adding clove oil until they go to sleep is the best route. Then, you would need to place the bowl in the freezer to finish the euthanization.

It sounds like he's hiding out from aggression. It's not uncommon for healthy fish to pick on injured or sick fish.

Kim

 

[Nathan43]

I could put him in a 5 gallon bucket I used for water changes with a sponge filter and small heater. Would this be okay? I would like to save him since it was my fault he is beat up...

 

[cichlidaholic]

You can try it that way. You will need to put some egg crate or something over the top to keep him from jumping, and being in the enclosed bucket may stress him somewhat more than a glass tank.

Kim

 

[Nathan43]

Thanks for the help, I began treatment last night. Now the wait.