About Rachel Expertise I can answer question about basic freshwater care, set-up, and diseases. I do not know anything about Cichlids, so please no questions about them. I know alot about fish compatibility, and basic conditions most freshwater fish need to be in to be healthy. I also know about the basic freshwater fish diseases. Also, I know what normal habits are for most fish, but not all. I will either answer the question based on my own experience or I will find out what the answer is. I have kept several types of fish including: angelfish, platys, cory catfish, silver dollars, bala sharks, bosemani and australia rainbows, and bumble bee gobys, just to name a few. I look forward to helping you keep happy and healthy fish.
Experience I have had freshwater fish for over 10 years, and have read hundreds of books over the years.
Question Hi, i have been keeping fish for several years and this is the first time ive had a disease in the tanks that i couldnt treat myself. i have several peppered cory catfish, they were doing well and even had offspring, but about week ago one became very ill, symptoms being inability to keep upright and its underside had shriveled as if it was wasting away and it did not want to eat. it died and now another is ill also. the symptoms are that it is floating vertically, but there are no markings that give sign of fungus.
Ive tried giving doses of internal bacteria and hole in the head treatments for several weeks- this was becuase previously i had a butterfly ram in the same tank which became ill with hole in the head.
Is there anything more i can do?
Answer This sounds very much like a fungus. I suggest getting a fungus only treatment and trying that. Also, I suggest syphoning the gravel before you treat, removing the corys to make sure they are not stressed. Then treat with a fungal only treatment. This sounds like a very aggressive fungal problem which probably started with the ram. Treat according to the directions including the water change requirements and dose. I hope this helps. Let me know if it does not work or if you have any more questions.
