Fungus

[Hondataeg6]

My fish have been at rest since late November, I have not feed them since and have changed 50% of the water every 2 weeks. I knoticed that they had some wool/cotton looking thing on their skin, well only on three fish. And I was planning on looking into that. But with the holidays and all I kept pushing it back. Still kept changing 50% of the water every two weeks.

Anyways i just changed the water last Sunday and the "fungus" was gone. Well since this whole week has been in the 80* and the water temp was at 63*-65* I fed them a little all this week. Today when I was feeding the dogs decided to check on them, the temp. dropped back to 55* and the "fungus" is back.

My question is can I successfully treat for fungus with the water being at this temperature? Or do I have to heat the water in order to get positive results from the treatment?

Thanks

[Cincy Ranchu]

There are many options on this page; Salt is least lethal, I like Jugle's fungus stop

[GlassGoldfish]

Sounds like the columnaris from Rob's thread?

[kendal]

Sounds like the columnaris from Rob's thread?

agreed.

BUT, it is a bacteria (if indeed it is columnaris). treat with a med for gram negative bacteria, but look up images online and be sure you know before you treat with antibiotics or antifungals, or use something that will kill both like PP or salt.

if it were me and there were several or large spots of it on multiple fish i would PP the whole lot. if minor, maybe salt is all it will take.

resting fish in lightly salted water can help prevent such things as well as treat after the fact.

can you post a picture?

[Hondataeg6]

agreed.

BUT, it is a bacteria (if indeed it is columnaris). treat with a med for gram negative bacteria, but look up images online and be sure you know before you treat with antibiotics or antifungals, or use something that will kill both like PP or salt.

if it were me and there were several or large spots of it on multiple fish i would PP the whole lot. if minor, maybe salt is all it will take.

resting fish in lightly salted water can help prevent such things as well as treat after the fact.

can you post a picture?


Kendal, I was going to get a picture yesterday but the fish didn't have it anymore. Maybe this is a better description. It kind of looked like the mucous the ranchu get when their wen is growing but on the fishes body.

[johnatoranchu]

Salt at 5 grms/litre should cure it but attempts at "curing" are pointless unless/until you stablise the water temperature around 60F. If the fish seem otherwise healthy leave them alone until you get the temperature right.
John

[kendal]

did it look like this. if so, pretty good bet would be columnaris.

i would say the same and John, salt. but i would also add to it that the water needs to be pristine between 50-60F.

if it comes back while you fish are on salt, consider actively treating it with something stronger, but a few spots here and there now and again at this temperature range is par for the course, just monitor it and it it is spreading or if there is discoloring (gray, pink or red), take action and stay ahead of it.