Cory Fin Rot Quarantine? URGENT!

[corielover]

Hello, I recently noticed one of my albino corys acting a bit lethargic, and looking a bit too transparent; his skin wasn't as opaque as my other corys'. I took a closer look, and saw that his fins are very raggedy and less transparent towards the edges than is normal . I think it's probably fin rot, but I'd like an expert opinion. All of my water parameters are normal, (ammonia and nitrite 0, nitrate 5-10) my other corys are doing fine, and my other sensitive fish, such as my ancistrus, are thriving. I have two penguin biowheel filters running on the tank (it's a 29 gallon), and I have an air pump going to increase the oxygenation of the water. I ave a group of five corys in the tank, 3 bronze and 2 albinos, along with my ancistrus, 6 black neon tetras, 5 cherry barbs, and 1 burmese loach. I am treating the tank with melafix, but I would like to know if there is anyhing else I can do. Should I quarantine him, or would that stress him out?

Thanks in advance, Cole

[corielover]

The cory has started to move around more often and is also (I think) becoming less clear. I am going to continue dosing w/ Melafix, but I stil want to know SHOULD I PUT HIM IN QUARANTINE?

Please reply, thanks,
cole

[Coriequest]

I would. I just QT'd my two otos because although my tank parameters were good they had some raggedy looking fins. I was shocked but put them on Maracyn 2. One more day of meds. I have no faith in Mellafix. But other people seem to like it. Good luck.

[Richard B]

I find it is always better to quarantine whenever possible & always before adding new fish to existing ranks.

Treatment plan aside, it is worth understanding how the fins came to look like they do now. Infection generally sets in when a fish is in poor condition, mainly brought on by stress.

Is this the case that a weakened fish has had fin rot set in or has the fin been nipped first by other fish, stressing the cory & rot has set in to the damaged fin?

It would be important to remove the cause of any stress or influences to prevent further occurances

[corielover]

I don't know what could have caused it. The cory is the smallest one in the tank, so it may be being bullied; I have a loach, but he has never been very aggressive. I think the biggest suspects may be the cherry barbs; are they usually aggressive? I have two filters running on the tank right now, and I do a water change once a week, so I don't think it's that.

[Richard B]

Cherry barbs are generally fine. Some loaches & tetras are much more likely if nipping hAs been a problem

[corielover]

I'll keep a close watch on the loach, but I'm sure the black neons aren't going to be a problem. They're very peaceful.