Cotton wool fungus

Jimjambo · Post by **Jimjambo** » 27 Nov 2006, 11:24

Hi,

I have an L163 catfish.
He's just developed some cotton wool like fungus on the back of his head after moving house.
What's the best treatment for this?
Methylene Blue? Anti-fungus or something different?

Thanks,

Jay

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 27 Nov 2006, 11:34

What's the water conditions in the newly moved tank? Any chance that it's lost it's good bacteria during the move? Check for nitrite and ammonia.

Is it fungus or bacterial? Better find out before you treat it... [I personally don't know which it is...]

Finally, most fish-health problems are caused by poor water conditions, so a big water change before medicating is certainly a good option.

--
Mats

Jimjambo · Post by **Jimjambo** » 27 Nov 2006, 12:00

Thanks Mats,

80% water was transfered and the rest was topped up with fresh. So will be almost identical.
Only think I can think is that the sand when replaced will have disturbed and may have released unhelpful debris?

Not sure if it's fungus or bacteria - just that it's cotton wool like.
Thanks.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 27 Nov 2006, 12:21

It's probably more likely that the stress of being caught, transported and released has caused the disease.

However, I still suggest that you check for nitrite and ammonia in the water - just to make sure there isn't a problem with the good bacteria (it's not whether you moved the water or not that matters here - it's more the filter media, and if it's been kept without oxygen for too long or not).

Stirring the substrate will cause some amount of debris to stir upp, but that shouldn't really cause a problem as such - you should see some of the rivers where these fish live...

--
Mats