Fungus on my brochis!?

[artgecko]

Hey folks,

I've got my group of 10 brochis splendens moved into my 46gl community tank and they seem quite happy and active. The only problem is, that two of them are exhibing white/ish areas on their faces. One has a white "pimple" on its nose, just above the barbles, the other, has signifigant barble loss and has a patch of white/ish slime for lack of a better term over it's barble area and around it's mouth. No fin damage, damage on their bodies, or red / streaky areas are evident.

I have never had any fish with fungal infections before and having a cory come down with this (they're generally very hardy and disease free IME) is shocking to me. I did have them in very cramped living quarters for about 2 weeks while my floors were being redone (they were in a 20gl) but they recieved frequent water changes... Maybe the stress of being caught / relocated 2 times brought this on? None of the other inhabitants (rasboras, 2 dwarf plecos, and a betta) are exhibing any signs btw.

Anyway, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could tell me whether what I describe sounds like a fungal or bacterial infection and what you would suggest for medication... I know that corys can be sensitive to some meds, so I'm rather leary of treating them. I know it's going to be a PITA to try and catch two out of a planted tank (to move to a Q tank) but I can see no other option at this point (I just wish that I'd noticed this before I had released them into the 46gl). I have some jungle labs fungus cure on hand, but am not very confident in it's effectiveness.

Thanks for your help!
Art

[MatsP]

More likely to be bacterial infection. Treat it with a generic external bacterial infection ("general tonic"), I'd say - check that it is safe for "catfish" or "scaleless fish". A photo would confirm. I recently had something similar on one of my Dianema urostriatum - and cured it as above after moving the fish to the hospital tank.

Also check your water conditions, corys and brochis are generally very tolerant of poor water quality, but it is by far the most common cause of infections.

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Mats

[artgecko]

Thanks for your reply.
I'll try and get a photo to post. My water parameters were: ammonia 0ppm, nitrite 0ppm, and nitrate 5ppm as of yesterday, but I did not test the water while they were in the temporary 20gl setup. It is quite possible that the water quality became poor in that small of a tank, given the number of fish I had in there.

Do you think temperature could have anything to do with this? The tank they are in now is hovering at 76 - 78f...despite the heaters being set on 75 (I have a 96watt compact light on that tank which produces a lot of heat).

Thanks again!
Art

[MatsP]

If the Brochis is the commonly available B. splendens, the temp should be fine up to about 80-82'F.

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Mats

[apistomaster]

Fungus looks like mold white mold on rotting fruit. Bacterial infections form slimy patches.
This matters because antibiotic do not inhibit molds although may be useful in treating secondary bacterial infections.
I just posted similar advice for treating a skin lesion on a pleco as follows.
Swab the affected area with methylene blue then place the fish in a methylene blue bath with one tbs of rock salt per gal.
You make also add an antibiotic but it probably won't add much to the effectiveness of the treatment.
Methylene blue aids respiration in addition to it bacteriostatic and antifungal properties.
Brochis and Corydoras do not have any trouble tolerating salt for 5-7 days needed to treat the problem contrary to the old myth that some fish shop workers continue to purvey that they can't tolerate salt.
Use a small treatment tank and supply adequate aeration. I would keep them at 82*F rather than in the 70's as a matter of course.
The spot on the nose is from chronically rubbing the sides of their aquarium. I haven't seen this scar tissue disappear very often.