C. Aeneus and thickened fins

[Hoplo91]

One of my C. Aeneus got her fins turn a bit reddish few days ago and fins were a bit thicker than usual. Today fins had white, slimy looking patches also. What is wrong with her. She eats fine and is active. Other tankmates are doing well too.

Water parameters
Temperature 77
pH - 7.0
GH - 4
KH - 4
Nitrate 5.0, Nitrite 0
Water change frequency 30% weekly
"Routine" water treatments - Sera Aquatan and Florena after water change

Tank set up
a) Size - 180L (47,5 gallons)
b) Substrate - fine sand
c) Filtration - Eccoflow 600 l / h (M-size)
d) Furnishings - Driftwood, stones, plants
e) Other tank mates - 19 neon tetras, 2 keyhole cichlids, bristlenose, hoplo, 6 C. aeneus
f) How long has it been set-up? - around 2 months
g) Food used and frequency - tetra flakes, shrimp pellets, algae pellets for pleco
h) Recent changes in the tank which occurred shortly before the disease/problem appeared - Trimmed a lot of plants and after that water was cloudy for a week. Cleared up but unknown algae got worse.

Symptoms / Problem description or history - described earlier

Action taken - 50% water change today, less feeding

Medications used - none

[Bas Pels]

I think it is a fungus.

Water fungus don't like salt in the water, but Corydoras doesn't like that either. Still, perhaps a salt bath would be a good option

for instance 1 liter with 2 grams salt. For 1 hour. After all, the fungus is on the outside.

[Hoplo91]

Thank you for your answer.

The fish looked like this today. The sliminess has gone away mostly and fins are not as thick anymore. Her back has gotten white under the dorsal fin though.



Still recommend the salt or has this changed the diagnose? And epsom salt or sea salt?

[Bas Pels]

I was thinking of kitchen or sea salt. Frankly, I don't even know what epsom salt is.

I would still bath her

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I was thinking of kitchen or sea salt. Frankly, I don't even know what epsom salt is.

I would still bath her

I can't comment on the efficacy of salt (Epsom or otherwise) as a cure, but I can tell you what "Epsom Salts" are. They are "magnesium sulphate heptahydrate" (MgSO4.7H2O).

The Epsom bit comes from the eponymous Surrey town, where they were first purified.

cheers Darrel

[bekateen]

The Epsom bit comes from the eponymous Surrey town, where they were first purified.
cheers Darrel

Really? I had no idea! Thanks, DW.

Cheers, Eric