Hello,
I am new to this forum, thank you in advance for your advice. I have had four Corydoras Sterbai in a 60L planted tank, and they seem to be sick. I'll tell you the whole story.
The tank has been established for about 2 years. Recently (about 5-6 weeks ago) I changed the population to Rasbora Hengeli's and the Cory's. At that time I had medium sized, smooth gravel, and thought this substrate would be OK. After about a week, I noticed some barbel damage, and after some research, I changed the substrate to Eco-complete. I know it's not as good as sand, but the tank is primarily a planted tank so this was the best compromise I could come up with. In order to change the substrate I had to empty the tank, then replace the inhabitants, I imagine this would have been very stressful for them, added to the stress of being some-what new to the tank anyway.
Since then all tests have been fine, and nitrates are low. I do weekly water changes. Tank furniture is driftwood and plants, partial covering of floating plants, lots of shade and hiding places. I feed with good quality sinking pellets, flake food, and frozen foods (eg. blood worms).
I don't know how to describe the problem with the fish. It seems as though the integrity of their scales (I know they don't have scales so what are they called?) has been comprimised. They have lost their sheen, almost seem a little fuzzy, like the texture of velvet, and one fish has some kind of lesions developing, but they look like bumps rather than velvet disease lesions to me. The fish seem happy, and are feeding as normal. The Rasbora's are perfectly fine, and seemingly unaffected. Whatever it is, it seems to be progressing relatively slowly. I changed the substrate two weeks ago.
I don't know what is wrong with them but would like to medicate the tank (I don't have a hospital tank). Usually I would use a broad spectrum medication like Promethasul. However I don't know what is safe for Cory's and I know both they, and the Rasbora's are sensitive to salt.
Can anyone please offer me some insight?
Regards,
Lara
Safe medication for Sterbai's
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Hi Lara,
Welcome to the forum...I'm kind of new still, too.
The gravel if it was smooth should not have caused barbel damage. My cories (including sterbai) were on gravel for a few months and even with problems with the tank not being fully cycled & some nitrite and ammonia spikes occuring, I never had a problem with barbel damage of any kind. I had some deaths, but put it this way--the corpses all had beautiful whiskers. Many people do keep their cories on medium sized smooth gravel with no problems. My dad did that and our cories lived for years in excellent health.
It sounds like whatever the problem is, it was starting to work its way through their system before you changed substrates, with the barbel damage being the first clue.
Salt should not be a problem, either, if for some reason you have to use it as a treatment. It doesn't bother cories in the short-term. That much I know having used it recently on new sterba and other cories in my quarantine tank. I'll take your word about the rasboras--don't have those.
Were these cories fish that you already had in another tank, or are they newly purchased? They might have been harboring illness when you got them and your recent changes to your tank may not be the cause.
Welcome to the forum...I'm kind of new still, too.
The gravel if it was smooth should not have caused barbel damage. My cories (including sterbai) were on gravel for a few months and even with problems with the tank not being fully cycled & some nitrite and ammonia spikes occuring, I never had a problem with barbel damage of any kind. I had some deaths, but put it this way--the corpses all had beautiful whiskers. Many people do keep their cories on medium sized smooth gravel with no problems. My dad did that and our cories lived for years in excellent health.
It sounds like whatever the problem is, it was starting to work its way through their system before you changed substrates, with the barbel damage being the first clue.
Salt should not be a problem, either, if for some reason you have to use it as a treatment. It doesn't bother cories in the short-term. That much I know having used it recently on new sterba and other cories in my quarantine tank. I'll take your word about the rasboras--don't have those.
Were these cories fish that you already had in another tank, or are they newly purchased? They might have been harboring illness when you got them and your recent changes to your tank may not be the cause.
Tanks: SeaClear Acrylic 40 US gallons, Eheim Ecco 2236, Eheim Classic 2215, Fine gravel & EcoComplete: 3 Albino Aeneus, 4 Green Aeneus (NOT Brochis) 6 Peppers, 3 Sterba, 1 Elegans, 10 Danios, 3 panda cories, 1 cichlid.
5 gal betta tank: 1 male betta
50 gallon SeaClear Eheim 2213, Eheim 2215, fine gravel: 3 baby goldfish (2 Moors, 1 Oranda in QT)
5 gal betta tank: 1 male betta
50 gallon SeaClear Eheim 2213, Eheim 2215, fine gravel: 3 baby goldfish (2 Moors, 1 Oranda in QT)
The Cory's were purchased a week after the Rasbora's, so I've had them for no more than about 6-7 weeks total, I can't quite remember when I introduced them exactly. I was very careful when selecting them, and know that they went in with barbels etc in tact. I would not be surprised if they were harbouring illness, but I also wouldn't be surprised if it is a stress-induced illness. I am very reluctant to use salt in my tank, apart from worries with the fish, I would worry about the plants. I would consider extracting them for a salt bath, but I would have to deconstruct the tank to catch them! At first I thought they had just been knocked around a bit with catching, transport etc, but now I'm pretty convinced it's something more sinister, requiring some kind of treatment.
Ok, I've had a better look, the lesions look like white fuzzy patches, could be fungal? Fish still acting relatively normally although look a little wobbly on the bottom from time to time, still eating and foraging. Barbel damage is not widespread (2 affected, 2 not) and doesn't seem to be getting worse.
Temp 25 - 26 C
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Nitrates 5
pH approx 6.5
Water is very soft (very soft, acidic water comes out of my tap, plus water is lightly tannin stained from driftwood).
Could anyone please tell me what medications are safe to use with Corydoras species? I know they are sensitive to many medications and I don't like using salt due to plants in tank and other inhabitants.
Does anyone know what medicatons in particular you can't use also?
If possible please list ingredients if naming brand/product names, as not all products are available in all regions.
Thanks again.
Temp 25 - 26 C
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Nitrates 5
pH approx 6.5
Water is very soft (very soft, acidic water comes out of my tap, plus water is lightly tannin stained from driftwood).
Could anyone please tell me what medications are safe to use with Corydoras species? I know they are sensitive to many medications and I don't like using salt due to plants in tank and other inhabitants.
Does anyone know what medicatons in particular you can't use also?
If possible please list ingredients if naming brand/product names, as not all products are available in all regions.
Thanks again.
Is anyone able to advise me further please?
The Cories are no better. Three days ago I put in a 3/4 dose of broad spectrum meds, so far this seems to have had no effect. The Cories have some fin damage/erosion and white fuzzy lesions. I have bought some new anti-fungal med but don't know how long I should wait before trying it. Also, would I need to use activated charcoal or just do a water change when I switch meds?
The Cories are no better. Three days ago I put in a 3/4 dose of broad spectrum meds, so far this seems to have had no effect. The Cories have some fin damage/erosion and white fuzzy lesions. I have bought some new anti-fungal med but don't know how long I should wait before trying it. Also, would I need to use activated charcoal or just do a water change when I switch meds?