Topic: Sick Cory

[Vern]

I've just noticed one of my Corydoras is looking a bit worse for wear. Any ideas what this is and how to treat?

[tracey]

Its a little hard to tell from the pic, but are they little bubble-like lumps on the base of the dorsal fin?

[jones57742]

Any ideas what this is and how to treat?

Vern:

No ideas as to what "this is" but

if it were my cory and based on the photograph I would forget the salt regimen and commence dosing with Melafix and Pimafix.

TR

(Vern:  Bear in mind that I only have sterbai which are very, very hardy fish and have survived all of my "adventures in fish keeping").

[Vern]

Its a little hard to tell from the pic, but are they little bubble-like lumps on the base of the dorsal fin?

Yes, sort of. But only on the one side which has developed a patch that between the dorsal fin and lateral line.  My first impression was that the skin was eroding away but this may be either an ulcer of some description or fungus.  This Cory has never had a full dorsal fin as far as I'm aware.  I purchased him as a juve years ago and noticed part of his dorsal was missing and the area that now looks infected was an odd pattern, which I had assumed was a battle scar.  The fin never grew back and the patch became what you see in the pic. This growth doesn't appear to have been passed on to his tank mates it the process though.

Melafix is a good option but I'm concerned for his tanks mates (apistos, tetras and 6xlarge rainbow fry) and the affect it may have on them.

[tracey]

The first thing I thought of when I saw it was Gas Bubble Disease, which I've seen in a number of Corys in about the same area that yours is affected in.

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/meds/gas_bubble.html

[Vern]

It looks very similar Tracey but these are white as opposed to translucent like the ones in your photo.

Although a bit blurred you can see the protrusion from this angle.  You can also notice an opaque blotching on parts of it's body.  I was thinking, maybe, velvet? 

[tracey]

I don't believe it's Velvet    That shows up as golden to rusty coloured flakes covering the skin.  I'm not convinced it is Gas Bubble Disease as I first thought either, given what you said about the lumps being white not translucent.  It could be a fungus of some kind, mabye the injury early in life has left an area that is more susceptible to fungal infections than usual.

Treatment depends on whether you want to use meds or go natural.  Malachite Green is the most common medication used for fungus or a Pimafix/Melafix combination if you want to go natural.

It could also be the start of Lymphocystis    Do you know if he's been exposed to other fish with Lympho at any point before you got him?

[Maddy mad man]

Looks like fungus to me and I would go malachite green and meth blue.

Lymphocytosis - cauliflower like growths, incurable, lies dormant in all fish and bought about by stress i.e. poor water - resolves when stressor removed.  I dont think it is this and, come to think of it, have never heard of it occurring in corys.

Good luck - he looks worth saving!

[Vern]

I've isolated him now and noticed his gills are badly eroded too. I'm currently giving him a dose of Melafix.

[Maddy mad man]

Eroded or nipped?

If eroded I would use some malachite green or meth blue asap personally

Pete

[Vern]

definitely eroded, as with the caudal and dorsal fins.  Should I discontinue with Melafix then?

[Stormbringer]

you can use melafix along with the other medications i believe 

[tracey]

The fin and gill erosion makes me wonder if this is bacterial, which Malachite Green and Methylene Blue will not treat.  You might be better to look at Erythromycin or Tetracycline as anti-bacterials.

[Maddy mad man]

U can still use melafix but I wouldnt bother if u are going with the blue or green.

I hear what Tracey  is saying with her suspicions about it being bacterial but my gut is telling me differently.

Is the cory well enough that were the wrong treatment initiated first it would survive and be healthy enough for the other?

[Vern]

Is the cory well enough that were the wrong treatment initiated first it would survive and be healthy enough for the other?

he's looking spritely enough although has been carrying symptoms for quite a while now.