Mouth Fungus?

[PeteK]

Ok, from the research I have done, it seem that two of my Neon Tetras
have come down with Mouth Fungus. It looks like a patch of white cotton
on the mouth. This happened about a week or so ago. So, I go out and
get some Anti Fungus & Fin Rot Treatment. The bottle say "Effectively
treats Mouth Fungus".

http://aq-products.com/Catalog/Liquid%20Medications/Antifungus.htm

I have followed the treatment for "Tetras and other scaleless fish"
which is 5 drops per gallon, as opposed to 10 drops per gallon for other
fishes. I have a 55gal with about 2 inches of gravel, so I have basing
my dosage on 40 gallons.

I have already gone through one treatment cycle. (dose, wait 48 hours,
another does, wait 48 hours, 25% water change, another dose). The
fungus has gotten smaller, but it is not gone. All other water
parameters are good, and no other fishes have any symptoms. I had
removed the charcoal from my filter (Magnum H.O.T. 250)before first
treatment.

Other fishes include Lemon Tetras, Pleco, Cory's, Bala Shark, Black
Skirt Tetras and some Guppies.

I'm going to wait 48 hours for another treatment. My question is,
should I get some other medication? Am I not using enough of the
current drops?

I'm not opposed to removing these 2 fish from my tank, but that's the
last alternative. I do not have a hospital tank.

Any Help would be appreciated.

[carlrs]

I have used this product with sucess. It has malachite green and
acriflavin as active ingredients. It is not a strong anti-fungal, but
is quite safe for tetras. I would continue treatment one or two more
times (with water changes). Consider a low does of salt in your
aquarium too (1-2 TBSP per 10 gal). Also consider a hospital aquarium,
the ingredients in " Anti-Fungus" work well in combination with
methlene blue in a hospital tank. "Medicated Wonder Shells" also have
the same ingredients plus stabilize the water (ph. KH).

Carl
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/

[Frank]

PeteK wrote,
>My question is,
>should I get some other medication? Am I not using enough of the
>current drops?

"looks like a patch of white cotton on the mouth" sounds more like
Flexibacter disease, which is bacterial rather than fungus. You need to
treat the tank with something like Kanamycin or Maracyn Two as they are
not harmfull to your bio-filter. Feeding a medicated food would help a
great deal also, but not Tetra's as flex. disease is resistant.

>Anti Fungus & Fin Rot Treatment. The bottle say "Effectively
>treats Mouth Fungus". ...

APPlus+anti-fungus - good stuff. As already pointed out, it has
Malachite Green (MG) in it. With scaleless fish, catfish, and tetras,
MG is more toxic than with other species, thus the half dose. Higher
temps and lower pH makes MG more toxic. It also remains within tissue
for a long time so repeated treatments causes accumulation and those
scaleless fish, catfish, and tetras would be the first to die from an
overdose. Plus you have to remember, you are also dosing the other fish
within the tank - I don't think I would be treating over and over
because of the MG medication... I would however treat for Flex.
Disease..................... Frank

[PeteK]

Frank wrote:

> "looks like a patch of white cotton on the mouth" sounds more like
> Flexibacter disease, which is bacterial rather than fungus. You need to
> treat the tank with something like Kanamycin or Maracyn Two as they are
> not harmfull to your bio-filter. Feeding a medicated food would help a
> great deal also, but not Tetra's as flex. disease is resistant.
>
Thanks for both of your responses. Guess I'll go and get some
anti-bacterial meds. Sure don't want to over use the MG. Will also
pick up medicated food.