Sterbai problems

[vernonlarge]

Hello... I recently moved my corys from a mixed cichlid tank to a more suitable south American set-up for their own security after noticing one of my Cory Sterbai had half his caudal fin nipped off.

Since that time, although the fin has grown back, he's developed a cloudy - almost opaque - slime coating and his patterned body lines appear more 'blurred' and less prominent. I'd initially thought it was a fungus but it's not developed as such nor has it passed on to other inhabitants. He's not showing any signs of distress which is why I've been slow to treat him and instead have been steadily monitoring his progress. However if this is a disease I want to treat him soon to stop this being passed on to his other tank mates.

I'm wondering if you're aware what this could be before I start any treatment that may serve to damage any of the tanks other inhabitants? I usually add aquarium salt in situations like these but everything I've read warns me off using salt as Cory's are supposedly salt-intollerant.


Here's some tank info you ask for:

1. Water parameters
a) Temerature range. 27 stable
b) 6.8 pH.
c) ? GH.
d) ? KH
e)0 Ammonia, <40 Nitrate, 0 Nitrite.
f) Water change frequency - weekly


2. Tank set up
a) Size. 100 ltr
b) Substrate. very fine dark gravel
c) Filtration. internal charcole sponge filter
d) Furnishings. heavy natural plantation, bog wood, rocks.
e) Other tank mates. 1 bronze cory, 1 albino cory, 2 julii cory, 1 fellow sterbai cory, 2 glass catfish, 1 lemon tetra, 1 penguin tetra, 1 harlequin tetra, 3 juvenile female apistogramma cacatuoids (recently added).
f) How long has it been set-up? 6 years, although 12 months with current inhabitants.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

[sporty1]

Hi,
I was searching the archives and saw your post. I am having exactly the same problem with my sterbai's. Did manage to solve the problem?
Many thanks

[vernonlarge]

Wow. That was quite some time ago...

Sadly not. I isolated him in a hospital tank and gave him a bath of Meth Blue but fungus soon took over and got to his gills, meaning he stood no chance. But by isolating him at least nothing was passed on to the other tank's inhabitants. His piers have reached adulthood and are spawning regularly, despite occasionally sporting torn finnage, so I can only assume this was an isolated incident.

[andywoolloo]

when I first got my group of sterbai awhile ago, after a few days a few showed these symptoms as well. I lost two I believe. It was like a white coating of film.