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Two days ago, I bought five longnosed cories (corydoras septentrionalis. This morning, on one of the cories, I noticed a somewhat fuzzy lump on the base of its tail. This lump is light brown in color. Also, the cory is somewhat lethargic (for a cory), and doesn't move as much as the others. I'm assuming that the fish was sick at the store, and just hadn't shown the symptoms yet.

I figured that the fish had fungus, so I went out and bought a treatment (the only one in the store). It is basically just a fizzing tablet, and I added three (as per instructions, and based on the capacity of my tank). They fizzed away immediately, but also turned my water green, which the box didn't say anything about!

Anyways, judging from these (bad, because of the green water) pics, can anyone tell me if this fish really has fungus? I greatly appreciate it.

Water parameters:
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 10 ppm
pH: 8.1
I'm not sure of the exact measurement of my water's hardness, but I do know that it is somewhat soft.





The lump is at the base of the caudal (tail) fin, on the top.

I can't really tell from your photo if it is a fungus at the base of te caudal fin or an anchor worm.

Mark

Need better pictures. Sounds like a worm though.

Actually, from those pictures, it looks like it might be some kind of infection. It's hard to tell from the photo, but is the dorsal fin (specifically the spine) discolored at all?

To help with the photos, are you using the macro mode? It's the button with the little flower on it.

Isn't Your pH in the high end? A pH 8,1 for corys is to high imo. I would bring that down a bit before entroducing new fish.

You think that your water is "somewhat soft" - I doubt this, considering the high pH. I would get a meassurement on it.

I think your fish will have an easier time coping with this disease, if you bring the alkalinity down a bit.

Best of luck.

I apologize for the pictures, I'll try to get some better ones today. I am using the macro mode, we just have a cheap camera, and the water is green as I mentioned.

The reason that I'm not too sure about my water's softness is because I only have test strips, and not a kit. I know, I know, but I'm going to get a kit soon. The strips say that my water is soft, but I know that they can't really be trusted. I have considered using peat to lower my pH, but I've been talked out of it. I don't want to mess with my tank any, and I've kept happy cories in the same water before.

I will check the catfish (and its tankmates) for any other symptoms of infection, worms, fungus, etc. once I get home today. I'll post again once I've done so.

Since you guys don't think it is a fungus, can I change the water in my tank to remove the nasty green meds? That will enable me to get better pictures, too. Hopefully I'll be able to catch that cory on camera again.

One of the best preventative treatments is water changes and plenty of them. I cannot see the problem because of the picture quality, hopefully you will be able to post a better one. Bt the way I would say your fish is C. cortesi and not C septentrionalis.

Ian

All right, I've done two water changes between last night and tonight. My fish seem to be happier, though a couple of the cories still seem sick, they probably had something at the store. I've removed most of the fungus medicine, and I will try to buy some more Melafix (I've run out from previously) and get some Pimafix, too. I've heard good things about both.

I tried to get more pictures of the infection/worm/whatever that my cory has, but it is very difficult. First, I don't have a great digital camera. Secondly, all of the cories are still shy, and will not come out in the open if I am near the tank. As a result, I was only able to get one picture. If you'll notice, the *thing* is on the base of the tail, and green-ish gray in color. It appears (to me, from observing) to look like the letter "C", except fat. The *thing* is pinched in the middle, so maybe it is a worm. If so, how do I treat the fish?


As for the type of cory that I have, that will have to be saved for another thread.;)