Description

Fungal infections on a fish are easy to recognise by cotton ball-like formations. It is important to start the treatment without delay, as the fungi release toxic metabolic products into the fish organism. This poisoning is actually the main problem. Fungal attacks always follow some other health problem like parasitic attack, injury, or bacterial infection. The fish is able to regenerate the skin and surrounding tissue that have been destroyed without problems in the course of healing. However, if left untreated, the fungus, will eventually eat away on the fish until it finally dies.

Treatment

Please remove any activated carbon from the filter for the duration of the medication use. UV-C appliances and CO₂ fertilizing appliances also need to be switched off. Please also ensure that skimmers and ozonisers in saltwater are switched off. Change 50 % of the water prior to application of any medication. Aerate the aquarium using a diaphragm pump with airstone during the treatment. Filter during the treatment. We recommend cleaning the filter thoroughly, perhaps even replacing the filter media prior to use of medication, since many fungal spores can survive outside of the fish for an extended period of time. Feed the fish sparingly during the treatment.

After ascertaining the initial cause of the fungus and remedying that, use a solution of phenoxethol at 1% in distilled water. Add 10 ml of this solution per liter of aquarium water. Repeat after a few days if needed, but only once more as three treatments could be dangerous to aquarium inhabitants. If the symptoms are severe the fish can be removed from the aquarium and swabbed with a cloth that has been treated with small amounts of povidone iodine or mercurochrome. For attacks on fish eggs, most breeders will use a solution of methylene blue adding 3 to 5 mg/l as a preventative measure after the eggs are laid.

After treatment

After the treatment, please filter the aquarium water for 24 hours using activated carbon to remove the residues of medication. Afterwards the activated carbon should be duly discarded. The addition of a bacterial starter to the aquarium water helps to replace any purifying bacteria which may have been affected. Please check during the treatment and daily in the first days after the treatment the ammonium/ ammonia and nitrite values. With nitrite values of over 0.5 mg/l an immediate water change of 50% should be carried out and a bacterial starter added.