Red mouth cory catfish

Mamabon · Post by **Mamabon** » 28 Jun 2013, 06:49

I checked my 20 gal cycled tank before going to bed, saw 1 cory catfish partially stuck on the intake tube. I took him out with some of the water and saw red around his mouth. My other corys and plattys are fine. I have him in a separate container for now. What is this? Does he need an antibiotic ? I did a water change today before this happened. I will check water in the morning. I saw ParaGuard best but what else can I get if cant get that? Going away in 2 weeks, hope to solve this by then. Also how much how often meds. Any advice helpful.

snowball · Post by **snowball** » 28 Jun 2013, 08:17

The red would most likely be from physical damage but without seeing the fish that is only a guess.

Keep the water clean and it should recover if it is just mild damage, I'd suggest carrying out water changes at least twice a week until you go away.

No need for antibiotics but if you are concerned about infection keep an anti-fungal agent on hand as this is the most likely type of infection to set in after damage, if you see signs of disease then treat as per manufacturer directions.

dw1305 · Post by **dw1305** » 28 Jun 2013, 12:40

Hi all,

saw 1 cory catfish partially stuck on the intake tube.

It is worth having pre-filter sponge on your filter (if the design allows it), it stops fish etc from getting stuck and it means you don't have to clean the internal filter media as often as it intercepts any debris before it ends up in the filter.

cheers Darrel

Mamabon · Post by **Mamabon** » 28 Jun 2013, 15:59

: You can see his red mouth here.

Not sure how to post a photo, I'm working on it. Keeping him alone for now. Going to see if I can find good med for him. I see ParaGuard best but don't want to wait days if I order online for it.
How do I post a photo here?

donpetty · Post by **donpetty** » 28 Jun 2013, 19:01

Hi Mamabon;
You could try a very mild antibiotic such as Melafix which is a leaf extract or Stress coat which is used as a water conditioner with Aloe. The injury may heal on its own as long as you don't have rough gravel, which could further injure that delicate little mouth.
Don
P.S. to upload a picture: Look - down below where you post you will see two tabs one says "options"
and the other says "Upload attachment"

Click upload attachments.

CoryfanAad · Post by **CoryfanAad** » 28 Jun 2013, 19:29

I think it's a bacterial problem. A healthy fish won't get stuck in the filterinlet. What do you feed your Corys? Looks thin. Does it still have it's barbels. Cheers Aad

Mamabon · Post by **Mamabon** » 29 Jun 2013, 00:02

Yes still has barbells. Problem with feeding is that my platys grab the shrimp pellets and algae wafers I put in for them. I break them up now hoping they will eat them faster. The corys are so slow finding food. I also put in some daphnia sometimes since I have a Betta in there too who recently got over constipation. I nursed him back to health. I'm treating this guy in a sep container now with Tetra fungus Guard - says it clears fungus and bacteria. I'll feed him a shrimp pellet and a piece of wafer tonight.
Do I need to do 100 % water change daily and include treatment? I don't want to stress him with 100% change, but he is only in a 2 qt container now and I want his water clean. Wonder if I can do 50% change adding dosage of med. I never expected this. I got the corys because I read they go well with the Platys and Betta and were so cute.

Mamabon · Post by **Mamabon** » 29 Jun 2013, 05:50

I don't have any gravel or sand in this 'hospital' hope its okay. He didn't eat much today, I'll try some daphnia I have (frozen, I'll thaw first) tomorrow, easier to eat. He does swim around, but mostly rests and continue medication. Mouth didn't look as red tonight.

CoryfanAad · Post by **CoryfanAad** » 29 Jun 2013, 16:29

I asked cause i think it's a bit thin. Corys are 95% carnivors so it could be a lack of protein / vitamins that started it. By some high protein tabs for your corys en feed less algaewafers. Think it will help this fellow. Some bloodworm and other living / defrosted food is also an option. If they like it they go nuts.[img]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/29/ja2u7ara.jpg[/img]

Mamabon · Post by **Mamabon** » 29 Jun 2013, 18:43

Day 2 of treatment in hospital container. His mouth is no longer red. I'll try the blood worms and I have new life spectrum pellets to try to get him to eat. I don't think he went for the daphnia last night but maybe when I wasn't looking. I'm going to put a leaf in there too, there's nothing in there but him and I know they like covering.
Thanks for the help. Any ideas about making sure the platies don't take the cory food as well as their own food-- they are little piggies.

CoryfanAad · Post by **CoryfanAad** » 29 Jun 2013, 19:55

You could try to feed when lights are out.

Shazray · Post by **Shazray** » 01 Jul 2013, 03:29

Agreed, after you switch all the lights off wait about 30 minutes and then drop in some bottom feeder pellets for the cories.

I seldom ever give mine algae wafers. Instead I give them foods like Hikari sinking wafers.

Mamabon · Post by **Mamabon** » 02 Jul 2013, 20:12

A great big thank you to all. I put my little cory back in the community tank today and so far so good. She seems happy to be with her other cory friends. I have the sinking wafers and I even split them so they are smaller so they can be eaten more quickly before the platys come and I'm putting them in while its dark. I'm still keeping a close watch on them.

CoryfanAad · Post by **CoryfanAad** » 02 Jul 2013, 21:23

Great news !!!! You did a great job!