Another Apisto Sickness

[TW]

I think I'm slowly winning the worm battle, that is the subject of this thread http://www.discusforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15882&highlight= only to find a new apisto problem, this time in the discus tank. This female was a new acquisition from late Jan/Feb & all appeared to be going well. Tonight I spotted her guarding a little nest with her fry, but shortly after she left the nest. She has grown two strange lumps, one on her head & one on her side. As usual, my photo is blurry, but I think it does show the lumps. Whilst I'd love to save her, my main issue here are the discus, including my new wild, who share the tank with her.

I don't have a clue how to treat her for these lumps, but of more pressing concern, should I remove her from discus tank. Any advice on how to treat her would be greatly appreciated as well.

I love apisto, but I seem to have nothing but troubles with them lately.

[Th0mas]

Hi TW,

Given the appearance of the infection, I believe it might be a bit late and difficult to treat. If you wish to give her a try, I'll suggest anti-bacterial treatment.

Andrew (fishgeek) or Mike (Noddy96) may have better opinion.

Good luck.

Thomas.

PS: I strongly suggest you to siphon the fry out and raise them separately by hand to avoid infection from their mum pass on to them.

[TW]

Should I remove her too, as her tank mates are my precious & currently healthy discus, including a wild caught royal blue.

Problem is I only have one additional spare heater, as I have two other recovering apisto girls in QT using heater & tank & I have one last heater/tank combo for the fry & nothing extra for her.

Unless I count a 7.5W mini heater, which is said to "help increase by a few degrees the water temperature of mini aquariums compared to the ambient/room temperature where it is positioned"

So who should get the real heater & who should get the mini heater (fry or sick mum)

What do you think her sickness is? I didn't see it before she went into seclusion to guard her eggs (which I didn't see either).

[TW]

As an afterthought, I should mention something about the fry. This tank was never intended as a breeding environment (I have another apisto tank for that). This one contains a macmasteri pair, a cac trio & a few kribs grown to adulthood from a previous successful breeding episode. Whilst I can't say for sure, I think my cac male is too young to be the dad. I don't mean to sound heartless, but given their uncertain heritage, should I even try to save them. If I did & in the unlikely event I was successful in raising 1 or 2 to adult hood, I'd keep them myself - but since there is a choice to be made about who gets the "real" heater in a spare tank, thought I'd throw this info out there.

[TW]

Half the problem solved. These fry were tiny & mum is apparently sick enough to have given up guarding - they are all gone already, presumed someone's snack. Mum must really be sick, as she allowed me to net her for removal with ease.

She is in a small tank with heater.

Should I be concerned about the main discus tank & any little lingering surprise she may have left behind.

Anything I can or should do as a preventative measure.

[Merrilyn]

I'd just keep an eye on the main tank TW.

We don't really know what problems she has or if it may have been infectious.

In the meantime, treat her with antibiotics, but practise strict quarantine procedures around her, and make sure there's no chance of cross infection to your main tank.

[TW]

Thanks Merrilyn for popping in & the advice.

What sort of antibacterial med would you suggest I try for her.

I also think the male cac (bought at same time as her) may be ill. I see no lumps or bumps on him, but he seems lethargic. Right now he is hiding, but I think I will remove him to join her, if I can find & catch him - not easy in a planted tank.

I will watch the main tank & come back for advice if I notice anything strange. My new Wld Royal Blue & all my discus are in that tank.

[TW]

It wasn't the same sore, but once before on a discus with a sore, I was advised to put bettadine drops on it daily - is that what I should try here?

[Merrilyn]

Bettadine is great stuff for external injuries, but this time I think it's internal so you need antibiotics in the water.

I'd start with a course of tetracycline. It's a broad spectrum antibiotic, and most LFS stock it.

[TW]

Thanks, that's one I don't have already - will see if I can pick some up. Thanks again.