Oto in trouble

[jeromecarlyoung]

Ok this is a horror story.
On another thread I have been talking about moving my Jura Rocks about to supress the algae which is growing on these rocks.
In the process of doing this I have discovered one of my Otos has a problem.
I was careful not to bash the fish at all but one of my Otos has a white growth out of the side of it's abdomen. There has always been a strange fluttering below the gill which the other Oto hasn't got.
I am not sure whether i squashed my Oto and caused this fluttering bulge or whether there is a Parasite embedded in the side of the fish.
I have had various wildlife in the tank and have recently found a tiny Leech. This maybe where Snails are brought in from LFS stores which may have passengers on them. This oto has been a lot smaller than the other. A photo below should show a white patch on the right side of the fish's abdomen (not a happy fish too)-
Any help would be very welcome-

[purplecandle]

Got to answer the q's in red

1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.

2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.

I hope someone can help you!

[jeromecarlyoung]

It's a 10 Gallon/48 litre Tank, Tropical, water changes are twice a week with 15-20 litres changed at each time. My ammonia is 0, Nitrites below 0.1 ppm and Nitrates 5ppm.
The tank is heavily planted and has a ball Moss, the temp is 25-26c always.
I have 2 fist size lumps of Jura Rock (boiled before putting in tank) and one peice of Bogwood. I have one Dwarf Puffer and 2 Otos. Puff has been learning to eat from live to frozen and has frozen bloodworm in a cone daily. The uneaten worms are thrown away but a few escape.
The otos get half a wafer once a week.
The Tank has been set up for 6 months.
Otos have been there for 3 months. 2 other Otos didn't survive previously. Puff has been there since day 1.
I have a fluval u2 filter.
Puff has eaten many live foods in the past and many snails from the LFS too. I went on my Hols last week where I put about 10 snails in the tank and the Tank missed the mid week water change.
Thank Jerry

[LilGreenPuffer]

Is this a dwarf puffer in your tank? Just wondering about stocking and potential injuries from an aggressive species that could have led to infection.

The oto looks underweight - I'd start supplementing food more often. Try blanched organic zucchini.

That is an infection. Treat with Melafix and Pimafix.

BTW, otos usually do better if they're added to a tank that's been established for at least six months already.

[jeromecarlyoung]

Thanks for that. I'll give those products a go. The litle thing isn't too happy. I think the problem is with a bacteria/fungal problem as the other Otos is a lot lot bigger and has been seriously round when I used to feed them a bit more. I had to back off a bit with the feeding as the larger one was looking a really round in the belly. The smaller one has never fed enough even when there was food on tap.
Hopefully get some stuff tomorrow.
Thanks again!
-Jerry

[Ohyouknow]

keep in mind to add an airstone or two, as those products (especially used together) can deplete the amount of oxygen in the water

[jeromecarlyoung]

Thanks for that.
Will do.

-Jerry

[jeromecarlyoung]

Ok; the LFS chap got me in a head lock and forced me to buy "Antipet antifungus and finrot treatment". It says to add the stuff and leave for 7 seven days. I usually do 2 water changes a week so do I do the waterchange and put another dose of the antifungal in the new water or what?
Confused? Yes I am!!

-Jerry

[J-P]

any update as to how he's doing?

[jeromecarlyoung]

This is my Oto after 3 salt bath dips where the fish passed out each time; recovered soon after though. The Cotton Fungus was hiding a Fish Lice Parasite. The parasite is now smaller and hopefully an ex parasite. Not sure though.
The Oto has the parasite under its right Pectoral Fin.

Cheers Jerry

[J-P]

He looks a little better if a little skinny.

That almost looks like a baby pleco very cute

Would "Jungle Fungus Clear" help? You might need a separate QT tank...

[FADE2BLACK_1973]

Im using Jungle Fungus Eliminator to treat a badly beat up 4 " Blue Zaire frontosa with torn fins that has become fin and tail rot. Treats both fungus and bacterial infections. I have been using Jungle meds to treat my FW fishes for over 20 years now. I also feed garlic base foods and some Stress Coat to help with the healing afterwards. You could do the same treatment as Im doing for my frontosa to your Oto. But add some Jungle Parasite Guard. Kill 2 birds with one stone or 3 birds with two stones..lol. This is how Im treatin my fish. Others have their own ways and other good meds to treat theirs.

[jeromecarlyoung]

I must admit to having some Garlic stuff as my dwarf Puffer doesn't like frozen food. This Garlic seemed to attract the Otos so this could help.
I did try some "Fish Health Booster" in the last water change hoping this would help too.
I'll try to Google the "Jungle Parasite Guard" and see if I can get it.
The Interpet Anti Crustacean Parasite stuff put the willys up me as the Bacteria death seems a little extreme; killing three fish instead of one maybe.
Thanks for the compliments on my wee little Oto. I'll pass that on; maybe perk the fish up!
Thanks again

-Jerry

PS- Other guests in my tank-

Big fat Oto



"IQ" or commonly known as "Puff"

[FADE2BLACK_1973]

Your oto looking better in that last pic and the DP is a lil cute one. Btw, I always do a big water change and add a bacterial supplement after meds. Helps pep up the tank. Oh yeah, adding fresh new carbon and zeolite to the filters too. Well adding fresh new carbon for acouple of days and then change it out then add the new carbon and zeolite mix. Maybe adding a medicated sinking food would help. Oto's eat just about anything. Well the ones that I once owned did.

[jeromecarlyoung]

Hello,
Oto still in the doo. I had a good look at the fish and got some tweezers on the affected area and the Parasite was all well and good. I only managed to pull it's leg off and have since got a Hopsital Tank and I am using the Interpet anti Crustacean treatment. The clue that all was not right was the fish was going to the surface every half minute the fish went to the water surface for air. I think that mean that the Gills are being effected by the Parasite.
7 day treatment so we''l see next Sunday. Hmmm...

-Jerry