I suspect that I have this in one of my bow tanks, but there's no way for
me to know that it hasn't spread anywhere else, if in fact it is myco. The
fish that is exhibiting discoloration at the mouth with what looks like a
scrape that didn't heal has been this way for several months now. He
actually has been looking better this week. I've just left him in there
with the others. He has been growing at what appears to be a normal pace
and the discoloration grew with him. They are all fry from my original
group of boesemanis. So, when did they get it? Where did they get it? Was
it passed from parents that have yet to exhibit any signs over the past
couple years? Was this on plants I got from someone else's tank who had
fish showing no signs? Or maybe some other species of fish I have...none of
which had exhibited any sign of illness? Have I since given it to someone
else by providing fish I hadn't a clue about nor any reason to suspect may
have been carriers?
Not seeing any sign of illness I moved four of the largest fry into the
tank with the parents (prior to this fish exhibiting - don't know if he was
even in this fry tank at the time as I was continually moving fry in). As I
recall, one died in the parent tank within several days with no outward
signs of illness. Saw it hiding one night w/heavy breathing and thought it
was possibly being harassed. Turned off lights. Decided to watch tank
closely. Next day it was dead before I could determine cause. Waited for
days/maybe 2-3 weeks and saw no more problems. Added three more fry to
parent tank. They have been doing well for months and appear to be happily
growing and spawning right along with the parents (although snacking on
fry). So, are these carriers but not exhibiting? Are the parents carriers
and passed it vertically? Or are none in the parent tank infected? Or are
they all now infected from the fry added back?
I've had three other fish (not bows) die within the past 4-6 weeks...don't
know cause but all exhibited signs of emaciation over a period of two-three
weeks...again, signs of tb but other illnesses as well. But I have 18 tanks
of fish. This is a low mortality rate I'd say but for me it's high because
I simply haven't lost this many fish in such a short time period. Heck,
I've normally maybe lost one fish in a year, if that. This is, however, the
most tanks I've ever had and am now having a difficult time considering
destroying many and tearing them down. I do question my role in all of
this...more tanks, more do not get maintenance as regular as with less
tanks. And truthfully after hearing more and more about this disease have
thought of getting rid of everything and going tankless. I am also
concerned about transfer to humans as my immune system is compromised.
Forget just putting hands/arms in tanks. How many start syphons by sucking
on hose? Water get in mouth? How about in between bucket changes? I've
since set up separate buckets/hoses for the tanks, no more transferring
anything including plants (cuttings used to stock other tanks) and play the
wait and see game. I guess the next thing is to purchase gloves. I don't
know what else to do. Am trying to locate someone to look at the one
exhibiting fish.
Carvi