Saprolegniosis (Dermatomycosis. Fungal skin lesions.) - fungal disease (bundles of white "puff" on the lips, fins, wounds in fish),
Like mushrooms growing in the forest, they have a fungus, or mycelium, which is a system of thin threads, or hyphae, which grow and branch strongly. The branches of these fungi are the younger, the closer they are to the growing apex.
Pathogen: different species of mold fungi of the genera Saprolegnia and Achlya. Saprolegnia mushrooms usually settle on dead fish, on moth, tube, mollusks that died for various reasons.
Symptoms: gray, brown or white, thin threads and their bundles on the skin and fins.
Usually it starts with a small spot, but if you leave it out and do not take action, the fungus quickly develops and kills the fish. Mushrooms can also develop on caviar.
Pathogenesis: Fungi and their spores are constantly present in the water, especially where there are many rotting remains of organics. With the help of spores, mushrooms are quickly transferred from one fish to another. However, the body of fish covers the mucus, which protects them from the fungus. If the mucus cover is disturbed, due to fights, injuries, a mushroom can settle in this place. Any disorders of the skin after other diseases (ichthyophthyriosis, ulcerative palsy, etc.) can become the entrance to the development of secondary fungal infection. A predisposition to saprolegniosis also occurs with sharp drops in water temperature, poor hydrochemistry, and stresses. When the disease is heavily triggered and mushrooms have already hit the muscles, even the internal organs of the fish, it cannot be cured. After spawning, saprolegnia affects unfertilized eggs and spreads to sore ones. Could ruin all the masonry.
Everyone whose fish have fungus!!! He just doesn't take it!!! Or fish have weak immunity or something in the water is wrong. Therefore, treat - treat, but do not forget about the lifestyle of fish, and their content, competent, correct care!
Treatment and prevention: at the first signs of a fish disease, you need to treat with a fungicidal (antifungal) drug. Treat the sick fish in the sediment. Methylene blue can be used to prevent fungal damage to caviar.
A short-term salt bath (option I) in this case may well be the best choice. The fish should be redeemed in a separate vessel (the water in it should be well aerated) filled with 2-3% culinary salt solution (coarse salt is suitable). To prepare such a solution, it is necessary to dissolve about 2 teaspoons of salt in each liter of water. Water for the preparation of the solution can be taken directly from the aquarium, it is even better to use well-standing tap water. The duration of the bath should be 10-15 minutes . Look at the behavior of the fish: if they begin to be pushed to the surface, where they swim on the side and cannot go to the bottom of the vessel, the bath should be stopped immediately. The efficiency of bathing will greatly increase if you prepare not one, but two vessels. The salt concentration in the second should not exceed 5 g/l (half a spoon in 1 l). This vessel serves to "rinse" the fish after the bath. The fact is that many spores and mushrooms still remain on the fish, but after a medical bath they are in a state of shock. If the fish are immediately thrown into the aquarium, they will come to their senses and continue their work, but if the fish is well shaken in another container, these spores will fall off, and the fish will get rid of them. Chat the fish directly in the pot for 1 minute in this second container and then return them to the aquarium.
Salt bath (II version) - Applied twice a day - teaspoon for five liters of water - for 30-40 minutes. Or 15 grams per liter of water - 10 minutes.
Attention! Labyrinth fish do not tolerate salt! If the fish cannot sink to the bottom, behaves restless, laughs - the bath should be stopped immediately!
Antifungal drugs: Tetra Fungistop, Melafix, Sera Omnipur, Methylene Blue, Phytosept (zoomyr), table salt baths, Yodinol, Sera Mikopur.