My little axie, Rosie, is in a small Rubbermaid tub while her 30 gal. future home cycles and until she is a bit bigger. (She came as a surprise in late November, so we weren't really prepared.)
She has grown from 1.5" to about 3.5" while in the Rubbermaid tub and had been having 80-90% daily water changes. (I wasn't too worried about cycling the tub because it was getting significant daily changes and isn't her permanent home, I hope.)
A few days ago, I noticed what I believe to be fungus on her gills. I didn't see the large cotton-rings I've seen on some pictures, but there was fuzziness to the gills and streamers of fungus floating behind the tips as she swam. She has had three days of twice per day salt baths and we've changed to complete water changes with each salt bath, so twice per day. It seems like there is much less "fuzz" and the gill filaments are clearer and better defined. There is also less streamer material from the tips of the gills, though there is still a little. Also, I see 2 or 3 tiny "balls" of fungus on the backs of her gills.
I think it's improving, but I want to be sure. Should I continue salt baths? Should I taper off to one per day? How long should I keep going?
How do the salt baths work? Do they boost the immune system, kill the fungus directly, or both?
This Rubbermaid tub can breathe, but it doesn't have an air stone or any other oxygen source or basis for moving water. (I assume that each new batch of water contains oxygen, though.) Any thoughts about doing something to improve the situation this way?
Thanks.
She has grown from 1.5" to about 3.5" while in the Rubbermaid tub and had been having 80-90% daily water changes. (I wasn't too worried about cycling the tub because it was getting significant daily changes and isn't her permanent home, I hope.)
A few days ago, I noticed what I believe to be fungus on her gills. I didn't see the large cotton-rings I've seen on some pictures, but there was fuzziness to the gills and streamers of fungus floating behind the tips as she swam. She has had three days of twice per day salt baths and we've changed to complete water changes with each salt bath, so twice per day. It seems like there is much less "fuzz" and the gill filaments are clearer and better defined. There is also less streamer material from the tips of the gills, though there is still a little. Also, I see 2 or 3 tiny "balls" of fungus on the backs of her gills.
I think it's improving, but I want to be sure. Should I continue salt baths? Should I taper off to one per day? How long should I keep going?
How do the salt baths work? Do they boost the immune system, kill the fungus directly, or both?
This Rubbermaid tub can breathe, but it doesn't have an air stone or any other oxygen source or basis for moving water. (I assume that each new batch of water contains oxygen, though.) Any thoughts about doing something to improve the situation this way?
Thanks.