Jeffrey's mouth is deteriorating :(

[Erlina]

My Jeffrey’s lips are deteriorating. I first got him from a carnival and he’s about 9 years old and 4 inches long. It first started with cotton mouth looking lips. I tried aquarium salt, pimafix, and hydrogen peroxide dabbed on the lips with a Q-tip, but nothing worked. It ended up getting worse. I just recently got a multiple water testing kit, which covers general hardness, nitrite, nitrate, free chlorine, carbonate, and ph. I’m waiting for my API® E.M. Erythromycin to arrive, so I can see if that’ll help. Does anyone know what I can do help him? I’m not sure I’m ready to let him go yet. His friend is starting to get it too, but hers is not as intense as his. 

[Cory]

What are your current water parameters. lets start there. including temp.

[Colu]

10 minutes ago, Cory said:

What are your current water parameters. lets start there. including temp.

Have you add anything new to the tank such as new fish plants that could have bought disease in and what was the dose of hydrogen peroxide you used

[Erlina]

I don’t have an ammonia test yet, I’m still waiting for that to come in the mail. However, this is the current parameters after 5 days of water change. The temperature is usually around 71-73F. 

[Erlina]

I’ve added an Anubis plant recently. However, this was added after their lips had started to deteriorate. I don’t put too much Hydrogens peroxide, I just dip a Q-Tip into a cap of it and try my best to apply onto his lips and repeat a few times when the water level is lower (during water change). 

[Colu]

It looks like it could be a nasty bacterial infection treat with erythromycin if that doesn't work try kanaplex and furan 2 together I would also add some crushed coral in media bag in your filter to slightly raise your pH 

Edited March 25, 2021 by Colu

[Erlina]

I’ve never used erythromycin before, so I just wanted to ask. A lot of people say to quarantine the fish when using it, but I have another fish in the tank with him who is also starting to show some deterioration. Can I keep them both in the same tank and use the erythromycin? 

[Colu]

If they are both showing symptoms i would treat both of them in the main tank

[quikv6]

From the looks of those test strips, it looks like you have 0 KH, and a very low PH. Perhaps a PH crash occurred, causing stress and the issue. The crushed coral would be a good idea to raise both to a safer level.

Also, a little salt could help along with the erythromycin.

[GardenStateGoldfish]

I agree with quikv6, looks like you have a potential ph crash u have no buffering capacity left and your ph is as low as your strip tests for. Also what kind of decorations do you have in the tank? Goldfish forage and I have seen them cut themselves on seemingly unsharp things from rubbing against it trying to get that morsel of food. I would do a water change and maybe add some salt and see if things improve on his mouth 

[Erlina]

Okay I’ll try to get some crushed coral. Hopefully, that’ll help. Would it be okay to use it as substrate instead of being in a media bag? 

Also, I only have smooth glass rocks and a ringed Anubis plant as decoration.

By salt do you mean aquarium salt? If so, I do use that. 

Do you think the tank size might be a factor? I have a 10g with two gold fish, both of which are about about 3-5 inches long. 

Edited April 9, 2021 by Erlina

[Erlina]

I tried the erythromycin, not sure if it worked or did anything. How long should I wait until it is safe for me to try it again? 

[quikv6]

Aquarium salt. I don't think the tank size is a factor, but I think a PH crash may have been the source of stress. I would focus on rectifying the cause of the 0 KH/PH crash, along with adding aquarium salt.

[Colu]

It's possible he has been swimming into the sides of the tank and development a bacterial infection I would treat with kanaplex and suggest getting a bigger tank for your gold fish 10gallon is on the small side  for them 

Edited April 10, 2021 by Colu