Sterbai Corydora with White Lump on Nose

Question
QUESTION: Hi Nathan

Yesterday I discovered that one of my five Sterbai Corydoras had lost it's barbells and had a white lump on the tip of it's nose.  The lump appears to be solid.

I have removed it from the community tank and put it into my holding tank.  I have began treatment with Pimafix, as my LFS here in Australia 'hadn't heard of this before' I've also added an airstone to the tank, just in case.

The other Corydora's and community fish appear to be fine.

Do you have any idea on what it might be?  Will it's barbells grow back?

Thanks in advance for your help on this.

Regards
Deanna




ANSWER: Hi Deanna,
It's possible your Sterba's Corydora may have a disease, but it's hard to tell without a picture. Are the spots like grains of salt? If it is, it may be Ich. It may also be a parasite, but if there's only one, its unlikely. i would change 20% of the water, with a gravel vacuuming. Continue your treatment, you're on the right track. Here's a good site to diagnose fish diseases.

http://www.fishlore.com/Disease.htm

The lump may be some sort of small tumor. Make sure the cat is getting a varied diet, consisting of sinking pellets, algae wafers, and the occasional live or frozen food.

Fortunately, the barbells will grow back. I had a Cory cat which lost its barbells, they grew back fully in just over a month.

I hope the Sterbai Cory recovers!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Nathan

Firstly thank you very much for your prompt response.  I have managed to post some pics on line, I hope you can access them.  It appears another cory is getting a spot as well.  The gravel in the holding tank is the gravel they have in the main tank.  I was told be my LFS that the grains of gravel were small enough and that the corys would be fine.  After doing some internet research on them, I've learnt that sand is best.  Once I they have healed, I will begin the process of swapping to a sand substrate.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l117/sneakypuss_01/Cory1-1.jpg

Here's hoping the pic helps you identify what's wrong.

Thanks Again
Deanna

Answer
Hi Deanna,
First things first, don't worry too much about the substrate. Sterba's Corydoras will do well in gravel, as well as sand. I've kept most of my Cory cats in sand, and they did not mind, and no damage to the barbells occurred. It's not the SIZE of the substrate that matters; it's the edges. Your substrate seems to be small, smooth pebbles, which are perfect, because there are no sharp edges that could hurt their barbells. It is not a problem if they are big, as long as they can't cut into their sensitive barbells, it's fine. Personally, but that's just my opinion, I'd keep the substrate.

I looked at the picture, and just wondering, is the lump solid or frayed at the sides, like a cotton ball? If it looks like a cotton ball, it's Columnaris, or Cottony Growth Disease. See this link for pictures and treatment info, if it looks like a cotton ball:
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/columnaris.htm

It may be Columnaris - it doesn't look like a parasite. If it is, then Pimafix should work, but Maracyn and Maracyn-2 would be a bit better.
Just do 20% water changes every 1-2 days, with a gravel vacuuming.

I hope they recover!