Skin disease

Question
Dear Chris,

I have a 26 gallon tank, which I started 2-3 months ago.  I moved a pleco and a brown knife fish from a smaller, 10 gallon tank into the new one because they were getting too big.  I just added some new plants and 4 other new fish (2 danios and 2 neon tetras).  I also added new gravel.  Recently, I noticed white fuzzy things on the pleco and well as small white worms in the tank.  I treated the tank with commercial parasite medication (x2).  The white fuzzy things are now gone from the pleco, but where one clump of fuzzy things use to be, there are now small white bumbs on the head of the fish.  The bumbs are currently slightly orange in color.  I was wondering what the bumbs were, and what I should do about them.  Thanks!

Answer
Hi Erin;

The fuzzy things were probably a fungus or bacterial infection invading dead tissue from some sort of injury. The bumps may be from the same thing. Keep the water and gravel very clean to help him heal. If it doesn't clear up soon you may have to treat with antibiotics or an antifungal.

The small white worms are probably planaria or some sort of harmless nematode. They are not a danger to your fish. They are however, a sign of overfeeding. They are thriving on excess food and waste. Trying to kill them is impossible with medicines or chemicals. I tried bleaching one tank with them before I knew what they were, and they still survived. (I removed the fish first of course). The only way to get rid of the little critters is to starve them out by cutting back on food and gravel vacuuming a couple of times a week with a 25% water change for awhile. They may seem to get worse at first but it is only because they are starving and deserately looking for more food. They were all there the whole time, you just couldn't see them because they feed and hide in the gravel.

I hope things get better soon.....

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins