5 replies to this topic

[mmyers1976]

Orangespotted sunfish are beautiful, easy to catch near my house, and a perfect size for my pond, but I have had rotten luck with them. They seem very prone to getting a white fungus all over them. It doesn't seem to matter which body of water I pull them from, they very often get it. I have never had a problem with this fungus with any other natives I collect, sunfish or other familes - unless they are in the pond with orangespotteds, in which case the fungus spreads to the other species. I've tried giving them a prophylactic treatment of methylene blue/malachite green and quarantining them for 30 days before putting them in the pond, but they still seem to get fungus once they are placed in the pond. I've drained my pond, started with new filter media, lines, etc, and scrubbed the liner with a strong salt solution, disinfected the pump, everything, but no luck. I've given up even trying to keep orangespotteds because of this. Anyone have a similar experience?

[elting44]

Good morning and welcome, 

 

Do you happen to have a photo of a specimen with the fungus?  Does the fungus seem "seasonal", like it is more prominent in the summer when the water temperature is warmer?

 

What are the parameters of the water (pH, Nitrates)? 

 

Are the orangespotteds that are prone to the infection all collected from the same body of water or watershed?  Where are you located?

[gerald]

Adding salt to the collecting bucket might help: a heaping teaspoon per gal, BEFORE you start catching fish.  Also keeping the bucket or cooler aerated helps, especially in summer.  Cool-weather collecting is generally safer for the fish.

[JasonL]

Not sure what the issue is per se but I have not found orangespots to be more susceptible to disease than other Lepomis. Never really had any issues with them in aquaria or outdoor ponds and I have caught them from some pretty sketchy environs too.

Gerald's tips would be a good start imo.

[Matt DeLaVega]

Zimmerman's may have some captive bred OSS. In which case they will have been born and raised in a very similar type pond. That might help.

[Pumpkinsteve]

What is the water quality of the pond? and how often do you measure the ammonia, NO2, NO3, Ph, and Kh?

 

Here is great article on the basics: https://www.hanoverk...ience-of-water/

 

Once the basics are confirmed, then most bacterial and fungal infections are usually secondary in nature, caused by one or more of many types of parasites.

 

Once again I will point you to the Koi farmer with the process I follow for my natives: https://www.hanoverk...koi-treatments/

 

According to "North American Native Fishes For The Home Aquarium", Orangespotted sunfish are found in waters that are moderately to very hard, and alkaline, and also creeks with significant salinity.

 

So my theory is that your pond is a softer more acidic environment that allows some kind of parasite to flourish on the Orangespotted, resulting in fungal infections.

Edited by Pumpkinsteve, 28 February 2018 - 10:49 AM.