Dean

One of my cardinals has a white spot on the top of his head. Could it be a battle wound or something like ick? its only on one and only that one spot on his head.

fins

i wouldnt think it would be ick with just the one white spot , but keep an eye on it it could be the begining of a fungus.

11yancazosj

i doubt that it will be ick.

Lucy

Hi Dean, I'm sorry you're concerned about your cardinal, they're such pretty fish.

It could be the beginning stages of ICH, or as the others said, maybe not.
Is it possible to post a pic?
They're pretty fast moving, that might be hard to do.

11yancazosj

i agree, the best way for others to help you with your problem is posting a photo.

PLEASE make sure that you watch all of your other fish as well to check and see if they develop a white spot. if this is so, increase water quality and do water changes more frequently.

"IF," you deffinately know that its Ick, check out some anti-bacterial stuff at your LFS. You might want to get some anti-bacterial stuff anyway just as a precuation add add small amounts. this way your improving the water quality and if it is Ick, containing it.

Check with a moderator that i have given the right advice.

Shawnie

11yancazosj once again, meds are not always needed and shouldnt be recommended unless its the last resort...

Lucy

I wouldn't advise medicating the tank at this point. You won't want to medicate healthy fish. If medication is needed for a particular problem, it's usually best to move the sick fish to a q tank to treat unless all the fish are ill.

Anti-bacterial meds won't improve water quality, in fact, some can effect the cycle by not only killing bad bacteria for good bacteria.

That being said, ich is a parasite not a bacterial infection and depending on the severity, can be treated without meds.

Keep in mind that moderators don't have all the answers. We have members with a wide range of experience who are just as capable to help other members.

agabr123

how large is the spot? is it fuzzy at all or does it look like a grain of salt? a picture would help, but IMO it's probably not ich. how do your water parameters look?

Dean

it is pretty small on the forehead. It doesn't look fuzzy. can't post picture, sorry.

Shawnie

is there anything he could have bumped into? if its not fuzzy, and nothing that looks like grains of salt elsewhere ...a few small water changes with some stress coat+ should heal him right up

Dean

thanks all

water is fine nitrate very low

11yancazosj

glad to help