babyblu

We have a Serpae Tetra with a white mark above one of his eyes. It almost looks like an injury. I've looked up the symptoms of white spot, ICH, etc., and nothing fits with this guy.

Could an injury show up as a white spot?

Also, not a water quality issue; the tank is perfectly cycled.

TFA101

i would not hesitate to say that this could be an injury, but without a photo reference, I can't be 100% sure. I had a cory accidentally scratch herself and she had a white mark on her head like a scar. But she opened it up when she wedged herself between a rock and it got infectious. She passed away unfortunately. Like I said, I can't be 100% positive, but if you can get a picture, it would be most helpful

babyblu

Thanks for the reply... I tried to capture him and the mark on his head. Here's what I have... hope I can get an idea of what we're dealing with.

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babyblu

OK... now a female platy has a white mark on her fin and a mark on her lip. Frig.

I assume now that we have a disease. Which one is the question and WHAT TO DO to treat it! *gasp*

Our water quality is great... I don't know what happened.

babyblu

I'm so confused by all the reading I'm doing regarding fungus and treatment. We have a fungus. I'm nearly fully positive of it. Started on the Serpae and now it's on a Platy!!! Dang it.

our readings are perfect - no spikes, nothing.

We've been doing water changes regularly and following our feeding to a t. I do not know how this happened, other than the Platy had it and brought it to the tank when we added her.

How do we treat this?

Thanks.

AlyeskaGirl

Can you post a pic? Have you put any new fish in tank recently? Fungus/bacteria infections usually comes from water quality. You said your water is fine but what are the parameters? Because you will be asked by someone else regardless.

Do you have a q-tine/hospital tank? Don't put meds in main tank or you will kill your cycle. I use Jungle Fungus Tank Buddies. It also treats bacteria infections and protects against secondary infections. Does dye decor or gravel it happend to me, dyed the top of my fine gravel blue. Looks cool though now that I mixed it in. Gives it some slight color, lol!

babyblu

Our parameters are:

nitrite = 0
ammonia = 0
nitrate = 0

pH = 7.8
Temp = 78 - 79

Tested NOT using strips, did a 50% water change as well, added Stress Coat, and replaced the salt.

I will test again this afternoon to make sure nothing's changed since the last test.

I have a pic. in my serpae thread, but I'll post him again here because it's the best (same condition on my female platy now too).

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Shawnie

do you have a planted tank? it almost looks like ich ...

cerianthus

Is that what looks like white sore/patch above the eye? If it is what you are talking about, dont think it's Ich. If it is Ich, it gotta be the gigantic one, lol!
How about isolating the sick ones in Q/T?
I really can not tell from pic other than white patch/sore/fungus(maybe), otherwise colors and fins seem fine.
Your plants look wonderful! Thus do not med main tank. I would also treat them in Q/T.
Any close up pics?

AlyeskaGirl

http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/diseases.html

http://www.fishyportal.com/diag/

TFA101

It really does look like a scar, but if another fish has one like it, then we either have a disease (most likely fungal if it looks somewhat like cotton. Replay to confirm this appearance) or someone in the tank isn't playing well with others.

babyblu

Thanks for the replies.

I don't think it's ICH either... it's just that one spot, and it looks cottony - as someone asked, which is why I thought it could be a fungus.

Yes, we have a planted tank - all real plants, and we'd hate to lose them, but I think it's more of a shame to lose the fish... trying to isolate the problem and we were recommended by LFS to add salt to the tank and monitor closely to see if the two fish recover. LFS said it could have been an injury (fin nipping) that got irritated and for us to monitor it.

They otherwise seem totally fine and the colours of the others are just amazing, including the "sick" ones.

I'll see if I can get a closeup of both the fishes.

Thanks for answering me and helping. I'm rather dumbfounded.

AlyeskaGirl

I hope you get it figured out soon and your fish will be well again.

http://www.jbl.de/onlinehospitaluk/p...=2&GalleryId=2

Shawnie

I agree it doesnt look like ich ...I appologize...I read the thread fast and had to log off and didnt see that another fish was effected as well..again I appologize...

if they are colored up good, and eating well, and no other signs of not being happy, I would agree with your lfs about an injury or being picked on....usually a fungus or bacteria infection would include some color loss, loss of appetite, and lethargic of some sorts....

keep a close eye on the salt addition..although it could heal them , it could also irritate it more and some of the other fish dont tolerate (gourami's) salt ...goodluck and again I appologize for logging off so fast with an in appropriate suggestion

cerianthus

[quote=babyblu;566963]Thanks for the replies.

I don't think it's ICH either... it's just that one spot, and it looks cottony - as someone asked, which is why I thought it could be a fungus.

Yes, we have a planted tank - all real plants, and we'd hate to lose them, but I think it's more of a shame to lose the fish... trying to isolate the problem and we were recommended by LFS to add salt to the tank and monitor closely to see if the two fish recover. LFS said it could have been an injury (fin nipping) that got irritated and for us to monitor it.

They otherwise seem totally fine and the colours of the others are just amazing, including the "sick" ones.

I'll see if I can get a closeup of both the fishes.


You do have wonderfully aqauscaped tank, it seems gorgeous even with portion of the tank in the pic. I would not add salt to planted tank either. Plants can easily melt down when salt concentration goes too high. Different plants will have their own threshold on salt level.
I do know it is close to impossible to catch fish out of well planted tank. Try this way. Leave the tank completely dark, if you have to put the towel over the tank to put them to sleep, do so. When you suddenly turn the tank light on, they will be in suspended mode thus perhaps easier time catching sick fish (something similar to jolting/stunting fish using battery for surgery/injection but dont do this in the tank, lol).
I still say isolating sick ones when and if possible and when more definite symptoms which will give more educated guess than wild guess, then decide which med to use along with salt in Q/T.
Do Remember that small q/t water can foul up faster, thus need to monitor the water condition closely. Use all, if not majority, of water from Main Tank to set up Q/T (its like pwc being performed on main tank) thus less stress on the fish that is already suffering (possibly) from whatever it may be.

I wish I had better solutions for you but this is best i can do with the pic given.

Good luck and will look out for more pics!

babyblu

Thanks again for the replies. This place is just awesome.

I think I'm going to town tomorrow (we live on an Island without a LFS and I have to take my 2 1/2 year old in tow - by ferry - and... well, it's not the easiest thing to do when hubby's working). I will be getting a QT tank for these two fish and picking up some natural medication (for emerg. and last resort). I REALLY want to try to save these guys using the most natural way possible... I'm going to take the picture of the two fish to the store so the fella there can get a greater idea of what we have here.

Hubby suggested doing a water transfer from the big tank where these fish live (the 60 gal.) and move ALL that water into the QT tank to cycle it. He's also going to "borrow" some substrate.

I suppose a 10 Gal. is best for a QT tank?

Thanks again... we're going to catch these critters tomorrow night. Wish us luck and I'll update if/when something changes.

cerianthus

If it is too much trouble to go out of your way, you can make temporary q/t w/i the tank.

Any large, clean, clear plstic jar/lid inside the tank will do. All you need is air pump and air line tubing for the jar. Just fill the jar as much as tank water level inside the tank thus no need for extra heater.
Punch two or three hole (big enough to squeeze air line tubing in it) on lid (have hubby do it using hot tip of scredriver).
I used to drill small holes on the side of bottle to fit suction cup (Heater Suction cup/air line tubing holder suction cup; former is better) w/ dab of silicone on the jar to seal the hole properly. This/these suction cup/s can used to stick the jar on the side/front glass of tank so it doesn't move.

Voila! Now you have separate Isolation MOTEL inside the tank. Figure out the volume so you know how much medicine to cut so proportionate amt is used. And also cheaper on med, lol!
Do follow the rest of instruction on med which ever you might use, like water changes and frequency of dosing..

Please Be careful with med aound two yrs old. As they say, Terrible Two, but I think they get worse as they get older, lol!

I dont know if this DIY contraption is more work than buying new q/t set up but in case you cant, maybe it will come in handy..
Wish you a luck!

babyblu

Thanks for the DYI suggestion. I will pass that on to hubby, but with the way he works (10 hour shifts), I think the lesser evil at this point is me battling town. LOL.

Lucy merged my two threads on this topic and above are more pictures of the fish with the issue.

I'm wondering what's worse... a bacteria infection or fungus. My plants... and shrimp... gotta QT these guys and 'save' the other fish from getting it - if it's not too late.

babyblu

Question: will Jungle Fungus Tank Buddies hurt shrimp & gouramis?

TFA101

Usually the back of the box will warn you if its safe to use with specific invertebrates and fish. If the back of the box doesn't say you can't I would assume its safe. I used the Parasite clear from the same brand (Jungle Labs) with snails and they're all good.

babyblu

OK... thanks. So far, the salt we added to the tank seems to have improved our female platy's mouth, but her tail is still fungal. As well, the serpae is still pretty fungus-y. We're going to town and will pick up something at the LFS that works with all our fish. HOPEFULLY they know what they're talking about - and sell something good. Town is still a small town, so the options are quite limited at times.

babyblu

Good news! Both the platy and the serpae that had fungus (turned out to be just that) have recovered and are now out of the hospital tank and living with their buddies! Happy about this.

Sad news is we lost a serpae and a rainbow fish in the community tank - likely old age as nothing was wrong with them. Hate losing fish.