What's This On My Apistogramma Cacatuoides?

Please ignore the small particles in the water. I was filling the tank with a hose, which was kicking up the substrate, when the Apisto came right up against the glass.

Both my Apisto's now have what look like miniature grains of rice on their caudal fins. I'm thinking this is too big and well 'rice shaped' to be Itch.

The other one has one on his caudal fin, and as you can see the second has two.

I noticed this on Monday when I got my lights back.

The rice shape can be seen on both sides of the fish, leading me to think it's internal / under the skin.

Then a few days ago I noticed a small white patch on my second Apisto (see photo), it's on his body, bellow the back of his dorsal fin.

I'm not sure if these two issues are related? What do you think?

(Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10+.
Temp 28.4c, water changes 50% Weekly.
Tank 55 gallon plant with CO2 injection)

 

Are they breeding?

Have you added anything new to the tank including plants?

It might be ich if you've added something from the LFS lately, or they've had it before. But in a stable system with no changes, I'm under the impression ich is unlikely.

I asked about breeding because I've seen scar tissue form on my cichild's fins from aggression. The mark on the side would be explained too.

Watch to see if the spots reappear elsewhere or fall off. Scar tissue takes a while (at least a few months) to fade and the marks stay put.

 

Are they breeding?

Have you added anything new to the tank including plants?

It might be ich if you've added something from the LFS lately, or they've had it before. But in a stable system with no changes, I'm under the impression ich is unlikely.

I asked about breeding because I've seen scar tissue form on my cichild's fins from aggression. The mark on the side would be explained too.

Watch to see if the spots reappear elsewhere or fall off. Scar tissue takes a while (at least a few months) to fade and the marks stay put.

When I first noticed the 'rice shapes' on the caudal fins I had not added anything to the tank for a few months.

I have since added new plants.

I really don't think this looks like Itch, but I could be wrong.

Also is Itch likely when the tank is 28.4c?

They are both male. So scars are a possibility. The two Apistogramma don't appear to fight as the Alpha has clearly marked out his territory on the right side of the tank and has no trouble chasing the smaller away on occasion, but they both get some irregular chasing from the Pearl Gourami.

That said the Pearl chases the GBR a lot more often and they don't have any marks or injuries.

I first noticed the 'rice shapes' after my lights had been broken for three weeks.

Within ten minutes of turning on the new lights it was obvious that both Apistogramma had these marks on their caudal fins.

I would have thought fighting was less likely during 3 weeks of darkness / low light. But perhaps the usual lack of light caused some tension and aggression?

 

Hmmm not sure.....the other thing it could be is calcium deposits, as discussed here recently, but I think it looks more like scar tissue. I forget how big ich is tbh tho.

Keep up with regular water changes and good parameters and keep and eye on the spots. At that temp they would fall off in a day or two.

 

Lymphocystis can present as little clusters of spots that are rice shaped

 

When I had Lymph in my tank, it looked like clusters of cysts. If it can look like opaque white rice grains, I think there have been a few cases of it lately.

coralbandit Any ideas?