Hi everyone, I am new to the hobby and looking for some advice for one of my cherry barbs. I noticed he has 2 white marks on his head. I’ve had a good look through all the forums and I really don’t think it’s white spot or columnaris. I’m inclined to think it’s an injury of some sort. I have isolated the fish in an emergency quarantine tank that I’ve literally just set up. I haven’t had the chance to cycle it therefore I have used the water from my tank as im
Mid way through a big water change and I have squeezed my filter sponge from my fluval into the tank to help the filter get some bacteria. None of the the other fish have any marks, and everyone seems happy and healthy, eating etc. Hopefully after your advice I can move this fish back into my main tank. The details of my tank parameters, stocking etc is below.
Tank size: 180l Juwel vision led
tank age: 2nd hand tank but I have had it just over 6 weeks. (Fully cycled before adding fish)
pH: 7.5
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 25mg
kH: I’m afraid I’m not 100% with this as o don’t have a testing kit other than dipsticks which I’ve heard are not very reliable. @Essjay worked out that my water is on the softer side using the information available from my local water supplier. I have done the dipstick test anyway photos below. Hardness is 125 I know you probably can’t work anything out using that. I have ordered the API 6 in 1 testing kit. I’m currently using individual tetra tests, which set me back £50 for the 4 needed ammonia, ph nitrite and nitrate... stupid fish store advice!
gH: see above
tank temp: 25.5c
Fish Symptoms male cherry barb, colour great, behaving normally and eating etc. Currently chasing bubbles in the quarantine tank. He has 2 small white marks in his head. They don’t seem raised or furry however I’m no expert.
Volume and Frequency of water changes: I have only ever done 1 water change, last week before adding fish and I did 50% using fluval aqua plus water conditioner. Currently in the middle of doing a 75% water change as advised by @Colin_T in another thread.
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: There are no additional chemicals in my tank. I am running the fluval 307 external filter with the standard media, sponges, ceramic rings and I believe the top bag is carbon. Again I’m
Tank inhabitants:
12 cherry barb... although I’m not 100% if 6 are cherry barbs (they were added 2 days after I added the first 6 which consisted of 5 males & 1 female Maidenhead aquatics) the next 6 that were added are either something different or female cherry barbs. They are much smaller and different colouration. I have included a picture below.
3 honey gouramis (1 male 2 females)
6 lemon tetra
6 cardinal tetra.
I do want to add some coreys or similar but was advised to wait until my tank is more established.
Recent additions to your tank. Nothing added to tank, I have a 2 Java ferns in pots (added when I purchased the fish awaiting delivery of gorilla glue to add to rocks) 6 marimo moss balls, 4 opened up to act as carpet between some rocks. Various artificial plants (I am going to be switching these out in a few weeks with real plants. Was too scared to try live planting at first but decided I’m going to give it a go. 1 small coconut hide, 1 large coconut hide 2 large coral tunnel ornaments and a few rocks.
Exposure to chemicals: 0 exposure to chemicals.
Digital photo (include if possible):
Mid way through a big water change and I have squeezed my filter sponge from my fluval into the tank to help the filter get some bacteria. None of the the other fish have any marks, and everyone seems happy and healthy, eating etc. Hopefully after your advice I can move this fish back into my main tank. The details of my tank parameters, stocking etc is below.
Tank size: 180l Juwel vision led
tank age: 2nd hand tank but I have had it just over 6 weeks. (Fully cycled before adding fish)
pH: 7.5
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 25mg
kH: I’m afraid I’m not 100% with this as o don’t have a testing kit other than dipsticks which I’ve heard are not very reliable. @Essjay worked out that my water is on the softer side using the information available from my local water supplier. I have done the dipstick test anyway photos below. Hardness is 125 I know you probably can’t work anything out using that. I have ordered the API 6 in 1 testing kit. I’m currently using individual tetra tests, which set me back £50 for the 4 needed ammonia, ph nitrite and nitrate... stupid fish store advice!
gH: see above
tank temp: 25.5c
Fish Symptoms male cherry barb, colour great, behaving normally and eating etc. Currently chasing bubbles in the quarantine tank. He has 2 small white marks in his head. They don’t seem raised or furry however I’m no expert.
Volume and Frequency of water changes: I have only ever done 1 water change, last week before adding fish and I did 50% using fluval aqua plus water conditioner. Currently in the middle of doing a 75% water change as advised by @Colin_T in another thread.
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: There are no additional chemicals in my tank. I am running the fluval 307 external filter with the standard media, sponges, ceramic rings and I believe the top bag is carbon. Again I’m
Tank inhabitants:
12 cherry barb... although I’m not 100% if 6 are cherry barbs (they were added 2 days after I added the first 6 which consisted of 5 males & 1 female Maidenhead aquatics) the next 6 that were added are either something different or female cherry barbs. They are much smaller and different colouration. I have included a picture below.
3 honey gouramis (1 male 2 females)
6 lemon tetra
6 cardinal tetra.
I do want to add some coreys or similar but was advised to wait until my tank is more established.
Recent additions to your tank. Nothing added to tank, I have a 2 Java ferns in pots (added when I purchased the fish awaiting delivery of gorilla glue to add to rocks) 6 marimo moss balls, 4 opened up to act as carpet between some rocks. Various artificial plants (I am going to be switching these out in a few weeks with real plants. Was too scared to try live planting at first but decided I’m going to give it a go. 1 small coconut hide, 1 large coconut hide 2 large coral tunnel ornaments and a few rocks.
Exposure to chemicals: 0 exposure to chemicals.
Digital photo (include if possible):
