Catfish with white marks?

[javajo]

Hello all -

I have a catfish - I don't know what type (about 3 - 3 1/2 inches long. He/she? is a goldish/greyish color with black circular tiny spots all over his body including fins.)

I keep him in a 29 gallon planted community tank with corys and tetras. Water temp is about 80 degrees. No chemicals besides Stress Coat. No Amonia or Nitrite. PH is acidic and the Nitrate may be a bit high - I haven't checked it recently.

A couple of months ago, my catfish started to develop these white-ish marks on his body - almost like he rubbed against a rock and developed abrasions.

My wife thinks it looks like a growth but I'm not sure.

Being a catfish, he's always been very inactive and usually hangs upside down in the tank - either in a plant, or against a corner in the tank.

He appears fine from what I can tell.


Any ideas what this growth/marks may be?

He's one of our favorite fish, so any help anyone can provide would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[smb]

It could be scrape marks. This is normal for fish to scrape and to get a red or white mark on the fish.

PH is acidic and the Nitrate may be a bit high - I haven't checked it recently.

Check it if possible. That could be the problem.

High nitrates over a period of time are bad for fish and can cause even the healthiest of fish previously to succumb to even the most simple of diseases.

 

[Feline]

I'll suggest u to do water changes more often if nitrates a bit high...

 

[Kossy]

I think he may have scrapped on a rock as you say... and as smb said high nitrate levels can harm even the healthiest fish. Therefore you should do a approximate 20% water change weekly.