Does My Sunset Platy Have Ich? (Pics)

[dariuspilgrim]

Hello all, looking for some help in diagnosing my sunset platy (named Lebowski). Got him about a week and a half ago from my LFS, and entered him in an already established 10 gallon tank with appropriate ph and water levels and a bunch of healthy fish. He wasn't quarentined (no extra tank) but he was given about an hour to get acclimated. His tank mates are a male veil tail betta, 4 zebra danios, and a pleco. Tank has a filter and is consistently heated around 78 degrees.

My Platy seemed to be doing fine, thriving really. but about 5 days ago I noticed a largish white spot on his side (see pics). Now I'm worried this may be ich and my other fish might be in danger, however I have a few doubts about this diagnosis. First off the affected area is one large white spot, not a bunch of small ones. Everything ive read has said ich cysts are 1-2 MM at most and Lebowski's spot must be 1 cm across at minimum. I haven't noticed any flashing at all and he seems to be eating and swimming normally. He has been hovering in one corner of the tank near the filter intake, but he's sort of done this since I got him and it seems to be his "territory" so this isn't totally abnormal. When I turn off the lights and shine a flashlight on him, i don't see little white spots like most of what i've read seems to indicated. Instead it seems like there are scales missing on his side when I shine the light on the spot. Almost like his flesh is damaged scared or scabbed over. there are no other white spots on his fins or gills, only the one large white spot on his side. If you look very closely it does look there is a small white "string" coming out of the whote spot but it doesn't shine flouresence in the aquarium light like ich is supposed and it almost looks more like dead skin (or scales?)

I have noticed the betta nipping at him every once in a great while but its only when the platy crosses into his territory and then the betta gives him a quick nip to the tail, not his side, and the platy is quick enough to mostly avoid it. Could this white spot be caused by the betta bullying it while I'm away, or is it definitley ich? Please view the pics below and let me know what you think, any help would be greatly apreciated by both Lebowski and myself. (sorry for the pics less than stellar quality.)

 

[karin]

That is not ich. Looks like an injury that may have an infection going. But the string thing has been concerned. Let me check my online sources for ideas. But not ich this much I know.

 

[karin]

Well I'm not a disease expert, just a very interested hobbiest. Just checking about I did not come up with anything definitive. This could be an injury with a bacterial or fungal infection as secondary. In that case, lots of water changes (20% daily if it was me) with dechlor to make the water absolutely pristine. You could also use a combination of pimafix and melafix, natural anti fungal and anti bacterial meds from ... API I think. Then wait 3-5 days for improvement.

The sting hanging out could be parasites of some sort. See the following and look at the left side of the "index" and click on roundworms.

http/badmanstropicalfish.com/fish_palace/tropicalfish_disease_identification.html

I also thought Anchor worm, but this seems to be most uncommon in indoor aquarium but you can read about it here.

http/www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/anchor_worms/

I would start with water changes and the above natural remedies and if I did not see improvements in 3-5 days I would do a course of General Cure by API.

Watch that beta, this could be an infected injury caused by another fish. Also watch your water quality. A pleco will make water quality in a 10 gallon a challenge.

Good luck.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

It looks like an external bacterial infection to me, treat with Pimafix or another external bacterial med and regular small partial water changes with dechlorinator (maing sure to top up any lost meds).

Concerning the betta it will be stressing the other fish out (and getting stressed itself) so you should separate it from them (ideally in a 2-3gallon tank with small heater & filter). Male betta's are very hit and miss in community tanks, but once they statrt being aggressive they don't stop. This bacterial infection in the platy may have even come about due to the stress or a physical injury caused by the betta (fish are covered in a protective slime coat which helps prevent infection, but if this slime coat becomes damaged then it can leave the fish to vulnerable to infection. Having said that though it may be good to switch to Stress Coat dechlorinator for a while- Stress Coat helps replenish fishes natural slime coats).