Fin rot or Ich?

[MrsShrimp]

Hi,
One of my Corys has what looks like a fungus at the base of his dorsal fin. I will try and get a photo later. He isn't showing signs of stress and it doesn't look red at the base.
Now I'm fairly new to this and only have the one tank. It's a 10 gallon which I want to convert into a hospital tank and get a new bigger one as the main tank.
But please can someone advise what to do in the interim? My dad said to turn the heater up to 85 temporarily, but will this hurt the shrimps? I have only just rediscovered my bamboo shrimp which had been hiding for weeks!
Can I treat the whole tank with medication? If so, what type?
Thank you in advance

 

[GaryE]

Ich is a parasite that feeds on the fish, and looks like grains of sugar on the fish - tiny white cysts. That's not what you're describing. That would sometimes be treated by raising the heat, which Corys don't like.

Fungus looking patches can really be fungus, or can be a bacterial infection.

How long has your tank been running, how long have you had that fish and how often and how much do you change the water weekly?

A photo would help, but in the meantime, the key may lie in those answers.

 

[Essjay]

Be careful using any medication with shrimps in the tank as a lot of meds kill inverts such as shrimps and snails.

Once we know what the problem is, that will tell us if medication is needed, and which is the best to use for the condition/shrimp safety.

 

[MrsShrimp]

Ich is a parasite that feeds on the fish, and looks like grains of sugar on the fish - tiny white cysts. That's not what you're describing. That would sometimes be treated by raising the heat, which Corys don't like.

Fungus looking patches can really be fungus, or can be a bacterial infection.

How long has your tank been running, how long have you had that fish and how often and how much do you change the water weekly?

A photo would help, but in the meantime, the key may lie in those answers.

Ich is a parasite that feeds on the fish, and looks like grains of sugar on the fish - tiny white cysts. That's not what you're describing. That would sometimes be treated by raising the heat, which Corys don't like.

Fungus looking patches can really be fungus, or can be a bacterial infection.

How long has your tank been running, how long have you had that fish and how often and how much do you change the water weekly?

A photo would help, but in the meantime, the key may lie in those answers.

Ich is a parasite that feeds on the fish, and looks like grains of sugar on the fish - tiny white cysts. That's not what you're describing. That would sometimes be treated by raising the heat, which Corys don't like.

Fungus looking patches can really be fungus, or can be a bacterial infection.

How long has your tank been running, how long have you had that fish and how often and how much do you change the water weekly?

A photo would help, but in the meantime, the key may lie in those answers.

Thanks for the reply and advice. Is Ich the same as White Spot? My dad has kept fish for 65 years and he told me about this.
The tank was inherited from my dad so I've had it about 4 months now. The Corys came with it.
I water change weekly, 25%, and have started using PH Down as it's currently at about 8. I use CO2 daily for the plants.
Both Corys are staying hidden atm so can't get a photo.
Thanks.

 

[MrsShrimp]

Be careful using any medication with shrimps in the tank as a lot of meds kill inverts such as shrimps and snails.

Once we know what the problem is, that will tell us if medication is needed, and which is the best to use for the condition/shrimp safety.

Ok, thanks. I'm really attached to my shrimps so glad you warned me!

 

[GaryE]

What you descibe isn't white spot (ich).
If it is big fluffy spots, look at Epistylis.
Use google images.
Look at columnaris first. Then fin rot, then Ich

Let's see what you get, since you can see the fish.