Is This Ick?

[Cel]

and it looks like his scales are damaged. This appeared overnight, possibly 2 cause I didn't spend too much time looking at them the night before. Is this Ick or something else? What should I do? Any help is much appreciated.

 

[RandomWiktor]

Definately not Ich - does the white blotch appear cottony, or slimey? Sometimes protozoals cause a whitish-grey, slimey film. But the overnight appearence has me concerned about flexibacter (columnaris), even if the location isn't the classic presentation.

 

[Cel]

Thanks for the help. I had pretty much come to the conclusion that it was Ich. I found little white spots on his tail that look like the classic Ich pictures.

I'd say the white spot is cottoney, I also think a new patch is developing over his gill that wasn't there last night. Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[Cel]

New pic if this helps...

 

[WILDER]

It looks like columnaris to me and it can effect the gills.
How many gallons is the tank, and can you post water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.
How many fish are in the tank.

http/article.discusnews.com/cat-02/columnaries.shtml

Such little cuties as well, don't no location for a med, do a water change on the tank.

 

[Cel]

As of yesterday before I did a 50% water change. Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, couldn't find my Nitrate kit, and my PH was off the scale high (probably 7.8-8.0 ish chart stopped at 7.6) Water was unheated, around 82 degrees. I'm in the U.S., San Diego to be specific. The concensus on the goldfish forum is it's a bacterial infections, because its wound like in that the scales are missing or damaged, and they recommended antibacterial food and meds but didn't give specifics. You agree? Any suggestions as to specifics?

It's a 30 gallon tank, when I thought it was Ick, I began to increase the salt concentration, dosed it with 30 teaspoons of aquarium salt. The other site said to repeat that 2 more times waiting 12 hours in between, I also put a heater in and kicked the temp up to 86. If I put the meds in should I continue with the salt? Should I take out the heater? Your help is much appreciated.

Well, the article you posted seems to think the salt and temperature were good so I guess I'll stick with it. Should I give him the salt dip? Kinda scares me a little, but if I need to I will. Off to the store to get more aquarium salt and some meds... Thanks again for the help.

 

[WILDER]

No you don't increase temp with columnaris you turn it down, unless you are using tetracycline.
Maracyn one and two.
Antibiotic food only good if the fish is still eating and they are getting enough of it.
Salt one tablespoon to every 5gal, you could do a salt bath on the fish, the directions are in that link i left you.
Thirty gallons is not a very big tank for goldfish, how many are there, 20gal for the first fish, then 10gal for every other one added.

 

[Cel]

There are three. 2 Oranda's and a Calico. I know that's borderline, but they're small and I don't seem to be having any kinds of ammonia or Nitrite problems. I bought some Maracyn 2, I'll add it, I'll also take out the heater. All three fish seem fine and are eating so I'll also give them the antibiotic food. Can't hurt right? I'll let you know how things are progressing. Thanks again.

 

[WILDER]

That fine then, don't give them the antibiotic food you could end up overdosing them.
Good luck there adorable.

 

[Miss Fishy]

My gold fish devoloped what looked like that and we had no idea what to do for her. It just spread untill she was covered with "tumers" and we finly put her in the freazer out of mercy. I she hope you can save your cute fishy.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry miss fishy that must of been awful bless her, R.I.P.

 

[Cel]

Just a quick update. I'm on the fifth day of Maracyn 2 treatment, the white spot has receded almost completely, looked much better after day two. I meant to post then but life got in the way. The scales are still missing where the white patch was, but the white is almost completely gone on the main patch and the white on his tail is also gone. He does have 2 little white dots on his head, and there is still a little white on the main patch so I think he needs another five day treatment of the Maracyn. I don't really want to treat the other two again, so I'm thinking about setting up my empty 30 gallon as a hospital tank for a second five day course. What do you think? Treat the whole tank again (was going to do a big water change then repeat the course, including the large initial dose? Correct?), Hospital tank for sick fishy, leaving the other two to see if any problems develop, or stop the maracyn for all of them and see if the white continues to recede?

My thoughts are option 1, but I wanted your opinion. Thanks again for all your help, seems like my little guy's going to make it.

Sorry to hear about your fish Miss Fishy I lost a cute goldfish a few weeks ago too to an unrelated problem, very sad...

 

[WILDER]

Hospital tank and carry on with the med, the spots on the head sound like columnaris spots any red around the edges of the spot or a spot in the centre of the spot.

http/www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/profiles/d...columnaris.html

 

[Cel]

Nope, they're just little white dots. In all honesty, they may have always been there and are just a blemish in his skin. The white spots on his tail are completely gone, and the white on his patch is mostly gone, although there is definitely still a little white in the area missing scales.

He's now in a quarantine tank getting his second treatment of Maracyn two. The other fish are in the main tank which has had a 75% water change and has new charcoal filter pads in the filter.

I'll let you know how things progress but I'm rather hopeful I've got this licked and everyones going to make it.

 

[WILDER]

Bless him glad he getting better, whitespot looks like grains of salt.
Carry on with the med don't cut it to short, good luck.
I would also add some salt now it cleared up abit one tablespoon to 5gal, but best to add it gradually rather then one big dose.