Pearlscale with black smudge/spots?

[Buglet]

Hello,

We recently set up a 46-gallon coldwater tank. Currently we have 2 pearlscales, one red cap oranda, and one calico fantail.

One of the pearlscales was the last fish added, and within a week of being in the tank, he developed a black spot near his hindquarters that grew slightly larger each day. Currently it is about the diameter of a pencil. He is also slowly developing more spots on other parts of his body.

After doing some online research, it looks like ammonia burns are one of the only things known to cause these spots. Fortunately, this can't be the case with our pearlscale. Our tank has remained completely cycled (I test the water daily) since he was added.

Additionally, a few days after he was added, we had an outbreak of ich, which we have been successfully treating with Cure-Ick. We have another few days of treatment to go, and I am reluctant to add any other meds while the ich treatment is ongoing.

I'm assuming he brought the ich with him from the store where we purchased him, and I'm concerned that whatever this black spot is, is also contagious. I did see online references to a disease called black smudge, but it seemed unclear what it really is and how to treat it.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!!

 

[WILDER]

Just to make sure it isn't this.
Uvulifer ambloplitis (Black spot disease)



A. Digenetic fluke; metacercaria infect fish.



B. Herons and kingfishers are the definitive host, snails are the first intermediate host. Fish are the second intermediate host.



C. Clinically the fish have numerous black to brown spots up to 1 mm (dia) over the skin, gills and eyes. The spots contain a metacercaria surrounded by heavily pigmented fibrous connective tissue.

 

[black angel]

this sounds like melanophore migration. do a google search for more info.

 

[ryan]

First of all is the fish showing any other signs of illness? Is there a loss of appetite, general lack of energy etc?

There is a possibility it could be Uvulifer ambloplitis (Black spot disease), but the fish would show other signs of an ailment as would other fish in the same environment. A brief summary of the disease is shown here and here the later is where Wilder found her information if it helps you. Basically the adults are parasites of Herons and Kingfishers, the eggs of the parasite hatch out and find a host in the form of a snail of the helisoma genus, these then reproduce and develop before moving into a fish. Black spot is realatively easy to cure and your local lfs should provide you with several options in terms of treatment.

A melanophore as black angel metioned is a pigment-containing cell: a cell in fishes, amphibians, and reptiles that contains the black to dark brown pigment melanin (dictionary definition).

 

[black angel]

I dont see how it could be black spot disease as the fish arent kept outside and would be tank bred.

 

[ryan]

There are possible routes of infection. Coldwater species I generally kept in outdoor vats around here which is open to birds etc. Snails carrying the disease may also come in on vegetation etc.

 

[Buglet]

Thanks, everyone, for all of your replies. Luckily, he does not seem to be showing any other signs of illness. I am optimistic that it is melanophore migration, and am going to keep an eye on him over the next week or so to see how the spots progress/receed. It does seem that the spots have stopped appearing (for now, at least).