White spots on my fish

[stlrsfan]

I have a couple of iradescent sharks and just noticed one of them has some white spots on him. At first I thought it was "ick", but not so sure anymore.

The spots are actually sitting on top of him, not really a part of him. They look like little tiny white crystals resting on his body. I'm going to try and get a picture to show you guys. Anyone have any ideas?

Thx!

Ok, here's a pic. It almost looks like "sugar" resting on his fins.

 

[stlrsfan]

For what it's worth, I found a website that said it could be whitespot (ick) or fungus. I'll run and get medication tomorrow once I confirm. In the meantime, I gave him a "bath" of sorts and got the fungus off of him, if thats what it was.

 

[smb]

If it's sticking out it might be fungus.

What type of bath did you give him? A saltwater dip?

 

[stlrsfan]

If it's sticking out it might be fungus.

What type of bath did you give him? A saltwater dip?

Yes, the site I mentioned recommended a small cleansing in salt water. I basically just gave him a bit of a rubdown to remove the excess "fungus" and then let him soak for a few minutes. He's returned to regular tank and looks much better.

If it is fungus, can anyone recommend a good medication?

 

[smb]

Oh ok, I thought that's what you did, but wanted to make sure.

You could try Maracyn. It's good for fungus.

*Disclaimer*

Before you take my advice, please make sure it's safe for all fish in your tank to use.

I'm mainly a cichlid and piranha guy so I don't know much about other fish and effects medications can have on them. Please check first.

 

[Angel Lady]

it looks like ich to me and I might be wrong on this one but the shark that is in the picture is scaless and the salt may do him more harm than good you will know by morning I have one of them do you have any ideal as to how big your little fellow is going to get try about four foot long, maracyn is a real good treatment for fungus but I think it is ich at least that is how mine looked when he had ich make sure you buy the medicine for scaless fish I bought a medicine called jungle for scaless fish and it worked great I sure hope they get alright for you becareful with the salt

 

[smb]

Good info fksm.

I at first thought ick, but he said it was sticking out so I didn't think it would be that, but I can't tell by the pic. Thanks for jumping in there and adding all that great advice.

They get 4 feet? Holy crap, I would have never guessed that! I hope lfs tell people that before they buy them.

 

[Angel Lady]

CAT FISHCRAZY TOLD ME THIS AND I AM SURE HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT he sure has gave me some great advice when it comes to all of my sharks and the lfs where I live dont have a clue about these poor fish and what thier needs are I have told them alot they didnt even know that the puffers had to have snails to keep there teeth down to where they can eat. That sure looks like ich to me I just hope she hasnt killed it with that salt dip they are just like any other scaless fish salt will kill them to.

 

[Angel Lady]

and by the way if you treat with maracyn it will mess up your cycle even though it says it wont but personally I think you will be treating for the wrong thing my self

 

[lordmoose]

From the pic it looks like ich (whitespot)...but as you said it's sticking out I cant be totally sure. If it were me I'd treat the tank with Protozin.

That is if the poor thing survived being covered in salt

 

[smb]

CAT FISHCRAZY TOLD ME THIS AND I AM SURE HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT

I believed you when you said it. I'm sorry if it looked like I didn't. Heck, I don't know anything about community fish except for redtail sharks and tiger barbs. That's it. I believed you when you told me that ir. sharks get 4 feet.

From the pic it looks like ich (whitespot)...but as you said it's sticking out I cant be totally sure.

That's what has got me so confused. The pic looks like ich. But then he said it's sticking out? ich doesn't stick out, so I figured it had to be fungus and just a bad angle on the pic or something. Heck, I dunno.

I'll go with you guys here.

 

[Tanked]

looking at that pic and cross referencing with way too much personl experience with it. I'd say it is ich. ich does sort of stick out. it looks like sugar or salt crystals on the outside of the scales. fungus usually is not that scattered either. it would be more of a blanket covering specific areas. I'd go with an external parasite and protazoan (sp?) treatment like rid ich by kordon.

 

[lordmoose]

hmm the more I look at the pic the more I think it's ich.

 

[Angel Lady]

hey smb i wasnt saying nothing to offend anyone i wanted you to know that. i just hope who ever owns these two sharks knows what they are in for if the salt didnt kill them they havent made a reply since they posted the pictures I have to go with tanked on this one it is ich I if it were a fungus it would be more covered than just little spots when my shark had ich it does look like it sticks out on them fish for some reason.When my shark gets bigger I will donate him to a bigger tank if no one wants him then I will bye a tank of my own for him I sorta like him he is funny to watch.I have a redtail to he was a baby when I got him he hasnt growed very much but he is a little devil. he rules his tank thats for sure.

 

[smb]

hey smb i wasnt saying nothing to offend anyone i wanted you to know that.

OK thank you very much.

I was a little worried because you did it all in caps. I'm just afraid because I just joined here and try to answer a lot of questions that some might be offended is all.

I don't answer the questions because I think I know more than others here, I answer them (especially if they are from beginners) because I want to help them out. I know there are so many people here that know so much more than I might ever know, but I think helping the beginners will keep them in the hobby longer and that's good for all of us in the long run. I think either people will keep fish for a couple months and give up because of frustration or else if they find out the answers to their questions right away they'l be hooked like the rest of us and this hobby will grow.

Thank you very much for letting me know that though. I know that maybe I shouldn't post so much being new here, and like I said, there are so many of you that know much more than I do, but I'm just trying to help and learn along with everyone else and no offense is ever intended.

I even sent you a PM because I didn't want any hard feelings.