White Spots on New Fish

[dixaisy930]

I brought home a new platy yesterday. I noticed a small chunk of her tail was gone, and I just chalked it up to being picked on. Today, however, I *think* I see some white stuff where the chunk of the tail is gone. Could this be ick? Or something else? Her tank mates are a cory, dwarf puffer, and two other platies in a ten gallon tank.

 

[mathman]

That sounds like advanced ich. Quarantine immediatley! and take it back to your lfs. Be sure to treat your tank before it gets to the other fish. Treating ich is fairly easy and wont hurt healthy fish if you do it per directions.

I am not an expert so you may want to get more advice before you take my suggestions.

 

[dixaisy930]

I have Quick Cure...will that work? Will the recommended dosage (1 drop per gallon) be safe for my dwarf puffer and cory? I also noticed today some white coloring on her belly. I can't tell if it's just her coloring, or something is wrong with her.

 

[mathman]

I know nothing about cory. Sorry. Did you remove the infected fish from your comunal tank yet?

 

[dixaisy930]

yeah, but she's just in a gallon fish bowl. I have an air pump in there. I can't return it to the fish store because I'm snowed in. I think I'll just try to see if I can treat her. She didn't have the white stuff yesterday. In my community tank I just did five drops (ten gallon). But I did full dosage for the other fish.

 

[mathman]

I would call the store to let them know what is going on so they will still replace her should anything happen. Sounds like your doing the best you can. Good Luck with her!

 

[dixaisy930]

There's a 14 day period to return a fish (dead or alive). I figure I'll either be able to save her by then, or she'll pass away. I should probably call them and let them know though. Since the ick didn't show until today, do you think it's what ate away her tail? Can ick even do that? If the ick doesn't clear up within two days, do I still keep treating, or do I stop for a few days? The bottle says is gets rid of it in two days.

 

[mathman]

The bottle should say how long but if memory serves you will have to treat for at least 4 days. I will see if i can find a good article on ich. Yes, ich can eat fins and will eventually kill the fish. I'll see what I can find and put a link in here.

 

[mathman]

White Spot - Ichthyophthirius (Ich) Ich attacks the skin and gills of the infected fish. Ich is a parasitic infestation that is a very common pest among hobby aquarists. It can be introduced by rapid changes in water chemistry such as temperature or ph (these weaken the fishes immune system leaving them susceptible to disease), poor water quality, or bullied fish. Ich is easily treated if caught in time. Once symptoms are observed, treatment must be swift. The life cycle of ich is about 4 days, if treated, it will have to be a minimum of 4 days. While the ich is in cyst form, it cant be killed by medication so you have to treat long enough for the cysts to hatch into its free swimming form.
Symptoms: Fish will flash or scrape its self against aquarium décor, appearance of small white cysts or "sprinkles of salt" on the body or fins, loss of appetite, rapid gill fluctuation (breathing heavily), exhaustion, isolation, fish may hang out near the surface or water return.
Treatment: There are many different treatments available for ich, just goto any fish/pet store. Many people believe that the addition of aquarium salt at the ratio of 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water, to be very effective along with the commercial treatment, and upping the temperature to 82F.
Example: No pic yet.

Please go to Fish Disease By David Rope to see more on different illnesses also. This site is a plethora of knowledge and information on just about anything you need to know.
Hope I have been of help.

 

[dixaisy930]

Well, after checking several websites, I think it's fin rot, not ick. The pictures and descriptions matched my fish almost perfectly. And from what I read, it sounds like it will clear up on it's own with a change in the environment, like going from a petstore to my nice, homey tank. I would go and get some antibiotic for her, but I can't leave my apartment. Blizzard. If it doesn't look alot better by the time I can get out, I'll get some. She's acting like a healthy, happy fish. she's got a great appetite.

 

[wherryj]

I'd say that it sounds like what my betta suffered from when he was in his 2 gallon tank (poor water quality--->fungal infections). He now is a short-tailed betta due to repeated losses of small areas of his tail. I found that antifungal mixtures tend to help, and found that neosulfa worked without the discoloration associated with methylene blue. (some human fungus will respond to certain sulfides,especially selenium sulfide, so I suspect that the sulfa in the mixture can often help)

 

[Angel Lady]

I'd say that it sounds like what my betta suffered from when he was in his 2 gallon tank (poor water quality--->fungal infections). He now is a short-tailed betta due to repeated losses of small areas of his tail. I found that antifungal mixtures tend to help, and found that neosulfa worked without the discoloration associated with methylene blue. (some human fungus will respond to certain sulfides,especially selenium sulfide, so I suspect that the sulfa in the mixture can often help)

watch about putting ick medicine in with your fish some of your fish might not have scales and most ick meds. will kill them if the fish has scales i would tell you to dip him in a salt bath that does wonders for ick.