Paradise Fish Has A Missing Scale/white Bump

[IxIBluePitIxI]

Hello everyone this will be my first post I could use some help here. I've had a 20 gallon tall tank set up in my bedroom for about 3 months now. I cycled the tank using sponge media from my established 40 gallon. Last month I got my first, two fish for the tank one is a pale blue Dwarf Gourami and the other a Paradise Fish aka Jock the Bully. I moved my gourami to my already establish 40 gallon in my living room after 2 weeks, so now it's just my Paradise in the 20 gallon.

I noticed him sitting on the bottom of the tank and thought he maybe sick so I kept a close eye on him and raised the temp in the tank slowly to about 82 degrees I didn't see any feces in the tank its a sand substance with a big piece of driftwood and some java plants for cover in the tank, so when he "goes" you can find it easily. After a 50% water change and the raised temp he seems to doing much better. (Swimming around looking for food and a challenger.)

I haven't seen much feces in a 2 day period and that still bothers me I fed him a pea this morning just in case he was constipated.

Now here's where I really need some advice, over a short time (2 weeks)I have notice a little whitish bum on his side only one and it may be getting slightly worse.

I have the parameters of the water and it looks fine (I think)
All API test results
pH:7.6
ammonia:0
nitrate 5 PPM

Here are some pics of Jock the spot was slightly lifted 2 weeks ago(first pic) and now it seems to be getting worse(other two) taken this morning for a week now I have dosed melafix and pimafix.

He still spends most of his time challenging his reflection and plucking at the huge piece of driftwood in the tank so I think he fells fine.

I found this picture of a flame var. an online company was selling (I wouldn't buy a fish that looks like this) But Jock's spot looks different

 

[Fishkeeper4567]

Hello and welcome. It look's like it might of lost some scales but I would check with other members. Do you have any fish in your tank that may be giving it a hard time? Sorry that was bad advice. Looking at the pictures carefully It might be some sort of fungus. As I said check with more experienced members. I only have a biube! It might be rubbing its self on something. Just an idea

 

[IxIBluePitIxI]

Hello and welcome. It look's like it might of lost some scales but I would check with other members. Do you have any fish in your tank that may be giving it a hard time? Sorry that was bad advice. Looking at the pictures carefully It might be some sort of fungus. As I said check with more experienced members. I only have a biube! It might be rubbing its self on something. Just an idea

You replied Thanks any ideas are welcome that's a great idea, he is the only one in a 20 gallon tank I do have a few fishing lines wrapped around a piece of drift/bog wood(attached java). The wood is bowed or caved in the back so the lines are exposed on the back of the wood(line is suspended in the water) I wounder if he's catching his scales on that? I wasn't sure if that could be the problem I'll cut it today just in case. Thanks you may be spot on.

Wish I had a biube those thinks look so modern

 

[Jayhawk]

I agree it looks like he has scraped off a few scales. When startled, paradise fish can accidentally scrape against something and lose a scale. Just in case he came in with the start of ich - keep an eye out for the telltale salt crystal look on the body/fins. I doubt it's ich, but he could have scraped the scales off if he was itchy by rubbing against anything in the tank including gravel.

Eric