Australian Rainbowfish With Hole In The Side

[zipr]

Ok, where to begin?
In early January I bought a trio of clown loaches and added them to my 29 gallon tank. A couple of weeks later, I noticed that they had ich -- they were covered in white sandy-looking spots. It spread to most of my other fish.

I began treating them with Rid-Ich+, with my carbon filter out, doing partial water changes as suggested by the manufacturer. Long story short, after treating for over two weeks, the Ich killed most of my fish. (This seemed really strange to me, as years ago I had an Ich problem that was treated easily with no fish losses.)

Anyway, of the survivors is a large Austrailian Rainbow fish. He had a bit of Ich which went away, and he lost a few scales. In one spot on the side of him where he lost a scale, there is now a hole. I went through the forums and didn't see anything described quite like it: the area is not red or irritated-looking, it is fish-flesh colored (kind of off white). Partially covering it is some white gelatinous-looking stuff, that kind of looks like tofu or yogurt -- in other words, it's not white and fuzzy, it's congealed. The fish otherwise seems fine -- acting normal, fins are good, front and rear end is fine.

My question: should I just let it be and hope that it'll heal (and perhaps that the stuff I'm describing is kind of like a scab), or should I try to treat it? It doesn't seem to be getting any worse.

My water is in pretty good shape for not using charcoal for the last couple of weeks. Ammonia & Nitrates are both 0. Perhaps it's the daily water changes. I plan tonight to do one more water change and replace the charcoal filter as it's been over 4 days since I've seen any Ich.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[WILDER]

It sounds like an ulcer not the writer of this informaion below.
Ulcer Disease



Symptoms:

Fishes presenting with large red open lesions, ulcers or sores on the body have ulcer disease. Other symptoms may also include eroding flesh, reddening at the base of the fins and vent, and the fish may also experience a loss of appetite and darkening of color.



Cause:

Internal bacterial infection caused by Aeromonas and Pseudomonas. This disease is most often seen in fish that have been kept under poor conditions or recently imported.



Treatment:

Check your water conditions to ensure that they are within the optimal ranges for the type of fish you are keeping. If not, perform an immediate water change. Ulcer Disease is highly contagious, therefore the entire tank and all fish, even those not yet showing symptoms, should be treated. Treatment with Kanacyn, Furacyn, or Nitrofura-G are recommended.

 

[zipr]

I saw that when I was searching the forums earlier.
The thing is:
-The hole is whitish and not at all red
-The fish's fins are fine
-The fish is the normal color
-The fish is active and has a normal appetite

That's why I was thinking that it was something else.

It sounds like an ulcer not the writer of this informaion below.
Ulcer Disease



Symptoms:

Fishes presenting with large red open lesions, ulcers or sores on the body have ulcer disease. Other symptoms may also include eroding flesh, reddening at the base of the fins and vent, and the fish may also experience a loss of appetite and darkening of color.



Cause:

Internal bacterial infection caused by Aeromonas and Pseudomonas. This disease is most often seen in fish that have been kept under poor conditions or recently imported.



Treatment:

Check your water conditions to ensure that they are within the optimal ranges for the type of fish you are keeping. If not, perform an immediate water change. Ulcer Disease is highly contagious, therefore the entire tank and all fish, even those not yet showing symptoms, should be treated. Treatment with Kanacyn, Furacyn, or Nitrofura-G are recommended.

 

[WILDER]

How big is the hole and how deep.

Not the writer of this information below.
Vibrosis



Symptoms:

The signs of vibriosis are similar to many other bacterial diseases of fish. They usually start with lethargy and a loss of appetite. As the disease progresses, the skin may become discolored, red and necrotic (dead). Boil-like sores may appear on the body, occasionally breaking through the skin surface resulting in large, open sores. Bloody blotches (erythema) are common around the fins and mouth. When the disease becomes systemic, it can cause exophthalmia ("pop-eye"), and the gut and rectum may be bloody and filled with fluid. It should be noted that all of these "signs" can be caused by other bacterial diseases, and are not proof of a Vibrio infection.



Cause:

The bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Vibrio bacteria are common in the gut of healthy fish, however, stress can give these bacteria a foothold and allow them to spread rapidly. If they are allowed to reproduce unchecked, they can cause the above symptoms in their host. Under certain conditions, the bacteria may be capable of crossing the intestinal wall, resulting in a systemic infection.



Treatment:

Before beginning treatment, ensure that the water quality and your aquarium maintence routines are good. Removal of underlying problems is essential to successful therapy. Often, improving the water quality will be sufficient to control the infection. Notwithstanding, it is strongly recommended that you treat the fish with medicated food containing either Terramycin or Romet. Terramycin contains the antibiotic oxytetracycline and is sold for fish in a sinking feed and should be fed for 10 days. Romet is a potentiated sulfonamide which contains two drugs, sulfadimethoxine and ormetoprim. It is sold for fish in a floating feed and should be fed for 5 days. Either drug will be effective if the strain of Vibrio is sensitive to it and if sick fish ingest enough medication to maintain the drug in the bloodstream throughout the treatment period. Alternatively, these medications could be delivered by injection instead via food.

 

[zipr]

I would say that it is the size of a BB -- pretty small. It's almost as if someone had ripped out one of its scales and with it came a bit of the fish's flesh. The fish, btw, is about 4" long.

How big is the hole and how deep.

Not the writer of this information below.
Vibrosis



Symptoms:

The signs of vibriosis are similar to many other bacterial diseases of fish. They usually start with lethargy and a loss of appetite. As the disease progresses, the skin may become discolored, red and necrotic (dead). Boil-like sores may appear on the body, occasionally breaking through the skin surface resulting in large, open sores. Bloody blotches (erythema) are common around the fins and mouth. When the disease becomes systemic, it can cause exophthalmia ("pop-eye"), and the gut and rectum may be bloody and filled with fluid. It should be noted that all of these "signs" can be caused by other bacterial diseases, and are not proof of a Vibrio infection.



Cause:

The bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Vibrio bacteria are common in the gut of healthy fish, however, stress can give these bacteria a foothold and allow them to spread rapidly. If they are allowed to reproduce unchecked, they can cause the above symptoms in their host. Under certain conditions, the bacteria may be capable of crossing the intestinal wall, resulting in a systemic infection.



Treatment:

Before beginning treatment, ensure that the water quality and your aquarium maintence routines are good. Removal of underlying problems is essential to successful therapy. Often, improving the water quality will be sufficient to control the infection. Notwithstanding, it is strongly recommended that you treat the fish with medicated food containing either Terramycin or Romet. Terramycin contains the antibiotic oxytetracycline and is sold for fish in a sinking feed and should be fed for 10 days. Romet is a potentiated sulfonamide which contains two drugs, sulfadimethoxine and ormetoprim. It is sold for fish in a floating feed and should be fed for 5 days. Either drug will be effective if the strain of Vibrio is sensitive to it and if sick fish ingest enough medication to maintain the drug in the bloodstream throughout the treatment period. Alternatively, these medications could be delivered by injection instead via food.

 

[WILDER]

Get a magifying glass and see if you can see any parasites around the hole, if not i would treat it as bacterial.