Cloudy Spots On My Barbs!

[greenmumma141]

Hello!! About two weeks ago I purchased 2 tiger barbs and 3 green barbs from petsmart. One of the green barbs died the other day and now i notice that the other two have patches of white color on their skin. It started on their nose and now it is in different places; their tail, sides, etc. The large tiger barb also has it. It's not ich for sure, its not puffy, it looks kind of like their color has just rubbed off in places. I did a liquid ammonia test and it was 0. My PH is fine too. I'm wondering if it's because the barbs are getting rough with each other, maybe establishing ranking b.c they're in a new tank? I might be paranoid but I've had massive problems with new fish infections in my tank before so I want to make sure I don't infect my entire tank Here are my tank stats to help:

55 gallon
78 degrees
3 angels
1 sm. eclipse catfish
1 pictus catfish
3 cory cats
1 high fin pleco
2 algae eaters
4 tiger barbs
2 green barbs

When I purchase new fish, i treat with stress coat and stress zyme. I also did a partial water change and vacuumed my gravel. my tank is always very clean. any insight and help would be appreciated! Thanks!

and ive tried to attach a pic here but its too large to attach?

 

[WILDER]

Can you please also post your nitrite reading.

Do your fish show any of these symptoms below.

Flicking and rubbing on objects in the tank?
Darting, signs of erratic swimming?
Excess slime on body, fins?
Laboured breathing, gasping at surface of tank?
Can you see any visable parasites on the fish body, gills, fins?
Do the fish gills look pale, red inflamed, bleeding gills?
Any excess slime on the gills, or trailing mucas on body or fins?
Does the white patches look like bleaching beneath the skin?
Any red sores, or red tiny pin pricks marks on body, fins?
Do any of your fish swim in a jerky movement?

 

[greenmumma141]

I do not have a nitrite test kit at home, but the last time i had it tested, about a month ago, it was fine. Ive never had a nitrite problem.

There is no rubbing going on, the barbs sometimes do a fighting/rubbing on each other, but only between the bigger green barb and the biggest tiger. And they are the only ones showing the white.

my fish do seem to look like they might have an excess slime on their bodies, but nothing hanging or trailing.

The barbs are opening and closing their mouths more than the other fish, so maybe a little laboured breathing, but nothing at the surface.

No jerky swimming going on.

All the gins look fin

No pin marks or red marks and I looked and looked at all my fish but couldnt find any parasite evidence.

the white marks look like the color rubbed off, like i lightly sanded them in spots. Now the two green barbs look a little fluffy, all over the body.

I have noticed lately that some of my fish were looking very iridescent, but it looked healthy, but Im wondering if thats what the "gold dust" thing is??

thanks for the help so far...

 

[Blitz]

Can you show us a picture?

It sounds like velvet or ich. Not sure.. I'm not a fish docter. xD
Can you go to google and paste a picture or the link on here for us on how the "fuzziness" looks like?

 

[greenmumma141]

here is the link to a picture. He's not as "fuzzy" in this, as it was taken earlier today.

http/s1336.beta.photobucket.com/user/greenmumma141/media/DSCN0531_zps12a03530.jpg.html

 

[greenmumma141]

It has gotten much worse, he has more white spots that are more profound and not transparent. i hope he makes it through the night!

 

[greenmumma141]

Ive been reading up on velvet disease and I think that may be it and will be picking up some copper sulfate meds tomorrow morning. Ive also raised the temperature in my tank. I have the light off and will continue to keep it off as i read that will help. I haven't added salt bc i have multiple catfish species in my tank. should I be worried about the copper sulfate meds?? I would hate for my catfish to die bc of this, they are my son's favorite fish. that would be a tragedy

 

[Cookielici0us]

I used to have that on my molly, and it's a fungal disease...at least something that looked like it... When I realized what it was it was too late...so hopefully this helps... suppose its like fin-rot but on the body just be careful not to let it go any longer..my molly lived for like three weeks before it overcame it's whole body and died. >_>;; sad but true story.

 

[greenmumma141]

Its def. not fin rot, Ive dealt with that before and what a horrible thing that was. Let's hope this is easier to get rid of.....

 

[WILDER]

Turn tank lights out and shine a torch on the fish for these signs.
Fish look like they have been sprinkled in gold dust?
Golden yellow spots?
Tiny white spots?
Is there any cotton wool patches on the fish?
Around the white patches can you see any pink or redness to the patches?

You can only half dose with copper meds, due to having sensitive fish in the tank.

You can only half dose with copper meds, due to having sensitive fish in the tank.

A link to columnaris.
http/www.petfish.net/articles/Bettas/columnaris.php

 

[greenmumma141]

they def look like they have gold dust on them, and maybe an extra layer of slime on almost all the fish. The white spots arent yellow they're grayish white. No tiny white spots, they're large patches and they're not cottony. no red near the patches. I used coppersafe a couple of hours ago and still have the lights out, hopefully Ill start seeing results. I havent had any casualties. thanks for all the help!!

 

[WILDER]

I would treat for velvet.
Hope your fish are well soon.

If any more problems don't hesitate getting back to your post.

Good Luck.

 

[greenmumma141]

Thanks!I really appreciate it. Ill repost to this in a week to give an update

 

[WILDER]

Thanks greenmumma141.

 

[greenmumma141]

Okay, so I treated with coppersafe like I said. After a couple days, my green barb was much better and now I would say almost completely healed, but my tiger barb is worse. I can now see a layer of slime on my angels; my algae eater is even trying to attach onto them. If the coppersafe was working, why would it spread to new fish? I just want to make sure it's working and Im not sitting around letting the velvet get worse.