first ich- or is it?

[dwarfgourami]

Oh dear, 2 days into fishkeeping and my female platy has a white spot on her tail fin. Doesn't quite look like ich as I remember it but that is probably because it's on the fin. Has anyone got a link with a colour photograph?

Assuming it is ich- what treatment do you recommend? Salt or medication? - or should/can one do both? I have only got guppies and platies in there, thankfully my corys are in the other tank, so that leaves more options doesn't it?

If salt, what kind? from the lfs? dosage?

Should the temperature go up (it's on 25 C)?

I really want to nip this in the bud, the children are so fond of their new fish- and so am I.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Just had another look at poor Smudge and it's a funny looking spot. It doesn't seem to sit on top of the skin like it does in my book but goes right through the caudal fin, equally visible on either side. It's as if she had no pigment on that spot- but I'm sure she did yesterday. She seems well in herself so far, eating well, exploring the tank. Should I assume it is ich and start treatment? Can't do any harm can it?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Here's some pics of whitespot;

http/www.fishpalace.org/ich_bobjohnson.jpg

http/www.fishpalace.org/ich_anonymous.jpg

Although it doesn't quite sound like you've got whitespot to me...I'll see if i can find you somthing else

 

[dwarfgourami]

Thanks, TokisPhoenix. Latest developments seem to point to finrot/fungus: where she had the white spot she now has a hole and there is no suggestion of any spots elsewhere.

The man in the lfs (actually Pets@home- I take back what I have said about them, he was very helpful) told me that can start out as a large white spot and found me some medication.

So I did a 25% water change first and then put in medication, he said to leave the temperature as normal, but if it does not clear up within the week to treat with more medication and maybe salt.

Poor Smudge, I would really hate to lose her; she is a lovely little creature. At least, she still seems well in herself, so hopefully I've caught it in time. Do you think her fin will grow back or will she always have a hole in her tail?

Thanks very much for your support.

 

[WILDER]

Here you go it's a betta site but it applies to all fish.
http/www.mushi.petfish.net/finrot.html

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Thats ok! glad to help

Here's some pics of various fungus;
body fungus;

http/www.fishpalace.org/fungus_chuckshobbiespets.jpg

cotton fin fungus;

http/www.fishpalace.org/cottonfungus1_anonymousjungle.jpg

http/www.fishpalace.org/cottonfungus2_anonymousjungle.jpg

Bacterial finrot;

http/www.fishpalace.org/salmonella_mantisaofa.jpg

In all these cases, if treated with the right med the fish will recover 100% within time
I would leave treating the tank with salt if you have any scaleless fish/catfish as these fish cannot tolerate it.
Do you know what med/brand the petshop guy sold you?

 

[dwarfgourami]

Thanks a lot- what ghastly pictures! Smudge is nowhere near that bad, thankfully. I think she must have been in the very early stages. How long does it take them to get like that?

The medication is Interpet Anti Fungus and Finrot. Thankfully my catfish are in the other tank, only guppies and platies in this one, so I don't need to worry about lack of scales.

The good news is Smudge looks no worse this morning, her fin is no worse and she is chirpy and alert in herself.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Have a feeling that the hole in Smudge's tail has grown a little though; do you think I should add salt as well as the medication? Have tested water stats and they're ok (no ammonia, no nitrite, nitrates just over 40). She seems well in herself and is eating.

 

[WILDER]

Should be fine what medication are you using.

 

[dwarfgourami]

The medication is Interpet Anti Fungus and Finrot.

 

[WILDER]

I would switch to an anti internal bacteria med if there is no improvement in a few days.

 

[dwarfgourami]

I can't add any new medicine though, can I, until 7 days after the anti-fungus went in (that's what it says on the bottle)? But I could add salt, non? If so, how much salt? On the container it says 1 tablespoon/5 gallons, but comments in the livebearer forum suggest that this is too much. How much? Should I dilute it in a little tank water first? Should it all go in at once or over a period of a few days?

 

[WILDER]

Just do a 30% water change and add black carbon for a day and add the med, you can mix them anyway.

 

[Angry_Platy]

I can't add any new medicine though, can I, until 7 days after the anti-fungus went in (that's what it says on the bottle)? But I could add salt, non? If so, how much salt? On the container it says 1 tablespoon/5 gallons, but comments in the livebearer forum suggest that this is too much. How much? Should I dilute it in a little tank water first? Should it all go in at once or over a period of a few days?

When I use salt for livebearers I use 1tablespoon per 5 gall....It seems to work well.

 

[Katchan]

You also need to be careful as to lighting effects on medications, some anti-fungals can be nutralised by fish tank/natural lighting, I found this out the hard way when wondering why my pictus and salmon tail didnt get better from whitespot (I used a general anti whitespot/anti fungal ) and that tank gets a BIG dose of direct morning sunlight ,

Katchan