Sick Fish

[your1stopshop]

My paradise fish has some sort of illness, and it looks like black spot parasites, but he has this black patterned stuff on his head that makes me think it might not be black spot. The black stuff on his head isn't too clear in the photos, but it kinda looks like fungus? I don't know, it isn't raised off the scales or anything, it's kinda like someone drew it on. This isn't really an emergency, because the fish seems alright, I just couldn't figure out how to upload images on the tropical discussion page. He is eating normally, and doesn't seem to be scratching on anything. He is his regular active self. Thanks for any help you can give.

here is another photo

 

[Colin_T]

it just looks like normal colouration but could be a bit of cell damage from poor water quality, chemical burns from chlorine or it has been attacked.
I wouldn't worry too much unless the fish stops eating or the black bits get worse and spread.

 

[your1stopshop]

it just looks like normal colouration but could be a bit of cell damage from poor water quality, chemical burns from chlorine or it has been attacked.
I wouldn't worry too much unless the fish stops eating or the black bits get worse and spread.

They have spread. Originally they were just 1 spot and i didn't worry. And he is all alone in a 10 gallon, no one to attack him. No chlorine in the tank, always use dechlorinator. And his water quality is ok, no amonia or nitrite. I have live plants, and they seem to be growing kinda the same thing, but it might just be algae, I'm totally unsure.

 

[Colin_T]

Hi

just seeing how the paradise fish is doing.

I have been going through my books and the only thing I can find that resembles the problem it has is black spot disease, (Cercaria or Metacercaria), which was your original thoughts on the problem. Unfortunately there is no cure for this disease, however if there are no snails in the tank then it can't spread, (it requires snails & birds to be able to reproduce). And unless the fish is really heavily infested it is unlikely to cause any major damage.