Spots That Don't Look Like Ich

[NoisyGriff]

Hi everyone,

I have a male German Ram with 2 small white spots on his tail fin (near the root). They are now about 0.5mm across.

He has had these little spots since I have had him (about 3 weeks) and I have been monitoring them to make sure that they are not getting any bigger. Since they had not grown at all in a couple of weeks, I figured that they were just part of him. Now, though, I have noticed that they are ever so slightly raised.

I don't think they are ich (based on experience last year), since they have not changed over the last 3 weeks - I understood that the life-cycle of ich would see them proloferate or drop off and spread to other fish by now.

Everyone else is really healthy. The ram is eating better than ever and there are no signs of discomfort.

I have tried to take pictures of them, and this is the best I can do - they do not show up brilliantly with the flash, but without it, the whole think is a bot of a blur:

I would really appreciate any advice from anyone who has seen something like this before. I don't want to medicate unnecissarily, so it may be a question of waiting to see if they develop into something obvious

The tank is a 125L (~30gal) - my only tank. I do not have a quarantine/hospital tank
25% water change weekly
No added chemicals (apart from dechlorinator in new water)
Soft water (3-5 deg KH)
26 deg C (78-79 def F)
pH 7.0
Ammonia and nitrate both 0ppm
Nitrate 5ppm
External filter (700lt/hr) and an internal Juwel filter
Airstone
UV sterilizer

Other inmates are:
1 Female ram
2 Harlequin Rasbora
2 Galaxy Rasbora
4 Otocinclus
2 SAE
3 Corys

 

[saz326]

Lack of replies probably means that no-one has seen this before.

It doesnt look "bad" to me, could simply be where a bit of fin damage occurred and has healed with a scar.

Id advise you dont start treating with anything unless the mark gets bigger, or develops into fungus or something. These fish are very sensitive, so are best untreated until you know exactly what the problem is (if there is a problem)

It could even be a bump that has been passed genetically from the parent fish. You say it has grown, is the growth of the mark keeping in proportion with the fish growing, or has it grown independantly of the fish itself growing.

 

[Colin_T]

If it hasn't changed in 3 weeks then it isn't anything to worry about and certainly isn't ich. It could be the start of Lymphocystis but probably not. It could also be calcium deposits or even a genetic deformity as suggested by saz.
Just monitor it and see how it goes. I wouldn't worry too much tho and don't bother treating unless it spreads. Then post some more pics showing the change and we can advise then.

 

[NoisyGriff]

Thanks for your replies - it really helps to know that there is some experience to call pon out there.

I'll keep an eye on the pots and update to thread - you never know, it could be useful to someone else.

In the meantime, I'll leave him (I think) alone.

 

[controller]

Hi, I have just posted a similar problem. My fish is an Angel but the white spots look the same and are raised. The difference is on my fish it does spread but only on that fish. It also seems to stop once a fish gets above a cetain size. It is not leathal the fish recovers on its own and they do not respond to normal white spot treatments. My fish could go months and then it would flair up again. I originally had three Angels one large (3") two small (1.5") the two small ones were affected then as one of them became larger I noted he would be affected less until he is now unaffected (he is now 3"). It is wierd. The fish don't even seem very bothered by it and carry on as normal, just look a bit sad.

 

[Colin_T]

For controller

If the spots come and go, (ie: they grow for a few weeks and then disappear, then a few months later they come back) then it is Lymphocystis. This is a virus that appears when the fish are stressed.
Make sure the water is kept in good shape and the fish are fed a varied diet. If the fish is kept in good condition the problem should go away permanently. However, the fish will always carry the virus and it can come back if the fish gets stressed out again.

 

[NoisyGriff]

That's interesting, because I have read a number of posts about Lymphocystis and I wondered if that is what is going on with my Ram.

As far as I can make out from reading around, your advice is right - the cysts are caused by a virus, but I have not found a definitive answer to whether or not the virus is contagous. Also, there does not to be a treatment - as you say, keep on top of the water and the fish should be fine - if that is, indeed, what it's got.

 

[Colin_T]

The fish in your pictures at the top of the page show a ram with something other than Lymphocystis. Lymphocystis grows bigger than the little white dot and develops an unusal shape, almost like a piece of cauliflower, white and lumpy and uneven. It usually starts on the edges of the tail and dorsal fins but can appear anywhere.

The virus has to be infectious to some degree but it is a weird one to explain. I have seen tanks with different species of fish in and only one species will be affected by it. Glass Chandas are commonly infected with it as are marine angelfish. Yet if you put these contaminated fish into a tank with other disease free fish, the other fish don't develop the problem. It might be the virus is introduced to the fish via a type of food (perhaps a contaminated copepod or other crustacean). Or the fish are becoming infected at a particular source, (ie: a breeding or holding facility).
What I do know is if you get the sick fish into good water and keep them looked after and well fed, they clear up within a month or so and you never see it again.