Venustus With Strange Symptoms

[HappyGeorge]

I have posted this in fish emergencies but has been bumped down having had only one reply, I have spent hours on internet looking at images and even visited my LFS to flick through a fish disease book, there was no advice on hand as unfortunately it was all Saturday girls who are up on reptiles but openly admit to not being great when it comes to fish.
The big white spot appeared on this Venustus about 4 days ago, initially he had his fin stuck to his side, I assume it was stuck as he wasn't moving it. He now has movement but the fin is torn and as you can see its lumpy on outside and on bodyside of fin, today a small white spot has appeared on his pelvic fin. He is showing no signs of discomfort, no flashing, no drop in activity levels, no colour change, nothing. There are no other marks on his body and I dont think it is as a result of injury, although this is a Malawi tank its pretty peaceful and the more feisty mbuna don't bother the Haps who have a nice clear stretch of open water away from the rocks.

I have searched and searched and keep coming up with Ich, but the typical explanation and description being like grains of salt on the skin doesn't make any sense for this. No other fish showing any signs of any problems.

Water stats
NH - 0
NO2 - 0
NO3 - 20ppm (its 20% change day and comes out of tap at 10-20)
Temp - 27

 

[lalo99]

I would say either a parasite or Lymphocystis. There is no cure for Lymphocystis. i woudl try to treat witha good anti parasitic med just incse its a type of parasite.

 

[loraxchick]

actually, it look like finrot and not lympho(which would look like individual small berries). the white is fungus attached to dead tissue. keep that water clean and feed some frozen food (high protein) for a week. make sure hes not being bullied. pimafix is a great anti-fungal and natural remedy which ive never ever had a problem using with any fish (unlike melafix which some fish are sensitive to).
good luck with him
cheers