Weird White Splotches On Oto....

[TotallyTropical]

I noticed one weird, white, splotchy thing on my oto, and I was confused as to what it was. The next day, I saw another one. Does anyone know what this is? And is it dangerous, or just markings? (Sorry for the size and poor quality of the pic )

 

[mike455555]

can you try to get a better pic? cant see much on it atm

 

[LucyB]

Which pixel is the oto?

Can you get a better pic? It sounds like fungus to me, although sometimes plecos can get white patches when they are stressed, I'm not sure if this is the same with oto catfish though?

 

[TotallyTropical]

I think I can get another picture. An iPhone can probably take a picture 10x better than my current camera! But just to clear things up: the brownish, pixely, fuzzy thing is the otto, the equally fuzzy and pixely white things are the splotches, and that green thing is the leaf of a plant. I have to say though, the picture looked better on the camera.....

 

[TotallyTropical]

Is this any better? (By the way, there seems to only be one splotch now)

Edit: Ummm..... Well, I guess it's better than the first picture.....

 

[fishprotector]

Hmm pics are not very good. Is it raised from the surface like cotton wool, or is it smooth like the top layer of skin has been removed?

From you pics, it looks like the later and was probably caused by rubbing against a rough object.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Heater burn?

 

[TotallyTropical]

It does look like it's part of the markings, not like fungus or anything. I do keep on telling them to stay off of the heater! But I've never seen them there long enough for the heater to turn on. I do have a pretty rough fake log in there for my Kuhlis...... I guess it's a scratch or two! Thanks for the replies, and I'm off to get a better camera! (Soon-ish )
Edit: I guess I should also get a smoother log!

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

You can also get a guard for your heater so they they can't burn themselves on it. Interpet make covers for their heaters i know, but i'm sure other brands do too

It's common for plecs to burn themselves so i can see how an oto may be similar

 

[Alba_Buzz]

my britlenose isn't a heater hugger, but my otos are/were (only got 3 left out of six after less than a year
Changing to an external heater now (on order from aquacadabra on ebay) just in case but looking at the location of that marking i dont think its heater burn.

 

[TotallyTropical]

Unfortunately, it was early fungus. It was really weird, but I already lost one of my otos to it. Strangely, the oto that I first saw the splotches on was a survivor (I hope!). I've been away for a bit, so I hope everyone will make it!

Edit: I came back to see that my Kuhli Loaches were there, and actually looking ok. No sign of the other oto, so I believe he/she has passed on. I think my Kuhlis ate her, because, like I said, she was just gone. I just hope that doesn't make them sick.... (and don't worry, I did like a 50% water change!)

 

[gregswimm]

Turn the heat up to 83-86F increase aeration and see if this helps. If not you may need to dose meds, malachite green and or copper should work (note copper is toxic and will kill invertebrates like shrimp and snails).