What Is This White Patch On My Platy?

[fishy_wishy]

Sorry I know the pics aren't great.
what is this white patch?
As you can see I have fry, can I use meds? will they even work?
The temperature is at 28 degrees C
The tank is 165 litres, 20 other fish none have any illness what so ever.
If I do use medicine, is it okay to put it in the main tank? I don't have a quarantine one.
 
I have no idea what could possibly be wrong

He stays in that very spot for at least 1 day + has had clamped fins for weeks. He sometimes has sudden bursts of aggressiveness towards my pregnant platy, chases her for a split second then retires to his little plant pot hiding place. (she's fine though)
What could be the matter

 
Thanks in advance

 

[fluttermoth]

It's fungus.
 
It would be best to treat the fish separately, if you can; even a plastic storage box with a heater and some kind of filter (you can steal a bit of media from the filter in the main tank) would do.
 
If not, you'll have to treat the whole tank. Any fungus med from your LFS should work.
 
Then you have to work out why the fish has got the fungus; it could be a secondary infection on an injury or could be related to poor water quality; have you tested for ammonia and nitrite?

 

[fishy_wishy]

Just tested now, ammonia and nitrite is 0 nitrate is 20 at the most, I did a full maintenance yesterday, unblocked the filter, cleaned the decorations etc.
What is a secondary infection? are my other fish going to get fungus?

 

[fluttermoth]

Well, sometimes fish get fungus for whatever reason; other times it's only when the fish is injured in some way that the fungus can get through the slime coat and infect the fish; that's a secondary infection.

 

[fishy_wishy]

Okay, well its always possible. I'm still a little confused by his behaviour though, he's moved a bit but its only very fast and sudden then he goes back, sometimes to a different place but always right next to something on the gravel. Otherwise he's pretty motionless, is this common?

 

[fluttermoth]

No, it's not normal. He looks like a very sick fish, tbh

 
I would really try and separate him, if at all possible; even a margarine tub floating in the the tank would do for the moment.
 
Chuck a bit of plant in there, if you have live ones, and change the water frequently (use water from the main tank, but don't put the water from the container back in, throw it out) and see how he goes.

 

[fishy_wishy]

He does look ill, do you think he had clamped fins for a different reason and weakened his immune system? He has had clamped fins for WEEKS but with no symptoms.
I don't have live plants I have another tank but it is not cycled and has no heater, it is you helping me with cycling it so you know its no where near ready for fish.

 

[fluttermoth]

Hmm, it's no surprise he's got fungus then, there's obviously something else that's an issue underlying both the clamped fins and the eventual fungus.
 
I would still try and separate him, but I don't see what else you can do tbh We all lose fish for unknown reasons sometimes

 

[fishy_wishy]

ok
I've had him for a while too, maybe he's just old.
is fungus contagious? I'm really worried about my other fish especially my one month old fry

 

[fluttermoth]

It could be old age, yes.
 
As long as your other fish are healthy, you shouldn't have to worry too much about it spreading; it's normally only fish that are already ill or injured that get it, but there is always a risk, which is why it would be best to separate him if possible.

 

[fishy_wishy]

I separated him but he went crazy, bashing into the sides really hard! why would he be doing this?

 

[fluttermoth]

It's just stress.

 

[fishy_wishy]

Do you think it would help to find something bigger?

 

[fluttermoth]

The bigger the better, but I would want to keep him separate, even if it is stressful for him, just in case he does have something contagious.

 

[fishy_wishy]

I separated him, biggest thing I could find was 4 litres. he has calmed down alot