White Mark On Ram's Head.

[xamy_valox]

I don't know how much of an emergency this is, but I wasn't quite sure where to post.

Over the past week I have noticed that my male German Blue Ram has developed a white mark on the top of his head. At first it was quite faint, and I put it down to the fact he was brawling with a male Pearl Gourami I previously had in the tank. I assumed maybe the pearl had gotten a nip in and marked him. I have since gotten rid of the male Pearl because he was too much to handle, and I was expecting to see this mark fade away, however this hasn't been the case.

I don't know if I am being paranoid but I think it has gotten brighter and more prominent. I recently lost a couple of cores to what looked like a bacterial infection and I am just worried that this may be connected in some way?

Here are some pictures, if anyone can let me know if it is just a bump that will disappear in time, and nothing I should worry about or something that I should treat the tank for, that would be great.

From the front

The side

Sorry the pictures aren't brilliant, my camera doesn't focus quick enough! Other than this mark he is fine in himself, still eating and still eager to keep everyone away from his female!

Thanks in advance.

 

[xamy_valox]

Anyone?

 

[Ilyas]

Well, can yo describe the bump at all. I had a similar worry on some of my other fish, Jerdon's Baril. I keep Dwarf rams as well, but only for a short time, and not experienced this yet. Is the bump a chalky white on the outside and a clearer substance in the middle? Kinda like acne but without the redness. If so, it may be breeding tuberculosis. Many fish get this as they are maturing. Especially gold fish, koi, minnows, carp and so on. I am not an expert by any means, but if you google search for images you should be able to compare easily as I did. Best wishes and keep me posted...

 

[xamy_valox]

Today the bump looks smaller. It isn't raised at all, and isn't red. It is literally just a white mark, with a little indent whics makes me believe it must be a nip or a bash of some sort.
I'm wondering wether he has got too close to the hose I use to syphon the water when water changing and I haven't noticed?
I have been ensuring the water is kept really clean to speed up the healing process (not that I ever let the levels dip anyway) and have also put some stress meds in for fish with exterior sores or marks.

 

[Ilyas]

OK that sounds good so far. If it isn't raised and looks smaller then I would take a sigh of relief. *sigh*. The Rams are very shy little fish so I doubt your hose is harming him. It is likely from a fight you did or did not see or, he could have bumped into a rock or something of the sort a little too hard. They are omnivores, meaning they eat everything from everywhere. So he could have gotten the issue in any number of ways. Keep watching and I think you have nothing to worry about. Do you use salt in your tank? I know that this is like asking someone what type of underwear they have on, this hobby can be so much like religion at times. I used to be set against it, but started to use it about 2 months now. I prefer it since I have noticed less stress in my fish, it kills parasites before they get a chance (in most cases) and it helps wounds heal fast. I use API aquarium salt and now use half the recommended dose as I want to plant my tanks soon.

 

[xamy_valox]

I've been advised not to use salt because I have Cory's in my tank and apparently it's no good for them?

 

[Ilyas]

Well that is an each to their own matter. As I said, hobby like a religion at times. My yoyo botia don't mind it and I think they are in the same category as corey cats. I know people with cories that do salt and those that dont. Again, each to their own. Maybe a good idea then to set up a hospital tank with no salt, in case a corey has to go there. The when a fish gets sick or injured and they can handle salt, you can add it at the time you add the fish, or add it slowly as to not shock the fish

 

[mark4785]

To me it looks like the Ram just has some scales missing where the mark is. The mark is too far back on the body for it to be hole-in-the-head disease in my opinion.

 

[xamy_valox]

Yeah that is what it seems. I keep looking at it and I still can't tell if it is getting better or just staying the same!! When he is to the side you can see a slight indent so it's definitely not just a flat mark. This is why I think someone has got him when he has been shooing them off from his female or he has scruded his head somehow. He isn't phased by it what so ever, I just wish it would disappear! Will the scales grow back? Is there anything I can add to the tank to help him out other than keeping on top of the water quality?
I've been adding an anti internal bacteria as it says its for the treatment of ulcers or open wounds as well and was all I had to hand that I thought would help.
Thanks.

 

[xamy_valox]

Here's some pictures from today.
Does it look like its worse?!

 

[mark4785]

Yeah that is what it seems. I keep looking at it and I still can't tell if it is getting better or just staying the same!! When he is to the side you can see a slight indent so it's definitely not just a flat mark. This is why I think someone has got him when he has been shooing them off from his female or he has scruded his head somehow. He isn't phased by it what so ever, I just wish it would disappear! Will the scales grow back? Is there anything I can add to the tank to help him out other than keeping on top of the water quality?
I've been adding an anti internal bacteria as it says its for the treatment of ulcers or open wounds as well and was all I had to hand that I thought would help.
Thanks.

I've had a qualified Vet around to the house before to treat a bacterial infection on a GBR. He said that putting anti-bacterial products into the water is no use at all since a bacterial infection circulates in the fishes body. To stop a bacterial/fungal growth, it would be better if you approached a qualified Vet and made it known to them that your fish is at risk of catching a bacterial infection. They will usually prescribe liquid metronidazole (this is a strong antibiotic and anti-parasite drug available from pharmacies only) which they will suggest you blend into a paste for the fish to consume. As this drug can be put into food and consumed, it wil seldom fully get into the filter system and therefore not kill off your nitrosomonas and nitrobacter bacterial colonies in your filter (these consume ammonia and nitrite). In stalk contrast, the over-the-counter products are dumped into the water column and filter and seldom help the fish.

I do have some flakes containing metronidazole if you would like to take a few for free.

Here's some pictures from today.
Does it look like its worse?!

It looks about the same size, however, I'm comparing your latest photos against earlier blurred one's.

 

[xamy_valox]

The trouble I have is, I have no way of quarantining him so I would be at risk of the other fish eating the meds too and it having an adverse effect on them!

I didn't know vets would look at fish?! You learn something new everyday!

 

[mark4785]

The trouble I have is, I have no way of quarantining him so I would be at risk of the other fish eating the meds too and it having an adverse effect on them!

I didn't know vets would look at fish?! You learn something new everyday!

You would have to put extremely small pieces of food in to take into account that risk.

As the white mark doesn't appear to be getting any worse, you could perhaps get away with putting no treatment into the water on the presumption that the white mark is it's underlying skin colour underneath what would have been scales.

If redness develops, indicating weakness/breakage in the skin, you will then need to seek veterinary help for some high grade antibiotics to blend into it's food.

Edit: In a way it is good that you cannot quarantine the Ram as they easily succumb to disease from the stress of being caught and relocated.

 

[Ilyas]

I am not sur

The trouble I have is, I have no way of quarantining him so I would be at risk of the other fish eating the meds too and it having an adverse effect on them!

I didn't know vets would look at fish?! You learn something new everyday!

You would have to put extremely small pieces of food in to take into account that risk.

As the white mark doesn't appear to be getting any worse, you could perhaps get away with putting no treatment into the water on the presumption that the white mark is it's underlying skin colour underneath what would have been scales.

If redness develops, indicating weakness/breakage in the skin, you will then need to seek veterinary help for some high grade antibiotics to blend into it's food.

Edit: In a way it is good that you cannot quarantine the Ram as they easily succumb to disease from the stress of being caught and relocated.

I am not sure that I am the only one that noticed, and if it has been mentioned I apologize. But I noticed in the very first pic posted by xamy that there is a red/orange Platy or Molly in the pic behind the Dwarf Ram. On its side it has a white dot that looks the same (to me at least) as the spot in the Ram's head. Could maybe narrow down the issue

 

[xamy_valox]

I am not sur

The trouble I have is, I have no way of quarantining him so I would be at risk of the other fish eating the meds too and it having an adverse effect on them!

I didn't know vets would look at fish?! You learn something new everyday!

You would have to put extremely small pieces of food in to take into account that risk.

As the white mark doesn't appear to be getting any worse, you could perhaps get away with putting no treatment into the water on the presumption that the white mark is it's underlying skin colour underneath what would have been scales.

If redness develops, indicating weakness/breakage in the skin, you will then need to seek veterinary help for some high grade antibiotics to blend into it's food.

Edit: In a way it is good that you cannot quarantine the Ram as they easily succumb to disease from the stress of being caught and relocated.

I am not sure that I am the only one that noticed, and if it has been mentioned I apologize. But I noticed in the very first pic posted by xamy that there is a red/orange Platy or Molly in the pic behind the Dwarf Ram. On its side it has a white dot that looks the same (to me at least) as the spot in the Ram's head. Could maybe narrow down the issueSorry I did mean to mention this in the first post as i noticed it myself after posting!! The Platy has no marks, I can only assume it was something floating about in the tank and just so happens to have been shown up by the Platy moving behind it. I've done another water change today and my rams head is actually looking a lot better. The wound seems I be smaller and not as open so I can only hope it is healing.I have been doing a few extra water changes and of a bigger amount to ensure my water is as clean as possible and it appears to be doing the trick touch wood! I'm hoping he will start breeding with my femae soon, they are a definite pair and keep making a nest. She is showing her breeding tube but then nothing happens!!!!