White Spot Or Fungus?

[kelbly]

Hi im a bit of a noob so please bare with me!

I have a cherry barb that is quite alot smaller than the rest im not sure if that has anything to do with this.

I have noticed I small white spote about the size of a pin head on its tail fin it does have a cotton ish like appearance but hard to tell as it is quite small!

I'm wondering what I should do about treating it? he eats and swims as normal, but the other barbs keep trying to nip at where the spot is. I dont have another tank to seperate.

Tank size:190 litres
nitrite:0

(currently waiting on an api testing kit) only have a nitrite one!
tank temp: 26


Volume and Frequency of water changes:last change yesterday 40 litres usually change weekly

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: none

Tank inhabitants:8 cherry barbs, 1 plec 1 shark

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):It is a new/secondhand tank that was used until I collected it last week

Exposure to chemicals: none

 

[zeke the black ghost knife]

sounds like ich to me. do you have a picture?

 

[RushingChamp28]

I have a cherry barb that is quite alot smaller than the rest im not sure if that has anything to do with this.

Quite possibly. See below.

I have noticed I small white spote about the size of a pin head on its tail fin it does have a cotton ish like appearance but hard to tell as it is quite small!

I'm wondering what I should do about treating it? he eats and swims as normal, but the other barbs keep trying to nip at where the spot is. I dont have another tank to seperate.

Although it is IMPOSSIBLE TO CONFIRM without a picture, it could just be a tattered fin. The fact that the other fish are nipping at this particular spot makes it even more likely that this is just your small barb being harassed by the rest of the group.

As far as treating, I would confirm what (if any) infection your fish actually before treating with anything. So many times new and "veteran" fish keepers alike are quick to dose their tank with any number of medicines, all of which stress the fish and can actually cause more problems. Generally if there is ick in the tank you will see more than one spec. Fungal/bacterial infections at the point where you can see the physical, external signs on the fish are usually progressed to the point at which it severely alters their behavior aka they act like something is wrong.

Since neither of these is happening, and your fish is acting like a healthy fish, I would watch carefully to see that the spot does not spread or new spots appear. If it is just a ding in its fin it will heal over a matter of a week or two

Keep an eye on the aggression of the other fish toward this one. If it is really bad you could always isolate the fish in a breeder net and let it heal, although this may just be a temporary fix.

Are these new fish? How many males to females? (Good thing about cherry barbs is that they are EASY to tell apart - males are {cherry} red, females are brownish)

 

[RushingChamp28]

I also noticed that you said this tank was collected last week, as in set up last week? If so you should be careful of ammonia in the first few weeks. Especially with a fair number of fish (even if they are small) you could experience an ammonia (and after, nitrite) spike.

I would read up on articles about fish-in cycling if you haven't alreadly.

 

[kelbly]

Thank you so much for your replies, I really appreciate it.

Well he is still with us! there isnt any more specs or spots, is a little weaker swimming now.

the spot seems to be on either side of the tail fin in the same place, been trying to get a pic but proving difficult. I will try again though!its not being too harassed, and luckily there is alot of hiding spaces.

I used the water from my old tank to put into this tank the rest was tap wather (dechlorinated)

I dont want to medicate unless I really had to.

I have read that salt can be handy, would it help in this circumstance? the fish are not new - new about 4 weeks new! Other fish seem fine still, so maybe it is damage to the fin?

Thanks again

Katie