White Spots!

[love_fish]

OK, I left to go to my grandmas for the holidays noon today. I checked the tanks, fed, etc. Then, I come home and one of my guppies has white spots all over her fins. Only her fins and not on her body. What is this? She's is like scratching herself at the bottom of the tank (wiggling/swimming but in place). Or is this a bacterial infection? Every other fish looks fine, just her.

What is this?

 

[tttnjfttt]

It sounds like ich. Since ich usually occurs with bad water conditions, you need to check your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. When you do, please post them here. You are going to have to medicate the entire tank. Slowly raise the temperature to 84 degreese, and add the meds. Here is a link with some more info about ich.

http/badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article2.html

 

[love_fish]

Actually, all the tank stats are normal. Ammonia and Nitrite are 0, and the Nitrate is a little high at 60, but I did a 30% water change. DO you think these fish will survive until tomorrow? Becaues my LFS isn't open anymore, and I'll have to go tomorrow.

I just dont know why this happened. Water is normal, I did a Fishless cycle, added all my fish, checked water stats for next 3 days, all normal, and now this.

What meds are good?

 

[tttnjfttt]

How long ago did you add your last new fish? That can also be the source. I would do another water change before beginning to medicate, as your nitrates are pretty high.

I use ich clear by Jungle. Its the fizzy tabs. I have used it fairly successfully. You may want to start with a half dose because of the corys (cats are usually sensitive to meds). Also, start raising the temperature. You can go 2 degreese F (or 1 degree C) per day without stressing the fish out.

 

[love_fish]

How long ago did you add your last new fish? That can also be the source. I would do another water change before beginning to medicate, as your nitrates are pretty high.

I use ich clear by Jungle. Its the fizzy tabs. I have used it fairly successfully. You may want to start with a half dose because of the corys (cats are usually sensitive to meds). Also, start raising the temperature. You can go 2 degreese F (or 1 degree C) per day without stressing the fish out.

Last fish I added was yesterday (bamboo shrimp), and 2 days ago (dwarf Gourami). Those fish were from the same tank in my LFS. How come she doesn't have the white spots on her body though?

 

[tttnjfttt]

Its possible the ich came in wiht the fish. Thats why its usually aadvised to quarentine new fish for 2 weeks. It could also be the ich are in a different life cyclc Check out that link i posted before, that should explain some stuff.

 

[love_fish]

OK, I read it. That would mean it had to have been there before, but I dont know from what.

So just treat this normally?

 

[tttnjfttt]

yup. Be careful with the meds. I know cats are sensitive to meds (the corys are cat fish) and I have no clue how shripm respond to the meds. Read the label, look for warnings for invertibrets, and add the meds slowly. You may even go with a half a dose at first.

 

[love_fish]

OK, I woke up this morning to check on everyone and the one with the white spots looks like shes clearing up. There's fewer white spots on her fins now (especially her tailfin).

Could this be some bacterial/fungus or somthing?

 

[tttnjfttt]

No, it sounds like ich, not something bacterial. Sometimes the increased temperature is enough to kill the ich off. I vote its better safe than sorry, but it is your call. What is the temperature in your tank?

 

[love_fish]

Right now its at 84* F.

Should I still treat the tank?

 

[tttnjfttt]

I would just to be on the safe side. When you add the meds, watch the fish carefully because the meds can further decrease the oxygen in your tank. If you haven't already, add an airstone to help out.

 

[love_fish]

Alright, I'll setup my airstone now.

So this is going to kill my plants?

 

[tttnjfttt]

I don't know much about plants, but i know prolonged high heat isn't good for them. Look for a med that specifies about plants and invertibrets. I have neither so i haven't looked into it. How about posting in the plant forum? Or even preforming a search in the planted forum? i'm sure this has been asked before.

 

[love_fish]

Well, I got a certain kind thats ok for plants, and my LFS said they will look after my shrimp for me.

Would it be ok if I start medification tomorrow? She has stopped scratching herself, and maybe this will go away.