Help!! Is this ich???

[Celeste M]

I'm new to this hobby and I need help She has a white spot behind her left fin, it wasn't there last night and I'm afraid it might be the start of ich

Any advice on what it is and how can I fix it???

 

[hybridazn]

No that is not ich. It looks like he could have rubbed up against something. Keep an eye on it but it should go away in a few days.

 

[NanaReefer]

I agree with keeping an eye on it. Fire fish are very well known for ICH. Watch it closely for rubbing behavior, excessive hiding and lack of appetite.

 

[4FordFamily]

Can't tell unfortunately

 

[Reefing Madness]

No, not Ich. Ich spots are raised off the the fish, looks like sand or salt on them.

 

[Celeste M]

No, not Ich. Ich spots are raised off the the fish, looks like sand or salt on them.

Up close and personal it's not so much like sand or salt but it looks like a bubble almost. Similar to a pimple..

 

[Reefing Madness]

Could be then. You'll just have to watch, theres no reason to make it worse and stress him out trying to catch and throw into QT. I'd just watch for the time being, make sure he still eats.

 

[madtownguy]

Up close and personal it's not so much like sand or salt but it looks like a bubble almost. Similar to a pimple..

It should multiply, I've never had a fish just get one. Is your salinity in the tank on the high end? If it, the spots, multiplies I personally would try to do a fresh water dip or something. Haven't had ich in a long time, I forgot what I use to do. Definitely lost a couple fish to it in the day.

 

[chris124]

you might want to put a uv light on your tank.

 

[Celeste M]

It should multiply, I've never had a fish just get one. Is your salinity in the tank on the high end? If it, the spots, multiplies I personally would try to do a fresh water dip or something. Haven't had ich in a long time, I forgot what I use to do. Definitely lost a couple fish to it in the day.

The salinity is right about at 1.020, I'll make sure to watch to see if it multiplies

 

[Celeste M]

you might want to put a uv light on your tank.

What does the UV light do??

 

[chris124]

When ich is free floating it will go through the uv light and be killed. I had ich one time when I first started my tank a few years ago and since I installed the uv no more ich. Its one of cheapest things you can buy to protect your fish.

 

[Celeste M]

Could be then. You'll just have to watch, theres no reason to make it worse and stress him out trying to catch and throw into QT. I'd just watch for the time being, make sure he still eats.

UPDATE: She's eating and acting normal, but it doesn't look like a bubble anymore...it kind of looks like a flake. Similar to when a person has a sunburn and their skin starts to peel off. I've never seen anything like that, online or otherwise

 

[chris124]

Dose it look a little like cotton?

 

[Celeste M]

Dose it look a little like cotton?

No, it looks like a really big scale (considering she's such a tiny fish) its almost the size of her eye, and it kind of flaps around when she swims

 

[chris124]

Yeah I cant find anything that looks like that. Hopefully she just got something stuck on her that will fall off. Good luck.

 

[NanaReefer]

The salinity is right about at 1.020, I'll make sure to watch to see if it multiplies

Your "specific gravity" of 1.020 is below what is acceptable. Acceptable levels are 1.023-1.026

 

[Reefing Madness]

She may have smacked into a rock or something.

 

[Celeste M]

Your "specific gravity" of 1.020 is below what is acceptable. Acceptable levels are 1.023-1.026

Oh..the little tool I have indicates a "safe zone" in green and it ranges from 1.020-1.030 so I thought it was okay. During the next water change should I use water with a higher amount of salt?

 

[D maul]

Increase your salinity slowly and you might want to purchase a refractometer to check your salinity.