Help? Is this crypto, fin rot, or other?

[cbrprf]

New member here - and relatively new to SW tanks. My info:

55-gallon FOWLR, cycle completed 11/20/13

Fish:
Gold-striped maroon clown
Lawnmower blenny
Valentini puffer
(None were quarantined, and yes, probably more fish than I should have at 6 weeks post-cycle - I know that now... and will be using QT from now on for ALL additions!)

Water parameters:
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrites - 0 ppm
Nitrates - 3 ppm
pH - 8.1
Temp - 79 F

So... about a week ago, I noticed a few "spots" on the puffer's dorsal fin and two pectoral fins. The spots seemed to "flatten" into a milky whiteness after a couple of days (I was, by now, a bit panicked about crypto, but opted to just watch for a few more days). Then the spots seemed more defined again yesterday, and today, are again merged into a milky whiteness. All of this is just on the very edge of the three fins. Tail, ventral fin, body, everything else is perfectly clear. No spots or similar scenarios on the other two fish. The puffer's appetite is great, and she (he?) is a typical puffer - attentive when I go to the tank, interested in what I am doing, prone to staring back at me through the portal (so dang cute!). So is this crypto that is just really specific to the very tips of the fins? Or could it be fin rot? Or something else? I've seen crypto in other tanks (such as at some local chain stores...) and typically see it spread all over the fins, and then the body, etc. This is so weird - I don't know what to think.

Anybody have any experience with something that fits this progression of symptoms?

Thank you for any advice!

 

[caelanc5]

the fact that it has been that long and the fish are still eating well shows it is not likely marine velvet and fin rot would make the fins appear to be degrading and usually doesn't present itself with spots

 

[Mrscribbled]

My guess would be lymphocystis, giving the description. Can be caused by water quality, nutrition. Its a virus and often clears up on it's own.

 

[cbrprf]

Hmmm - lymphocystis. I'll look into that - I know I've seen that in passing as I've read up on how to treat crypto (ich). I didn't think it was marine velvet, but feared crypto. She's eating a varied diet of shrimp, scallops, mysis and clams. I haven't bought vitamins yet (is that what Selcon is? I see it referenced in some posts). I'll add that to make sure she is getting the nutrients she needs. Very happy to not have anyone say it's definitely crypto though (granted, someone still could, huh?).

Thanks for the responses - happy to hear more thoughts if anyone else has them!

 

[caelanc5]

though you may feed her vitamins those won't cure the ich, the only two proven solutions of icy cure is hypo and copper treatments.

 

[caelanc5]

ich*

 

[cbrprf]

Oh - so you were saying you think it's crypto, then? I missed that. I know vitamins don't cure that - I was responding to the suggestion that it is lymphocystis, which will pass with time and good nutrition. If it's crypto, then I know I have to quarantine all the fish and leave the DT fallow for about 9 weeks. I would opt for the tank transfer method of fighting the crypto, actually - but at the moment, I need to figure out if that's what this is. I know that crypto falls off but then can reappear on the fish due to the life cycle of the parasite - it just should reappear in multiple areas, not always confined to the exact same location every time. Today, there are no spots - just the milky white (but flat) patches on the fins. If this is viral, I'd prefer to not stress out the fish any further by transferring them to quarantine. Wish I had a magic magnifying glass I could look through that would put labels on whatever this is so I'd know what I'm up against... wouldn't that be nice???

 

[caelanc5]

ha yes that would be great but sadly we don't. also i could further help identify what it is if u posted some pictures of your fish