Ich VS Dirt

[Clams55]

I recently picked up a Copperband butterfly, and he is feeding well, happily swimming around my QT.

I noticed this morning that he appears to have some small white dots on his fins. I don't remember noticing these yesterday when I purchased him. Now the QT tank has some particulate matter in it, and I am wondering if it is just good ol' dirt. Butterfly fed well 20 minutes ago, no flashing or darting, regular breathing, nothing concerning in his behavior.

Thoughts?

 

[snorvich]

A picture would help. However it sounds like lymphocystis.

 

[Clams55]

On the body as well and fins. Sorry about the inspecificity.

Just out of curiosity, what makes you say lymphocystis over Marine Ich?

What treatment would you recommend?

For Ich I hear the new thing is Hyposalinity.

The only treatment for lymphocystis is good water quality, right?

 

[snorvich]

On the body as well and fins. Sorry about the inspecificity.

Just out of curiosity, what makes you say lymphocystis over Marine Ich?

Because of your description. On the other hand if it looks like salt it is more likely cryptocaryon irritans (MI)

What treatment would you recommend?

For Ich I hear the new thing is Hyposalinity.

The only treatment for lymphocystis is good water quality, right?

If it is lymphocystis, it will go away on its own. If marine ich, please read this.

 

[Clams55]

So I assume I should try hyposalinity, because it does no damage to the fish and will treat it if it is ICH, and "reduce stress" if it is the viral infection?

 

[Clams55]

Bump.

 

[Recty]

Like Snorvich said, a picture would really help identify what it is. It does sound like ich, if the spots look kind of like salt and are all over the body.

You can use hypo to treat ich, yes. However, I wouldnt do it unless you're sure it's ich. If you cant post a photo, at least google search for marine ich and see some examples to make sure it's what you have before you begin treating.

 

[snorvich]

Like Snorvich said, a picture would really help identify what it is. It does sound like ich, if the spots look kind of like salt and are all over the body.

You can use hypo to treat ich, yes. However, I wouldnt do it unless you're sure it's ich. If you cant post a photo, at least google search for marine ich and see some examples to make sure it's what you have before you begin treating.

Good advice. The problem is that hypo does not work for some problems. So doing hypo for the wrong issue is going nowhere.

 

[Clams55]

I looked up Ich. Not as many dots, by far. My fish has a max of 20 on his fins and body. Same look to the dots though. I'll try and post a pic.

:uzi::uzi::uzi::uzi::uzi::uzi::uzi::uzi::uzi::uzi:disease

 

[Clams55]

So I attempted to take a pic, no luck. He refused to stay still, and even when I got the pic, you cannot see the spots.

Which might say something, that they are so few and so small that they're just good ol' dirt and I should just keep him under observation in quarantine for a month or so.

He still is acting perfectly normally.

 

[snorvich]

So I attempted to take a pic, no luck. He refused to stay still, and even when I got the pic, you cannot see the spots.

Which might say something, that they are so few and so small that they're just good ol' dirt and I should just keep him under observation in quarantine for a month or so.

He still is acting perfectly normally.

Look for breathing issues. Usually gills are affected and the fish will hover near returns or powerheads. Also flashing is indicative. However it does not sound like dirt.

 

[Recty]

I wouldnt think "dirt" would stay on the fish that long. I've never had a fish, including wrasses that sleep in the sand, ever keep sand stuck to them for more than just a couple minutes.

Are the fins of the fish cloudy looking at all where the "sand" is stuck to it? If so, it's ich.

 

[snorvich]

+1 with the above