Is this Ich? or?

[Meshmez]

The little spot on the tail. I have noticed these a couple times. ALWAYS on the tip of a fin (I have seen it on different fins), usually gone in 24 hours, never more than one at a time. It looks like a little tiny cotton ball or something. Is this Ich? or something else? This is the best pic I could get.. any faster shutter speed and its too dark to see anything.

 

[jamesbaur13]

I don't think so, but the pic isn't the best so I could be wrong.

A spot of Ich is very well defined and actually causes a protrusion to the surface of the fish's skin. It looks like a piece of salt is stuck on the fishes slime coat.

The pic shows that spot as being more undefined... more like a white smudge.

It could be that the clown got stung by something or maybe a bacteria/fungal infection.

 

[Meshmez]

Ya, all the times I have seen it is has been "fuzzy" not a "grain of salt" so, do I just let it heal on its own? or should I be doing something?

 

[jamesbaur13]

With it looking fuzzy, it sounds more like a fungal infection.

I'm not sure on treatment for that one.

 

[b0bab0ey]

Looks like lymphocystis to me. It's a virus that the fish's immune system can usually fight off on it's own. Provide excellent water quality and vitamin enriched nutritious foods to help with this.

 

[Hal]

Agree it's not ich. Looks like a fungus. I've had it on several of my fish. Mostly I ignore it and it goes away. Once I scraped it off the fish with my fingernail and it didn't come back.

 

[DeniseAndy]

It is not ich. Agreed. If it is a sign of lymphocystis, there is nothing to do and hope the fish is healthy enough on its own. If it is fungal, you can leave it and hope (many go away on own) or do fungal treatments topically. This requires sedation of fish or a very well behaved fish

Keep an eye on other fish. Any show signs, QT and find out for sure.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Almost certainly lympho, IMO. Fungal infections are quite rare in fish and usually follow a bacterial infection. Fungus almost always has a fuzzy, cottony appearance. Lympho will look like miniature cauliflower or cottage cheese.

 

[Meshmez]

Well as usual, it disappeared within a day, so i guess its nothing to worry about.