Is this Ich?

[divenshort]

My Clown has some white spots on its fins and gill. Is this Ich? He is the only fish in the tank. Have some Crabs, Snails, peppermint shrimp and one Ricordea. So dont want to treat in tank but I also dont have a quarantine tank. Anything I can do? Sorry for the Potato pics but he would not keep still for me!

 

[thax]

Hard to tell form pics. Are they big and kind of like cauliflower? If so not ick and it will go away by its self.

Ich looks like the fish is covered in salt spots

 

[divenshort]

Hard to tell form pics. Are they big and kind of like cauliflower? If so not ick and it will go away by its self.

Ich looks like the fish is covered in salt spots

Yes they are getting bigger. Only on the fins and outside of one gill. The one on the gill is the biggest and could be described how you say like cauliflower. Any idea what that is or what causes it?

 

[snorvich]

Yes they are getting bigger. Only on the fins and outside of one gill. The one on the gill is the biggest and could be described how you say like cauliflower. Any idea what that is or what causes it?

Lymphocystis. Not fatal, non-infectious. Add selcon and/or vita-chem to food.

 

[thax]

+1 keep the water clean and the fish eating good food and it should go away might take a while but they should be ok

 

[divenshort]

Thanks guys. Can you link to good food? Just have some Flake food right now that I have been feeding him. It is Cobalt Aquatics Brine Shrimp flakes.

 

[ThRoewer]

Lymphocystis. Not fatal, non-infectious. Add selcon and/or vita-chem to food.

Not fatal, non-infectious?
I suggest to read this paper from the University of Florida on Lymphocystis:Lymphocystis Disease in Fish

"Lymphocystis is a chronic disease of freshwater and marine fishes caused by infection with an iridovirus known as Lymphocystivirus or Lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV), which is a member of the family Iridoviridae. Infection results in the development of pebble or wart-like nodules most commonly seen on the fins, skin, or gills, although other tissues may be affected. ...

Although lymphocystis disease normally does not cause significant mortalities, it does cause unsightly growths on fish that reduce their marketability, and in some cases, severely infected fish may die."

"Lymphocystis is spread by fish-to-fish contact or contact with infected tissues. External trauma from spawning, aggression, parasites, or handling can facilitate infection and spread. In addition, crowding, shipping, and other stressors appear to trigger disease outbreaks. Lymphocystis does not appear to be spread by vertical transmission (i.e., from parents to offspring via infection of eggs or sperm).

Although all contributing factors are not known, there do appear to be different genetic variants or possibly "œspecies" of Lymphocystivirus. Each of these affects a different group of fish. ..."

 

[snorvich]

Yeah, right. As a practicality, from the normal aquarists perspective, lymphocystis is not a critical success factor in mortality and with good water and good feeding it goes away.

 

[divenshort]

Well he is still alive and looks to be doing well. The spot on the gills got a little bigger but it seems to have either gone away or fallen off!