quote: "This is a rare situation, but it does happen. Sort of like when you get bitten by a leopard you begin seeing spots everywhere only the reverse. . .People see these spots and assume Marine Ich.
You've properly (IMHO) ruled out a variety of possible disagnostics, but I could have probably answered your original post with those photos.
The fish probably has one of the generically referred to group of organisms known as dermatic cysts. They are not well known, but often create the visual you see on the fish. Others may refer to them as 'worms' or protozoa, or fungi.
Since little is known about these there are two approaches. One you're currently taking (do nothiing but watch). The other is to attempt to kill these organisms. How to kill them is not clear without a proper identification. Even with a proper identification, little is known about these microbes on ornamental fishes. All this doesn't do you any good.
Any treatment will be just a guees. But you can classify the treatments into two groups -- internal and external.
I would try an external treatment of organophosphates. Such meds like trichlorfon & Dylox. If that didn't work, I'd move on to formalin dips (but have little confidence the dips will help).
Internally, I would try a 'de-worming' broad spectrum agent made to be eaten. There is a commercially prepared anti-parasitic pellet food available. It is made by Jungle. The active ingredients in this food are levamisole, metrodinazole, and praziquantel.
Other than the above, and making sure the fish is getting all the nutrients it needs (check out the above mentioned Forum for a sticky I put there on feeding fish -- it's a better written post regarding that topic than the one I posted in RC), that is about all I can think to do"
just somthing to chew on
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I treated my fish with gel tek internal parasite medicine for awhile and it went away. the thread i gave you strays all over the place, so i figured id post the important part
good luck, let me know how it go's
