Disease or something else!??

[Turin Turambar]

I noticed today that one of my Rasboras has some kind of spots on her/his body. The spots are not small - they are about 1-2mm and are colourless - like a fish flesh.
There's one spot on left side and three on the right side of the body. The spots on the right side seem convexed.

It's not a ich or something - it looks more like a bite. But all of my fish are small and friendly and I have this setup for about a year.
The fish behaves and eats normally.

Any ideas what that could be?? Thanks.

[ChilDawg]

Go to www.skepticalaquarist.com and look at the disease/health section...that should be a good starting place. Let us know if that didn't help any.

[Turin Turambar]

Unfortunately, it didn't help. The site is full of details, but in the scientific way.
Other fish, including other Rasboras are normal.
Can the fish get some wounds by -something-?

[ChilDawg]

What do you have in the tank? Some of your plants or rock could have scraped it, another fish could've bitten it...there are soo many explanations.

[Turin Turambar]

I have 6 neons, 4 rasboras, 2 rams and 2 plecos. Plants: 2 nanas, 1 cryptocorine, 3 java ferns and 3 still unidentified fast growing plants with many small leaves. Decors : some bigger rounded rocks and one big mangrove wood.

But the strange thing is that the fish has the "scars" on both sides. It's rather unusal to scrape her/himself 4-5 times.

[ChilDawg]

Yep, I know that the fish are not likely to do something like that many times...I'll mull it over for a bit and get back to you.

[Turin Turambar]

Here's how it looks like. I drawed it on the profile photo the best I could. It's also interesting that spots are only on the "harlequin" part.

[OrionGirl]

Not much help, but I have seen something similar to what you describe with internal parasites in perch. The grub, while still in the fish, forms a small, roundish lump. After it emerges, there is a little sunken patch that slowly fills in as the fish heals. The problem with this--I don't know of many parasites that are small enough to infect rasbora's, or would persist in a tank without becoming epidemic. Sorry--it's just something to think about. If you think this might be the problem, there are medicated foods that target internal parasites. Might not hurt to try this for a while.

[Turin Turambar]

Unfortunately there's no medicated food to where I live.
I thought about buying some Tetra's medications.

What do you think about these remedies - should I buy Tetra's General tonic or Contra Ick for white spot and other dermatozoons?

Is it safer for me to try General Tonic or directly to Contra Ick?

It says that General Tonic doesn't harm microorganisms nor plants.

[OrionGirl]

Truthfully, I wouldn't use either medication. The consequences could be worse than what you're treating, since you don't know for sure what this is yet.

If possible, I would remove this fish from your main tank, and treat with increased water temp and 1 teaspoon of salt/gallon of water. If it is a parasite, this will speed up it's metabolism, causing it to depart the host sooner. If you can't setup a hospital tank, you can use this treatment on the main tank as well--gradually raise the emp to about 83 F, and pull one gallon out, mix in 10% of the total needed salt (ie, if you have a 10 gallon tank, mix in 1 tsp), and add it back to the tank. Do this once a day until it's at the full concentration. Keep this up for 3-4 weeks, then start using pure FW for water changes.

[Turin Turambar]

I'll buy another small tank for this purposes. What type of salt should I buy and how long should I wait/treat the fish in this?

Thanks very much.

[OrionGirl]

I would treat for at least 3 weeks. This way, if there are more parasites within the fish, they will develop and depart. Table salt will work just fine, as will kosher salt.

[Turin Turambar]

Errr.... is it safe for me to use the salt for a dishwasher - it contains 99% pure salt (NaCl)?
Thanks.

[OrionGirl]

I've never heard of dishwasher salt--sorry. Would you be comfortable putting it on your own food? If so, then it should be okay.

[Turin Turambar]

I did it. The poor fish seem shocked now and has sunken to the bottom. I guess it's pretty stresfull situation going from the fresh to saltwater? Is it safe for her to be in the saltwater for 3 weeks, because I read somewhere that only "Salt baths" are used?

However, I noticed that one spot today turned reddish. That's probably blood? Others seem white.
Is there anything I could do more than just adding salt?
And does anyone have any idea what illness this fish has?

Now when she is in the hospital tank, she doesn't want to eat.

Thanks all, I REALLY want to save this poor fish. I almost cried. :(

[Turin Turambar]

Nothing much happened, except that she stopped eating the day I put her in the hospital tank.. I don't know is it because of the disease or saltwater?

When I look closer to those spots they look more like ulcers to me. On the left side they are on the body, but on the right side, they are pretty extended from the body.

Any thoughts? I still don't know what does this fish has. Her moves are ok, except that she frightens every time I come close to the tank.