Is this ich?

[mel_20_20]

:help:My guppy has a small round nodule or cyst-like lesion on his dorsal fin. It is not near the body, but about half way up the height of the fin.

I did a 2nd water change a few minutes ago after finding ammonia and nitrites rgistering in my water. Ammonia around.25 and nitrites just registering, slightly lavender with the APi test kit. ph was between 6.8 and 7

My params have been good for quite some time, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, nitrates 5.0 (planted tank), and ph around 6.8 or 7 between water changes.
Temp stays around 78 F

Day before yesterday I dropped a tums tab in the water because my snail had not been getting enough calcium, and my water is soft. I also dropped some egg shells in there. I know changing the GH can impact params.

This evening when I checked and found the elevated numbers I did a 50% water change and vacuumed.
Added conditioned water back, using API StressCoat.

Afterwards I checked the params again and still had about .25 ammonia, but nitrite was 0. :nilly:

Did another 50% and vacuumed more crap and junk out of the gravel. Added more water back in again treated with Stress Coat, and put about 1/4 tsp of aquarium salt in it this time.

I have been worried about my snail and perhaps have been putting too much food in the tank.

I hate having to do a water change twice like that; it really freaks everyone out, especially the ADFs and the guppy.

The otos and brochis just hide as best they can. The snail had tried to curl up and shut up, but was not fully closed up. I thing she had pcked up a piece of gravel in her foot and couldn't close up completely. After the water changes, and after a few minutes with the light out, the snail opened up and she's now cruising around the glass. The guppy seems less freaked. Frogs and others still hiding.

I'm really worried that the guppy is showing some sign of a problem. I had another guppy develope a similar nodule and later he developed bloat and I had to euthanise him.:(

Please give me your thoughts and suggestions. Does this sound like ich? There are no salt-like specks on his body, or any of the other occupants.

The nodule on his dorsal fin is about the size of the head of a pin. Slightly lighter in color than the orange shade of his fin.

[mel_20_20]

I wish there was an all-night Pet store where I could run get some Prime. I've been reading about it tonight, and know now that this would help.

There is still detectable ammonia in my tank.:confused:

[Neervana]

you need to get ammonia down to zero..do these nodules look red in colour? could you post a pic?

[mel_20_20]

The nodule is the same color as the fin, an orange color, but just the slightest bit lighter in color.

I'll try but he keeps moving, and I don't have a really fast camera. It will be in the morning after my camera is charged up.

[Neervana]

does it look like there is anything coming out of it? google "hook worm in fish" images and see if it looks the same...a picture would be much better, then i could see what you're describing...

[gmh]

Those water changes are your best treatment. I would keep them up daily untill ammonia reaches zero.
It does not sound like the fish has ich, so for the snail's sake I would not add more salt.
Do you have a spare tank where you could house the guppy?

[mel_20_20]

I do have a 5 gallon QT/hospital tank. Thankfully I tested the water in the 10 gallon about an hour ago (10:15am here) and ammo is 0, nitrite 0, ph just under 7, temp 77.1, nitrate 5.

The guppy looks pretty active, and the otos are nibbling on the glass and undersides of the swords. The brochis is foraging in the gravel in the back corner and now he's moving up the glass.
Don't see the snail, but I think she's in the hollow log.

I'm going to try to get a pic, however, I'm having a hard time even seeing the nodule this morning. He's moving so fast.... But I'll try. Thanks for your help,

[gmh]

sounds encouraging!

[mel_20_20]

OK, I think I have a pic of it. Whew... this was hard; he moves so fast. Notice on the dorsal fin, although in the pic it is white, to my eye it is just barely lighter in color than the fin itself.

Also, what appears to be a speck just behind the gill near that fin, forgot it's name, is not a speck. Just a bright scale. I've looked carefully at that area and got a really good look. It's not a nodule, cyst.

This is all that is on him so far. What do you think? He seems to be OK, and he just ate a bloodworm I was holding with forceps to try to get him to pose for the camera.

[KarlTh]

That spot does look like an ich spot to me.

[abi88]

I would suggest doing daily water changes at 50% per day-at the least! I would also move him into the quarantine tank and then then dose with salt (1-2 tablespoon for the 5 gallon tank) and then crank the temp up to about 82, IME it is the best way to get rid of ich!

[mel_20_20]

what about the rest of the occupants in the 10 gallon? Will they get it?

[kayla25690]

that definately looks like ick to me too.

[mel_20_20]

Oh no.... just great...
What about my 2 otos, 1 brochis, 2 ADFs, my snail? Will they get it? Will just removing the guppy prevent it? It's in the tank now....should I just start treating the whole tank? I know the snail can't take the salt....

help.....

Oh dear...

[abi88]

Well if you are wanting to dose the whole tank just take the sail out and keep it in the lil' tank. Then dose the other tank with salt and crank up the heat up, and do daily water changes.:)

[mel_20_20]

Will the brochis and ottos be ok with the treatment? Also, what about the ADFs. Should I put them in with the snail?

[abi88]

Oh sorry I didnt notice that you had a Cory in there....ok no it is believed that you should not put salt in with Ottos or Cories, I have read conflicting things about ADF. But also when I worked at the pet store I never had any problems with any of these fish by way of salt when dosing the intire system. So it is pretty much up to you...if you do and then notice them acting weird just transfer them into the cycled little tank. Oh and remember when you do water changes readd the salt that is getting taken out!:)

Oh and one of the things about Cories-just like the Guppy-is you should have at least 3 of them in the tank!

[mel_20_20]

I am trying to rehome the brochis, and then want to add ottos. The guppy was 1 of 3 but 2 died from a chlorine mishap. Long sad story.,

[OldMan47]

If it turns out to be ich, check here for how to treat it and how to understand its life cycle.
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/ich.shtml

[abi88]

Ah ok....well good luck with finding him a home! Oh and the best idea would be to get more guppies once you get this evened out:)



Oh BTW that is an AWESOME link OldMan!!!

[mel_20_20]

yah, I hate for him to be lonely. I'm trying to convince my husband to get me a 30 or bigger tank for our anniversary.
I could then turn the 10 into an invert tank.

I'm showing early symptoms of MTS.... sigh.

[abi88]

YES!!!!YES!!!!YES!!!!GET MORE!!!!!!!!GET BIGGER!!!!!!!!!!

[mel_20_20]

:grinyes: