hello, i am new to this forum and first of all, i would like to thank everyone for taking the time to offer their help and advice.
i am looking for help with my oscar. he is developing spots on his pectoral fins only. the spots are not salt like grains. 1 or 2 of them could be described as off white, kind of cottony but small. at first (about 6 weeks ago) it was 1 spot on his right fin that looked like it was actually part of his fin, just not clear. now he has 4 spots on his right fin and 1 on his left.
he is not acting sick, he’s very active & always hungry (a typical oscar). i have seen him rub his side on the bottom but not often, maybe 1 or 2 times a week. no one else in the tank has this or shows any signs of sickness. i do 40% +/- water changes (including gravel vac) at least once a week.
DETAILS:
tank size: 55g (set up 3 months ago)
tank residents: (1) oscar; about 5", (1) red tail shark; about 4", (1) pleco; about 5", (2) cory cats; about 1.5", i've had all of them since NOV 2005
filter: undergravel & i run a penguin 350b bio-wheel power filter 4 or 5 days/month
tank temp: 76
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 20
pH: 8.2
from what i have read online, this problem sounds like it is a fungal disease or columnaris. symptoms seem to match 50% of both but not 100% of either.
if possible, i would like to cure this without using medications as i worry about the affects on the other fish in the tank, especially the pleco (can't some meds kill a pleco?). i do have a hospital tank but it is currently occupied by fish from a different tank, plus my oscar FREAK’s out if i go anywhere near him with a net.
if i do need medication, is there any that would be safe for all?
thanks again for any/all help & advice
i am looking for help with my oscar. he is developing spots on his pectoral fins only. the spots are not salt like grains. 1 or 2 of them could be described as off white, kind of cottony but small. at first (about 6 weeks ago) it was 1 spot on his right fin that looked like it was actually part of his fin, just not clear. now he has 4 spots on his right fin and 1 on his left.
he is not acting sick, he’s very active & always hungry (a typical oscar). i have seen him rub his side on the bottom but not often, maybe 1 or 2 times a week. no one else in the tank has this or shows any signs of sickness. i do 40% +/- water changes (including gravel vac) at least once a week.
DETAILS:
tank size: 55g (set up 3 months ago)
tank residents: (1) oscar; about 5", (1) red tail shark; about 4", (1) pleco; about 5", (2) cory cats; about 1.5", i've had all of them since NOV 2005
filter: undergravel & i run a penguin 350b bio-wheel power filter 4 or 5 days/month
tank temp: 76
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 20
pH: 8.2
from what i have read online, this problem sounds like it is a fungal disease or columnaris. symptoms seem to match 50% of both but not 100% of either.
if possible, i would like to cure this without using medications as i worry about the affects on the other fish in the tank, especially the pleco (can't some meds kill a pleco?). i do have a hospital tank but it is currently occupied by fish from a different tank, plus my oscar FREAK’s out if i go anywhere near him with a net.
if i do need medication, is there any that would be safe for all?
thanks again for any/all help & advice
