Strange Spots on Gold Barb

[rrkss]

This specific fish has a strange white spot pattern on his tail. He was in the tank treated for ich but I don't think this is ich since there is no flashing and none of the other fish show any signs. Anyways maybe one of you could help me identify it. Sorry for the lack of clarity in this photo.

Here is another photo with another fish from his school showing a normal tail.

 

[graphicdesign_r]

Seems very linear the way those spots line up. Barbs are notorious fin nippers... maybe another barb got a few good nips in a broke some rays in that fin?

I guess the question is: Is the spot on the fin surface or does the fin look damaged structurally?

 

[rrkss]

Does not have the raised look that ich pustules normally have. In case its some strange occurance of ich, I did remove my plants yet again and raise the salt content of the water back to treatment levels with an increase in temperature to 82*F yet again. This was done 2 days ago when I first saw this strange arrangement on the barb's tail. I doubt it is ich because the arrangement of spots is too symetrical to really be ich.

 

[graphicdesign_r]

MMM. I agree, it looks like some kind of physical fin damage. You'll know in a day or two, fins usually heal quickly barring any secondary infection.

 

[rrkss]

Should I then just go ahead and start removing the salt via waterchanges? I don't particularely like having the salt in the tank when I am not treating a disease of some sort since its unnatural for the fish. All of them are alive but my shark does not act normal when salted spending most of his time hiding in the cave. The subsides as soon as the salt is taken out.

 

[rrkss]

They are still there but much smaller almost like they are healing over. I think your theory of fin nipping is correct. I am going to start removing the salt today so I can put my plants back into the tank. At 82*F ich would have cycled by now.