"Blisters" on emerald cories...

[Jennifer]

Several of my emerald cories have white bumps on their stomach fins, the ones that touch the ground (don't know the right name for them). They look like blisters.

The "blisters" don't seem to bother the fish...no other symptoms of other illnesses...but I am wondering what they are. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

Thanks.

 

[Lotus]

How big are the lumps (maybe if you could say what proportion or percentage of the fin they cover). Is there one lump per fin, or more? Are the lumps white or slightly pink?

 

[Jennifer]

The lumps are on the tips of the fins (only the two/three that touch the ground), they don't really cover the fin, more like "perched" on the edge and then grow from there. They've had them for a couple weeks now. I've been keeping an eye on them and they have grown slightly (not spreading up the fin, just up and out...like if a human had a blister or a wart on their hand). The cories still eat and are active, doesn't seem to bother them. And the bumps are all white, no pink.

I was looking at my Melafix/Pimafix bottles, and the little diagram illustrating fin rot looks like what my cories have. I was surprised though, 'cause I always thought that fin rot just tattered the fins, turned the edges a browny colour. Could these white bumps be a form of fin rot?

 

[Lotus]

Sounds more like fin fungus. What kind of substrate do you have?

 

[Jennifer]

I just have regular, medium size gravel. Black. I bought it from Big Al's.

 

[Lotus]

If the gravel is sharp, it could be causing problems. Also, if the gravel is excessively dirty, that could be causing it too.

Have you checked your nitrates?

I would do some extra water changes and start treating with Melafix and Pimafix.

 

[TLH]

It doesn't by any chance look like this (see link below) does it?

Aquarium diseases

When you said blisters I thought this rather than fungus.A picture paints a thousand words though so if you can get one of your afflicted fish please do so.