Little white spots...

[equinom]

I thought I already posted this, but never got any response.  I've checked the board and can't find it -  so I'll try again.

I have a glass tetra that has tiny white spots.  It has had these spots for months.  They are very symmetrical, and are not fibrous or cottony.  Just spots.  The spots don't appear to bother him.  I saw little spots starting to show on a platy - so took them both to lfs for help.

Was told the platy was starting with sickness and was given medicine.  Treated tank for the recommended 5 days.   Platy's spots disappeared and have not returned. Is healthy and seems quite happy.

Was also told that the tetra was NOT sick, but the white spots were most likely "damage" from a net.  lfs employee said that he had seen several fish like this and customers had been treating like illness with no change in spots.  Fish didn't die, but spots remained.  He took the glass tetra and "rubbed" it a little and most of the spots came off.  

So I took the fish home and had a long talk with my 7 year old about playing in the tank with the net.  He says he hasn't done that.  (I moved the net to eliminate this as a problem.)

The spots came back.  So I rubbed the fish.  And the spots came back.  

I just don't think this is right - the fish has a protective "slime coat", correct?  Rubbing it is not a good idea, and doesn't seem to be the answer to the problem.

As far as the other fish in this community tank, they all look great.  There are a couple of tiger barbs that occasionally chase/nip at other fish - and this glass tetra does the same thing.  I don't think it's fin damage, no soars.  And it's been going on for quite a while.
   
What the heck is this, and how can I resolve this?  I don't it's "skin problem" to lower it's self-esteem...  

 

[WonderBoy]

I worked at a LSF and sold marine fish.  Every now and then we could get a fish with white spots on it from netting.  I was under the impression that they were scabs.  We would do the same thing clean then with a soft cloth and treat the tank with an antibacteria.  I wish I could remember what it was called.  Some times it took several treatments to rid the fish of the spots.

 

[equinom]

I did a check in the Disease Database:  Could this be the disease I am seeing?

Lymphocystsis: A viral disease that causes the host cells to swell up giving rise to tumors, that almost look like spawn (granular) attached to the body and fins. There is no guaranteed cure so it is probably best to dispose of the fish humanely.  


If these were tumors, would it be possible to "rub" them off? And they come back so quickly. Rubbing didn't seem to help in the long run, so I stopped.  Since no longer rubbing fish - it hasn't been netted in several weeks.

The spots don't seem to be a problem: it swims, eats, and chases other fish.  In fact this fish is pretty active.  It does not scratch against the gravel or plants as if it was itchy.  

Why should I put this fish down if it's acting normal?  Is it going to spread to others in the tank?  

 

[colesea]

Lymphocystsis looking disease is common on the fins of those painted glass fish, but I don't believe it is lymphocystsis at all. Lymphocystsis is also known to occure in tanks that are not properly grounded and have a slight electrical current in it, or so the folk lore goes, but I don't think that is lymphocystsis either. Lymphocystsis is a severe disease that could lead to death.

What I was told is that the painted glass fish, being a tetra, are very salt sensitive, liking a soft water and lower pH that is commonly found in home aquariums. Therefore, the extra salt collects around the edges of their fins as they excrete it from their body. Why, I don't know, but this is also another one of those folk lore type of things.

If it is not affecting the health of your fish, or occuring on any of your other fish, I would say leave it alone. I've seen it go away by itself without any trouble.
~~Colesea

 

[Matt Nace]

Hmm.

Well the platy's spots went away, and the tetra's didn't.

What med did you use?

Do the spots resemble couliflower? That would be Lymphocystsis.

I believe my mother-in-laws has this.A molly has some strange tumors and now a cory and a danio have it. The only remedy I know is to move the fish and sterilize the tank while the sick fish get treated. She doesn't like that idea too much.

Too bad you cant get a pic of what we are loking at.

 

[equinom]

Here's more info on the tank conditions:
Water is soft - we have a water softener and a R/O unit.  I use 1/2 of each.

The pH tended to be 7.4 sometimes as high as 7.6.  I am using a buffer and now it's very steady around 7.2

I treated the platy for ick. I used Mardel's Maracide.  As I mentioned in a previous post the ick went away almost immediately, but I followed the directions for 5-day treatment.  No other fish showed spots, but it had no effect on the tetra.

I can't see if the spots look like cauliflower - I would say they appear "granular"  But it's hard to tell.  When the tetra sees me looking at him - he swims away.  It's a bitch.  

Why do all my fish have attitude?  It's as if I have an entire tank of fish that came from dysfunctional LFS....