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Hi

I woke up this morning to find one of my Firemouths white 2 white circular lumps on one side of his body. One where the fin joins his body, and on in between his eye and gill. Its larger than a whitespot mark, and seems to be slightly raised. He's still swimming ok, but alot slower and nearer the bottom.

I did a few tests of my tank water, and these are the results....

pH - 7.3
Ammonia - 0
Nitrate - 0
Nitrite - 0.1 - 0.25 (Towards the lower end more than the higher end)
Temp is 76.

I've circled where the marks on are the pic of him, but its not the clearest pic!




Any help would be great!!

Thanks

Andy

Hi Drew, thanks for trying with the pic, I can't really tell anything from it, if you can get a clearer pic, that might help. Now his behaviour, besides the slow swimming, is he rubbing against the gravel ect? Can you discribe the spots, ie are they furry, rounded, circular, oblong, ect ect. What other fish are in with him? Did you get any new fish, or plants ect recently? The more info you post the better.

Hi, I'll have a try with the pic asap!

He doesn't seem to be rubbing against anything. The white marks are like circular blobs on the skin. He's in a community tank, i.e neon tetras, gouramis, cori's etc and one other firemouth too. The other firemouth doesn't seem to be moving much either, but no marks!

I've noticed that they're waste is a white colour, so not normal at all!!

He's not eating either!

I take it my water readings are ok? As all the other fish are fine!

Better picture, but still can't c much. Those dang fish, when will they learn to pose for the camera. Ok, from what it sounds like I would guess, (and it is only a guess) that they have an external bacterial problem. Since you have not mentioned anything with the mouth, and the white spots are not fuzzy, you can maybe rule out columanaris, might be TB ect. I would get something like marycin I & II. Now neons can be pretty sensitive, so might be a good idea if you removed the firemouth to a hospital tank for treating him. as for your water paramiters, they are fine, temps a bit low IMO.

Thanks for responding mate. Sadly he died last nite.

The other one isn't eating at the moment

Do an immidiate water change, keep in mind if it TB, which I am not sure it is, it can cause an infection in humans, if you have a cut, or scratch on your hands. Have the neons shown any sign's of poor health? Sorry about the fish. You never did answer if you have recently add any thing to your tank. Also if you have another tank, I would get the other firemouth in it, if his actting similar to the one that died. Treat it with a broad band type of med. Post back let us know how things are progressing.

I've done a water change, so will test the levels again tomorrow and see what they are like.

All the neons are fine, as are all the other fish bar the other firemouth. She doesn't have any marks or anything, but just doesn't eat, and just hovers in the water.

I've not added anything to the tank for well over a month.

Sadly i don't have enough room for a second tank!

Will let ya know if anything changes!!