help identifying white spots disease on my cichlids

[bjb]

I have a couple cichlids that have white, crusty looking spots in various places (on the side, like the socolofi in the picture, on their anus, on their back)
Can anyone recognize this and perhaps recommend a medication?


Thanks for the help
Barry

[gabor129]

Sorry Barry I do not know what it could be! However if you have more than one fish with this, you could assume that it is contagious! I would highly recommend a hospital talk for the sick fish. As well as frequent large water changes in the main tank to remove most of the "bad water"

[fin]

hi barry ,looks like he may have been picked on a bit and fungus has infected the wound.what I do is wipe only the fungus off the infected area with paper towel(not the whole fish)put in salt water bath, remove fish if it becomes stressed. I've also used hydrogen peroxide only on the wounds after cleaning the wound same as above. you must be very careful not to get it near the mouth, eyes and gills. best to put your fish in a sick tank after treatment.

[bjb]

Thanks for your thoughts.
Removal is virtually impossible - large tank w. many rocks (hiding places). If they won't go into a trap - I usually can't get them.

I did dose the tank w. something called 'Pond' Anchors Away (supposedly removes parasites). It's a blue salt, so it's likely some Copper salt.

Cheers

[bjb]

Looks like it's Cotton wool fungus (also called Columnaris and Flexibacter). Apparently a common fungus in detritus that establishes itself when fish are stressed, nipped, or scraped and water is dirty.
My nitrates are less than 20ppm, possibly 10ppm (can't tell the difference on the API nitrate test kit).
All the sites I checked say an antibiotic or antifungal medicine is needed. So I am trying some PimaFix along w. a little Melafix. PimaFix is said to be antifungal.
Here's hoping ....
If you have any recommendations on good antibiotic/antifungal fish meds, I'd love to hear them

Barry