Question on Scales, flared Gills, and Ich

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sly2kusa

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 29, 2006
103
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USA
I have been reading so much bad stuff on some of the dangers in the freshwater system I have that I need to ask this to ease my overly concerned mind. I have 4 Tiger Muskies. One of them looks to have a single small (about scale size) white spot on his left side. It looks like he is missing a single scale or something. But with all the reading about "Ich" that I have been doing - I want to make sure I am not at the early stages of yet another problem.

Also - and I have noticed this now for the past few weeks - the scales on my Muskies are becoming more pronounced. They've all grown in girth and length since getting them this past June, but the scales are move visible now then ever (I can see a horizontal line going for many rows down the lengths of their bodies and you can see the scales now more than when I first got them).

I know they have scales, but they were more smooth looking than they are now - not that they are rough looking, but definitely more defined.

And one last other thing. I shared this in another thread but didn't hear much concern in it's out of context mentioning - so I thought I would ask it again. My smallest Tiger has his gills a lot more flared out than the other 3. In fact - they seem to be rolling outward moreso than any of the others. He took down some really big Minnows a few days back, and I was wondering if this is what did it, and if it's just temporary, or if there is a larger looming problem here.

Much thanks in advance for your thoughts and input.
 
Bassman89 said:
the white spot might possibly be a early sign of fungus...are his fins down??
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Their fins are normally pointed downward. I know this is hard to show you Bassman because I still have not posted any of their pics yet, but nothing unusual about their fins (I assume you mean their pectoral and anal fins and not the dorsal).

Would it hurt for me to get RidIch or something similar and do a treatment with it just to be safe? The one thing I have heard though is if you do a medication in your tank you need to remove your carbon filters, so if that is the case - what do I put in there instead? I will lose the valuable bacteria bed on those filters if I do so I want to make sure I understand this correctly.
 
lil_blue said:
see if you can get a better look at that white spot

as for the scales, normal, dont worry about it

as for the gills, watch his breathing, make sure hes got a regulated breathing, not suck hooooooooolllllllllllllllllllllddddddddddddd suck
Click to expand...

I got up as close to it as possible without having to take him out of the water last night. It's about the size of one of his scales - a grain of sand. One single white area - looks like the scale is either missing or I dunno. I also have some Crayfish in there right now, and they like to try and pinch on everything so perhaps that is what it's from?

The little one with the flared gills is breathing fine. They all seem to breath a bit faster and harder after they have eaten, and he is no exception to this, but his gills just do lay as flat as the others do.
 
sly2kusa said:
I have been reading so much bad stuff on some of the dangers in the freshwater system I have that I need to ask this to ease my overly concerned mind. I have 4 Tiger Muskies. One of them looks to have a single small (about scale size) white spot on his left side. It looks like he is missing a single scale or something. But with all the reading about "Ich" that I have been doing - I want to make sure I am not at the early stages of yet another problem.

Also - and I have noticed this now for the past few weeks - the scales on my Muskies are becoming more pronounced. They've all grown in girth and length since getting them this past June, but the scales are move visible now then ever (I can see a horizontal line going for many rows down the lengths of their bodies and you can see the scales now more than when I first got them).

I know they have scales, but they were more smooth looking than they are now - not that they are rough looking, but definitely more defined.

And one last other thing. I shared this in another thread but didn't hear much concern in it's out of context mentioning - so I thought I would ask it again. My smallest Tiger has his gills a lot more flared out than the other 3. In fact - they seem to be rolling outward moreso than any of the others. He took down some really big Minnows a few days back, and I was wondering if this is what did it, and if it's just temporary, or if there is a larger looming problem here.

Much thanks in advance for your thoughts and input.
Click to expand...

I would take this to the general discussion. When it come right down to it disease and fungus has nearly the same diagnosis and treatment in natives as tropicals. You should have better luck with a larger audience.

EDIT: I should have said take this to the disease and health section. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=35
 
sly2kusa said:
Their fins are normally pointed downward. I know this is hard to show you Bassman because I still have not posted any of their pics yet, but nothing unusual about their fins (I assume you mean their pectoral and anal fins and not the dorsal).

Would it hurt for me to get RidIch or something similar and do a treatment with it just to be safe? The one thing I have heard though is if you do a medication in your tank you need to remove your carbon filters, so if that is the case - what do I put in there instead? I will lose the valuable bacteria bed on those filters if I do so I want to make sure I understand this correctly.
Click to expand...
i would just go to your lfs and buy some fungus/parasite meds just in case and if the white spot starts to grow or worsen take the carbon out and pour the meds in the tank..if it doesnt get worse at least youll have the meds. for later uses just in case
 
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