Bichir's tail

[banjocat]

A couple of days ago while doing a water change, I noticed a black spot on my senegal bichir's tail. It is on one of the rays on the tail fin. The spot looks leech like and is easier to see on one side of the tail than the other. I can't really tell if its part of the ray or something attached to it. So far I have added aquarium salt for the 25% water change. I would have added more but, I wasn't sure how much aquarium salt I already had in there(I have used aquarium salt before).

I doubt this has much to do with this, but my bichir scraped his head over a week ago. I used melafix for a week, and his head injury seems to have healed itself. Also I added a couple apple snails before I noticed the spot.

The last pic I took awhile ago(anywhere from two weeks to over a month) before I noticed the spot. When looking at the pic I can see a dark area on the same ray. I'm sure that the pic was taken before the snails, so maybe its a sign that he didn't catch a parasite from them. I was going to assume that it was some of his coloring that I missed, but decided to ask to be safe. Also it might not look like it from the first two pics, but it is pretty easy to see in person. I don't think it was this easy to see before or I would have probably noticed it.

I hope I'm just worrying about nothing

 

[banjocat]

A new picture and a close up of the fin.

Is it normal for a color change like this? Could it be blood under the skin? When I looked at the spot today it looked flat, like it might be coloration or something under the skin.

Also if you're wondering why there is a reptile food bowl in the tank, that is an idea I came up with so that his food doesn't get lost in the gravel. I have been worried about him trying to eat gravel.

Edit: The bottom pic doesn't seem to be showing as clearly as it did on my computer before posting

 

[banjocat]

Looking at it more I'm thinking its probably just coloration.

He seems ok, so unless anybody says anything I'm going to move him to a 75 as soon as it finishes cycling.

If a mod thinks it would help, could they please move this thread to Fish Disease and Health.

 

[oregonian]

this is kinda off your subject (but i also think it's his coloration esp if he hasn't shown other symptoms) but i like the idea of the reptile food bowl, shows your really into hes well being too bad mine are freaks and would spread their food all over the tank

 

[banjocat]

Thanks, I try to put food in the bowl but sometimes the food drifts onto the gravel or the gourami pulls it out. Works pretty good with pellet food but pieces of shrimp and fish drift too easily in the current.

I've heard of some people using sand, but I don't want to ruin a filter.