Just fed my 12-14"" Aba Aba and noticed a spot that is a reddish/maroon color that looks almost like it's scratched its side maybe. Looks kinda like loosened scales from an abrasion it got somehow possibly. It's about half the size of a dime I suppose. I also noticed that the scales right behind its gills in a single row above and below the lateral line are the same way. The reddish/maroon color around or under each scale is definitely in a straight line going down the body laterally. It is only affecting maybe a dozen scales individually, and the maroon color does not seem to be on scales that touch each other necessarily. The other spot is round in shape for the most part and definitely looks worse. I have not noticed any fungal infection. I don't really think that it is a bacterial infection yet. Those spots are on the right hand side of the fish, and that side is more likely to get scraped/rubbed when it goes into the PVC pipe house it stays in. It ate fine tonight. I did a 40% water change immediately and used stress coat with aloe generously. Any thoughts about what to treat a bacterial infection if it comes to that with on this fish? Kinda wary about using medication in general on it. I quarantine everything I feed it for at least 2 weeks. It's by itself in the tank. I've had it about a month. I change 25% of the water 2-3 times per week. All the levels are zero except nitrates that are no more than 10ppm ever. Ph is 7.5+/- , and my water is hard. I hope I am jumping the gun, just worried I suppose. I am SO careful with all my fish that it's just really surprising that I'm having to deal with this issue at all. Thanks. Sorry to be so long winded.
