Pale/White blotches on fish

[slapnutz]

Can't get a good picture at the moment, but I'm having a hard time figuring out what 2 of my Gymnogeos have. Some spots/areas on their sides and right up against their top fin on the body, the length of the fin, are a pale/white-ish color. It isn't everywhere, and it's only noticeable at certain angles. These "spots" aren't just little tiny things, like ich, but bigger blotches.

Tank is a 75g with a sump and a aqueon 55 HOB. Params are 0-0-20 (pre water change).

Stock consists of 5 Gymnogeos, 2 red ceibals, 2 jurupari, 5 clown loaches, couple tiger botias, couple pictus cats, and a royal pleco.

Did a water change, and started treating the tank with melafix, which has worked for me for before. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Ang]

sounds like Fungus.

Try Pimafix and Melafix in conjunction with each other.

 

[Lupin]

I disagree. Unless the fish has been injured before, it should not exhibit fungal infections which is incredibly rare and appear in true cottony growth. This sounds more bacterial to me.

Were those fish injured before?
What are your water parameters?
Pics?
What are the unusual behavioral patterns observed?
Appearance of stool?
Food?

Personally, I would not bother using Melafix and Pimafix if this is bacterial infection. Stick to salt. There are instructions for that in ich database of sticky thread entitled "Freshwater Disease Guide". Separate those fish and make sure their isolation tank is cycled. Until confirmed bacteria is involved, I will not suggest antibiotics just yet.

 

[slapnutz]

No previous sickness, these fish are new, but have been fine for 3 weeks or so. I put them in my 20g temporarily, which has a couple cories and I'm growing out some loaches in there, tank is moderately planted. Water params were always 0/0/10-20.

On one of the fish, it has turned into a cottony/stringy look where it is against the dorsal fin, but it is on the body. Tail fin looks clamped, it's not fanned out. Pectoral fins are very close to body.

After what it looks like now, could be columnaris?

 

[Lupin]

I'd separate the sick ones. Get a large tub if not a tank.

What is your pH? I'd run kanamycin if pH is 7.6 or more otherwise we'll need tetracycline instead. A more reliable option is to mix the antibiotics in the foods particularly gel foods but it works more with internal infections although either way, it won't hurt to do it.

 

[slapnutz]

*One thing I forgot to mention. Fish were being very playful a couple days ago, and I stuck my hand in the tank and pet a couple of them. My hands were clean, as far as I can remember.*

Here's the worse of the two. Hard to get good pictures with my crappy point n shoot camera. He hasn't been swimming around much.

Tail starting to split badly

This guy is much more active, but still messed up.