sens with black spots
- Thread starter GarNiac
- Start date
Another fish with a case of "black spots": http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289709
Causes
Dropsy is fairly easy to diagnose non-specifically, however, it is much harder to diagnose the cause. The main cause is bacterial infection. The causative agent may be introduced through food or dirty water.
Dropsy is not very contagious; however, if a fish is diagnosed with dropsy, it is important to remove it from the aquarium because the infected fish will contaminate the separate water and end up dying. If there are multiple fish, treat the afflicted fish in a specially established "sick tank". Dropsy can spread from the ill fish, possibly causing stress among the other fish in the tank community. This extra stress may make the others vulnerable to dropsy or other forms of disease.
Treatment may consist of antibiotic targeting the causative agent. They work best in the very early stages of dropsy. A more hands-on approach is to raise the aquarium's temperature a few degrees - slightly higher than usual. Adding Epsom salt to the water helps to encourage the fish to expel unnecessary damaging fluids.
i thought dropsy are like, puffy scale?
Dropsy is fairly easy to diagnose non-specifically, however, it is much harder to diagnose the cause. The main cause is bacterial infection. The causative agent may be introduced through food or dirty water.
Dropsy is not very contagious; however, if a fish is diagnosed with dropsy, it is important to remove it from the aquarium because the infected fish will contaminate the separate water and end up dying. If there are multiple fish, treat the afflicted fish in a specially established "sick tank". Dropsy can spread from the ill fish, possibly causing stress among the other fish in the tank community. This extra stress may make the others vulnerable to dropsy or other forms of disease.
Treatment may consist of antibiotic targeting the causative agent. They work best in the very early stages of dropsy. A more hands-on approach is to raise the aquarium's temperature a few degrees - slightly higher than usual. Adding Epsom salt to the water helps to encourage the fish to expel unnecessary damaging fluids.
i thought dropsy are like, puffy scale?
sostoudt;3677913; said:
this is true, I dont think its a dropsy, as I look closer to the sens, its nothing than just an odd colored spot like you said. I got that sen since 2 months ago, and its been acting and eating just fine.
I have another sen which I raised since it was small, and as it grows its also has similar spot like that.
The only thing I wonder now is the overall color of the sen which is grey instead of yellow-brown. I though it was hybrid, maybe not.
cheers
Hi,
Black Spot Disease, Tang Disease or Black Ich is actually caused by an infestation of tiny Genus Paravortex member turbellarian flatworms. Although parasitic organisms that are much less dangerous and life-threatening, as well as rather easy to get rid of compared to other ich diseases such as Oodinium, Cryptocaryon, and Brooklynella, nonetheless it is a problem that needs to be treated upon recognition to eradicate infected fishes of these parasites.
The Life Cycle of These Worms
Once these worms start feeding on a host fish they acquire pigmentation, which causes the appearance of black spots about the size of a grain of salt on the body and fin membranes . Worms that freely move about on fish, the spots do not always remain stationary. On light colored fish they are easy to see, whereas on dark colored ones they may go unnoticed at first. Fish will scratch up against objects in an attempt to dislodge the parasites, and if allowed to progress the fish become lethargic, loss of appetite and colors occur, rapid respiration develops, and secondary bacterial infections can invade damaged tissue sites.
Treatment Recommendation
Give all infected fish a saltwater dip, followed by a formalin bath and continue treatment in a QT.
Preventing Reinfestation
Reinfection will occur no matter how effectively the fish have been treated if these parasitic tubellarian worms are not eradicated from the main aquarium. Unfortunately because they can survive for several months without a host, this is often not an easy thing to do, but here are some suggestions.
Black Spot Disease, Tang Disease or Black Ich is actually caused by an infestation of tiny Genus Paravortex member turbellarian flatworms. Although parasitic organisms that are much less dangerous and life-threatening, as well as rather easy to get rid of compared to other ich diseases such as Oodinium, Cryptocaryon, and Brooklynella, nonetheless it is a problem that needs to be treated upon recognition to eradicate infected fishes of these parasites.
The Life Cycle of These Worms
- Living in the substrate until mature, an adult worm seeks out a host fish.
- After feeding for about six days, it falls off into the substrate.
- About five days later the worm's body ruptures and releases a new population of young worms, and the cycle starts again, but in larger numbers.
Once these worms start feeding on a host fish they acquire pigmentation, which causes the appearance of black spots about the size of a grain of salt on the body and fin membranes . Worms that freely move about on fish, the spots do not always remain stationary. On light colored fish they are easy to see, whereas on dark colored ones they may go unnoticed at first. Fish will scratch up against objects in an attempt to dislodge the parasites, and if allowed to progress the fish become lethargic, loss of appetite and colors occur, rapid respiration develops, and secondary bacterial infections can invade damaged tissue sites.
Treatment Recommendation
Give all infected fish a saltwater dip, followed by a formalin bath and continue treatment in a QT.
Preventing Reinfestation
Reinfection will occur no matter how effectively the fish have been treated if these parasitic tubellarian worms are not eradicated from the main aquarium. Unfortunately because they can survive for several months without a host, this is often not an easy thing to do, but here are some suggestions.
- Leave the main aquarium devoid of all fish for several months.
- Young worms live in the substrate and feed on detritus and organic debris until such time they mature and go in search of a fish host. By siphoning up excess organic matter that can build up on the bottom of the aquarium can help to control their numbers.
- For fish-only tanks that have no freshwater sensitive invertebrates present, hyposalinity can be applied.
If it's had those spots it's whole life and they look like just spots then I highly doubt it's any sort of disease. I've got a buddy with a blond spot on his otherwise black haired scalp, that doesn't mean he's got an infectious disease.