This Has Stumped the Oscar Community

[Judge Holden]

Because it's growing in circles and patches, I gotta feel that it is fungal as well. In fact, if it were on a person, I would go so far as to say it is Athlete's Foot. I am almost certain it is fungal.

If it is a weird fungal infection, it may take far longer than normal for it to respond to medications.

So Seachem Paraguard might have worked if I'd used it longer. I did a standard treatment for a week.

 

[pi-eyed]

I'm no expert by any means but I've seen similiar symtoms(ring type marks that recede-come back-etc...) in my fire mouth cichlids. Through a lot of research and countless treatments with different meds, I am stumped as well. The only thing I can think of is that it may be some kind of genetic dis-order through either breeding or collecting wild specimen to raise in a tank. I could be full of crap -- as I stated--I'm no expert.

Good luck with your Oscar,
Chris

 

[Judge Holden]

IThe only thing I can think of is that it may be some kind of genetic dis-order through either breeding or collecting wild specimen to raise in a tank.

Something tells me there's a lot of inbreeding at commercial fish farms, just like puppy mills.

 

[alexpie001]

if it were a human, id say ring worm, its def a fungus

 

[Wet Whiskers]

And chance he is getting nipped at and its causing little infections that eventually heal up? Have you thought about adding a UV sterilizer to the tank to try to erradicate it?

Edit: and just double checking... He had this before the first tank burst?

 

[ShadowBass]

It actually looks somewhat like patches of excess slime coat.

So a few things I could guess:

The fish has some kind of immune/skin disorder that is causing excess slime coat due to the fact that its immune system thinks its been infected with something and is trying to fight it off, thus producing extra slimecoat. Somewhat similar to how psoriasis in humans work.

Some kind of viral infection similar to herpes, that is presenting symptoms and then disappearing repeatedly. (Look up carp pox, a type of herpes. Looks similar). This type of infection cannot really be treated or cured.

Some type of parasite burrowing under the skin, thus causing irritation and excess slimecoat. If it's a species that drops off to complete the life cycle the patches may disappear periodically (though if it was this type of infection I'd assume it to get progressively worse due to the parasite multiplying. Not to mention showing up on your other fish).

You can't really know for sure without sending a sample off to someone.

 

[BODYDUB]

I had the exact same thing on my two O's that lasted about a week. As O's are they love to rearrange, and one of them must have turned up the heat by one night by moving the switch to warmer. My water must have been close to 90! So I immediately turned it down and added ice. Also it had been about 2 months since I last changed my carbon in my filter. The "wounds" evetually went away in about a week or so. Hope that helps.......

 

[_Jessica_]

I've had a small patch of ringworm (a fungus) on my arm for about 6 months...I've treated it, it comes back, over and over again, it's nothing major but I'm probably going to have to try something stronger here soon. Fungal infections take a while to cure.

I do like the viral/herpes idea though...that seems like a plausible diagnosis.

 

[Judge Holden]

And chance he is getting nipped at and its causing little infections that eventually heal up?

No, the Firemouth and SDs leave him alone. He used to share his tank with six Tiger Barbs. Their bodies have never been recovered.

Have you thought about adding a UV sterilizer to the tank to try to erradicate it?

Until I read this: "UV sterilization will not cure infected fish of bacterial or fungal diseases." http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html See the Facts & Myths section about 4/5 of the way down the page.

Edit: and just double checking... He had this before the first tank burst?

Yeah, and I was hoping it would stay there. Protip: if you're tempted by tanks with rounded glass, don't look for bargains. The "edge" pictured here split after 9 months. 100 gallon bowfront by Odyssea. Pretty while it lasts.

It actually looks somewhat like patches of excess slime coat.

Big time. Something could be aggravating it? Our water is allegedly ideal for aquariums and brewing beer: http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/WaterWorks/files/Water_Quality_Basics09.pdf Maybe I chose the wrong hobby.

The fish has some kind of immune/skin disorder that is causing excess slime coat due to the fact that its immune system thinks its been infected with something and is trying to fight it off, thus producing extra slimecoat. Somewhat similar to how psoriasis in humans work.

I'm wondering if a different slime coat enhancer (or none at all) might help. I dismissed them as snake oil until reading a post by Dr. Tim (of Dr. Tim's One & Only Nitrifying Bacteria), where he said there's sound science behind some of them. But which one is better than Prime?

You can't really know for sure without sending a sample off to someone.

I'm afraid this is the bottom line. I dread putting a 10"+ fish in a cooler and taking him anywhere. If there's a silver bullet-type anti-fungal med I might try that first.

 

[gregg]

would salt work for him>? but putting him in his own 30 G for week or 2 nd salting him