White patches for aro?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

JsTO97

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 6, 2024
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What type of disease is this ?
Water parameters are only 20ppm for nitrite and I’ve been changing water every 3 days at 30%.
some light research says it could be a bacterial infection? Columnaris? It’s eating and responsive. Not fuzzy.
It started off in a more circular fashion but has since patched up more.

I think I introduced it when I added some new java fern from an online retailer?

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20ppm nitrite or nitrate?
Nitrite is poison to fish even in low concentrations. Salt helps prevent nitrite poisoning so I would add 1tbsp salt per 5 gallons.
This dosing will also help if it’s bacterial by disrupting the bacterial life cycle, and promote slime coat reproduction. Replace the salt to the same concentration with your water changes for 2 weeks then let it wash out, providing your nitrite is 0
 
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Hard to make out what it is on the picture. I assume it looks like some slime coat. Will try increasing your water change to 50% twice a week. Nitrite should be zero. Did you mean nitrate or nitrate?
 
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Hard to make out what it is on the picture. I assume it looks like some slime coat. Will try increasing your water change to 50% twice a week. Nitrite should be zero. Did you mean nitrate or nitrate?
Sorry. Yes nitrate. The tanks been going for 4 months. I’ll start with that. It started off small.
 
Image isn't clear enough, looks like either scrapping or the early part of a bacteria infection. If you have the chance you could scrape the discolored scale for it's slime and look under a microscope and that should give a clear idea what is the problem; alternatively do a gram stain test.
 
How big is the aro? What can you tell us about the tank dimensions & filtration?
 
Image isn't clear enough, looks like either scrapping or the early part of a bacteria infection. If you have the chance you could scrape the discolored scale for it's slime and look under a microscope and that should give a clear idea what is the problem; alternatively do a gram stain test.
I don’t think I have that kind of test kit around.
 
It’s a 140g 6x18x28h. Aros been in it all its life with 5 other tank mates. ( I inherited about 6 months ago and I’ve removed all other fish and added some plants. It’s probably about 20 inches.
I’ve been awaiting a 8 ft ~400g custom tank that should be completed in the next 1-2 months ( been waiting for it since October).
The latches seemed too have shown up since I’ve added more plants. Plants were supposed to be for the new tank but the tank got delayed
Everything was stable and fine until about 2-3 weeks ago. I introduced some Java fern from an online plant store. Not sure if I was me moving things around and or timing, but that was when initial small patch showed up. It’s been growing now. But it’s just on top. It’s eating shrimp stuffed with hikari pellets.

it’s been eating almost every day. As mentioned. Nitrates are 10/20 as the plants are good at keeping that low.

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The patches are sometimes not that noticeable it’s been there for almost 3 weeks but it’s spread, but more faint. It shows up in certain lighting more than others.

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Aro's are notorious for jumping. The marks do appear to be on the highest point of his back. Maybe they're abrasions on the slime coat from hitting the cover glasses 🤷‍♂️

Glad to hear you are waiting on an upgrade, bummer its taking longer than hoped. He'll do great in a 400gal!
 
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