White spots on Oscar's eye

[whitespirit]

I begin this with background....set up a 180-gallon tank 2 weeks ago. No time to cycle it without fish as it came with an Oscar (11 inches), a Golden Julie and a large feeder fish. A week later I adopted an Oscar (8 inches) from a local pet store. I wanted to wait to put it in my tank, but they had it packed up and ready before I realized it, while I was waiting for the paperwork and asking questions. So, I brought it home. It came with Ich. I do not have a quarantine tank and didn't see the spots until the next day anyway. The little guy also had HITH when it was at the store, not sure how they treated for it, but will ask later tonight.

I treated the tank with Rid Ich for about 7 days (my notes are at home for the exact time) and did 30% water changes/gravel siphon daily (because of the ich and nitrites). Since the nitrites were high and I was going to be gone a couple of days I did a 50% water change before Thanksgiving. I also added aquarium salt consistently, but within the parameters. Raised the temp some, but need another heater, so not enough. But as of last week I had no signs of Ich. And as of yesterday my nitrites were down, but still showing so will do another change tonight.

THEN when I came home after being gone two days, the large oscar, Big O, has white spots on it's left eye and there are scales missing from it's side. I have not seen it flashing or being picked on by anyone else.

Is this ich on his eye because I didn't treat long enough? Or another fungus or parasite considering the scales missing?

Thanks for any and all info.

 

[bigspizz]

Sounds like damage to me. Or nitrate burns. Water changes will remedy the problem. Get that heater soon and get the temp up to 80 at a minimum and 84-86 to stay rid of ick (pun intended) It sounds like they will be fine

 

[Dr. Giggles]

Since nitrites are not yet zero I would say ammonia is the culprit. Since the fish wasn't completely healthy it is prone to attacks by pathogens, another contributing factor.

 

[whitespirit]

Hello....posting an update....I had a vet check out photos of my oscars and HITH and HLLE have been confirmed. Varying opinions say they either might not make it and/or there is hope. I'm voting for hope even though it is beginning to feel like I am doing hospice care at this point with the added symptoms below.

I have treated the tank with Primafix and Melafix for bacteria and fungus. It has cleared up some of the fungus, but I need to continue treatment for another run. Now my water is very cloudy though. Bacteria bloom??? I do 30-50% water changes daily or every other day depending on my schedule to keep the nitrites down. My water is still not balanced so I stay up on the changes. I'm going to do some major cleaning this weekend and take out much of the large rocks I have in there where waste is getting trapped....takes too long to siphon around them all. Temp maintaining between 83-84 degrees.

They now have more scales lost though and circles forming on the top of their heads (it reminds me of the ring salt water would leave on a surface)....possibly scale loss? not sure. The overgrown feeder in the tank which came with Big O also has scales lost. The LFS said they will take and keep the Big Feeder and test him for parasites, so I'll take him there this weekend...I know he can't be feeling very well with the temp currently and whatever else is going on.

So thanks again for all your insights. Anything to add about the cloudy water or rings please let me know.