Zonatus Skin Problem

[MartinBoy]

I agree with Madness, looks like it is simply morphing/peeling. If the fish is otherwise eating well & acting normal I wouldn't worry about it. This does not appear to be any type of disease.

It honestly does look like a Paratheraps fenestratus "Lago Catemaco" You can see some other color morphs of the Catemeco fenestratus variant in the link below.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?400569-Paratheraps-fenestratus

Perhaps one ended up in your order by accident - have you checked with the seller?

Thanks I'm checkn now

 

[MartinBoy]

he did have the black stripe like the zonatus originally??

 

[duanes]

Hard to tell not being there, but any Central can become piebald, it's not a disease (if that's what the condition is). A recessive gene that appears in a few individuals of a spawn, it may be a evolutionary trait that occurs in case the environment changes in order for the species to survive. I have had managuense spawns where a few individuals are white or yellow and without the normal black. I've seen yellow minckleyi. Most of the time in nature, these individuals don't make it because they stand out. In the case of the piebald fenestratus, it has done just the opposite.

 

[Aquamojo]

I have not experienced anything like this before so I need some input. I have isolated this fish for 2-3 weeks in 10g temp @ 82 and treated with API MelaFix with no results at all. What do you recommend?
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This is not P. zonatus. I would say Fenestratus. If the fish is changing color, that's one thing. If it's loosing scales that another thing..

 

[MartinBoy]

This is not P. zonatus. I would say Fenestratus. If the fish is changing color, that's one thing. If it's loosing scales that another thing..

Thanks Mo! I will put him back with the others and see how it goes

 

[smitty03281964]

I know that you have separated him but was he in a tank with other fish like other Zonatums. If so I believe that have picked off his scales and the replacement scales have not attained any color yet. I have a fish with identical problem and one day when i was just watching the tank I noticed that the other fish would nip at his scales. He is doing well and never stopped eating and I just noticed that he is starting to get back some color.

 

[MartinBoy]

I know that you have separated him but was he in a tank with other fish like other Zonatums.

Yes he was in with some other fish as shown in pictures attached. He was not getting picked on. This fish was about 2" when I received it and is @ 4" now. I have noticed some difference to color/skin since I have had it.

 

[Madness]

Just keep an eye on it. Like Mo said, if the scales are falling off then you better not put it back in with the others, if it is just changing colors, I strongly think against Zonatus. I have 2 beautiful adult pairs, and Mo, (well we all know Mo knows his Zo's) That was a mouth full. Just keep us updated.

 

[MartinBoy]

Thanks everyone I will watch for another week or so and give you an update

 

[Aquamojo]

Just keep an eye on it. Like Mo said, if the scales are falling off then you better not put it back in with the others, if it is just changing colors, I strongly think against Zonatus. I have 2 beautiful adult pairs, and Mo, (well we all know Mo knows his Zo's) That was a mouth full. Just keep us updated.

Yup. If the scales are coming off, keep it in a hospital tank. Try a medication like Clout.