Could these spots be normal and not ich?

jsbull · Dec 27, 2016

I've had a harlequin tusk in QT for about 3 weeks now. When it came in, it had two white specks on its tail, but was completely clear otherwise. I treated with Prazi first, and monitored for a week and a half. I've been treating with Cupramine for about 11 days now. In the entire time, these spots haven't changed, and no more have appeared anywhere. His behavior is excellent, except loss of appetite for 24 hours during a nitrate spike.

Could this be normal and nothing that needs treatment? I ask because it's a big fish for this QT and I'm battling nitrates constantly. Water changes every 4 days or so and keeping the copper consistent has been a pain. I know this guy would love to move to the DT.

@Humblefish if you have some advice, I'd appreciate it.

Here are the best 2 pics of the 80 pictures I took. The two spots in question are on the top of the tail fin:

melypr1985 · Dec 27, 2016

I see them and they could be ick. Have those two spots been present and in that spot the entire three weeks? If so, then I lean more toward lymph... of course I would expect lymph to get bigger than that by now.

Oh and you shouldn't worry about nitrates in a QT. Nitrates don't effect the fish unless they are incredibly high... off the charts high. Ammonia is your main worry in QT.

jsbull · Dec 27, 2016

They have been in the same spot and same size the entire time. I've had fish with lymph before and it is usually much larger. I'd just expect ich to fall off by now and manifest itself in another spot.

Can fish have white birthmarks or scars that are this small? I'm hoping that it's benign and nothing to mess with.

The nitrates were really high at one point. Red on the API test. Like 60 or 80. I thought I had bacteria properly in place and didn't test for a few days. I felt awful. Glad he bounced back right away.