Small white spot on the beautiful tail fin of a shubunkin - what is it?

Question

A very small white spot has appeared overnight on the tail fin of my favourite prettiest shubunkin in a cold water indoor aquarium. I have heard of White Spot and wonder if I should treat the aquarium with its total of 6 goldfish (comets/shubunkins) and 2 green tenches - all very healthy by the way. I recently replaced half the water and added the usual tonic salts but used a different tap safe, an antibiotic one - hmmm, maybe a bad idea to change things in an otherwise well established and stable tank!!! So, calling all you expert fish keepers out there to let me have your suggestions or advice.

Answer 1

I wouldn't medicate unless you can identify this positively, or the number of spots increases. It may not be a disease or parasite at all, and using the wrong medication can do more harm than good. Antibiotics will upset your tank bacteria and you'll have higher than normal ammonia and nitrite while your tank cycles again.

If this is whitespot (ich), the spots will be about the size of salt grains (see photos and links below). You can treat this just using heat and salt. Slowly increase the temperature, a few degrees each hour till you get a temperature around 86-90o. That's a good deal of change, but if you don't want to go that high, any increase will help. This causes the life cycle of the parasite to speed up. Add salt till you have a concentration of 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon per gallon of water (you'll have to figure this taking into consideration the amount you've already added). You'll need to treat all the fish, as the parasite is in the water.

You'll need to treat for around 10-14 days, or at least 3 days after you no longer see the spots on the fish. When the parasite is on the fish, it's enclosed in a cyst and isn't affected by the treatment - only when it's in the water. If you stop treatment too early, you have the risk of your fish being infected again.

See this link for other treatment options and info on ich/whitespot: http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/ich.shtml

Answer 2

hi first of all do you have a test kit for your tank? and if so what do the tests say? if the spot u found is the size of a grain of salt then it is prob a white spot parracite. if it is then you will have to treat it. it will prob be a 7 day treatment as you cant kill whitespot when it is attached to the fish only when it has detached to bread. so allways make shure you do a full treatment even if there is no sign of white spot on your fish. fish tend to get white spot and dedieseases because of stress, so you really need to get a test kit if you dont have one. the results should say: PH 7.2-7.4, ammonia 0, nitrite 0. and nitrate should be as low as possable below 50 is fine. when doin water changes only do 20% every week as that wont upset the bactria in your filter.
hope this helps
if u need any other help just ask

Answer 3

White spot
Caused by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis parasite.

Small white spots, about the size of a salt grain, on the skin, fins and gills.

Stress related. Usually a consequence of poor or incorrect water conditions, fluctuating temperature and general poor husbandry. Sensitive species may develop white spot as a result of being introduced to a new aquarium.

Ensure the water is free of pollution and isolate cause of stress.

Treat promptly with an anti-parasite medication. It may be necessary to raise the water temperature to improve the effectiveness of the treatment. Wounds left by parasites may become secondarily infected.

Answer 4

First do not treat your tank unless you are certain it is ich. Secondly DO NOT add salt or raise the temperatures it will kill your goldfish outright.

If you only see one spot, shubs are known for their color. Some of Mine have both black and white spots this does not mean it is ich. Changing the procedure of an established tank can lead to stress problems, not always. You need to know for sure and if you only see one spot and no more have appeared, do not treat the tank and please do not raise the temperatures to 90 for your goldfish.

Remember salt should not be added to a goldfish tanks or ponds. Salt compounds health issues with goldfish like bloat, constapation, dropsy and slimecoat issues. I have raised goldfish and koi for sale and show for more than 30 years. Really ditch the salt.

Asan added note:
Goldfish need a balanced diet. When choosing a fish food choose one with high protein (48% or better) and low fat (5% or less)

You can supplement their diet with things like Lettuce, mustard greens, turnip greens, collard greens, spinach, peas, endive, seaweed, cukes, kale, chard, broccoli, lima beans, green beans, etc. and feed aquatic plants (e.g. duckweed, azolla, salvenia, etc) or hair algae daily.

For their Carotenoids which are a family of pigments the fish can't make themselves and are obtained as part of the diet. These pigments result in red, yellow and orange colors. Fish have cells called chromataphores. Those cells convert lutein and carotenes into astaxanthin which is the red pigment.
sources include, brine shrimp, krill, spirulina, marigold flowers, paprika, sweet red peppers, yams, carrots, pumpkin

Watermellons and oranges are also good as well as proteins like chicken (chicken livers) beef (livers and parts) and pork as well as worms and bugs.

Answer 5

ya it sounds as if the fish is dying. If you have other fish in the same tank you will need to take this sick fish out of the tank so it doesnt get the other fish sick.