Diagnosis for firefish?

[ScottK]

I bought a pair of firefish last week and have had them in the QT tank. On tuesday I noticed a white dot on the tail of one of them. I suspected it was Ich, but the spot has grown considerablely in size and now become two. It resembles a large scale, thin and flat (it's not as fuzzy as it appears in the photos) that is white. It leaves a dark ring on the tail where it emerges from the flesh. Any ideas on what it is? I'm fairly certain it's not Ich, as it the dots are much larger and differently shaped than Ich I've seen on other fish. The fish seems otherwise healthy, no scraping against rock or rapid breathing. It's eating well, also. Thanks for any help.

Sorry for the crappy photos. I can't find my good camera and am using an old digital....

 

[ZANYMASTER]

Velvet maybe?Others will chime in.

 

[aznt1217]

Are they a mated pair. They could possibly be fighting.

 

[D1J8Z]

looks like a type of fungus look into dipping the fish enless you want to medicate the the tank assuming its still in the QT tank

 

[ScottK]

They haven't been fighting as far as I have noticed. They still are in the QT tank. Is there an easy way to tell the difference between fungi and parasites?

 

[D1J8Z]

fungi are usually fuzzy in the way it looks as well as normally grow faster and to a much larger size than a parasite. I am no expert but this is from what I have delt with they do make natural remedys such as melafix and primafix but NEVER mix the 2 if need be treat seperatly one after the next but not at the same time. Then there is always formalin it is much harsher and normally not the first method. It is effective.

 

[dennis]

I have noticed something like a scale on firefishes i had in the past it moves over the fish, meaning its not always in the same place, i have also seen it on them in the store. What i did was. cut a straw at an angle and gently removed what ever it was. It never returned and the fish was fine. Are the spots scale like and never in the same place?

 

[ScottK]

The spot is always in the same place, it looks like it's embedded in and sticking out of the fish's skin.