Copperbanded Butterfly with a Single White Dot

hogcr8

Member
I placed a Copperbanded Butterfly in a QT 2 weeks ago with 2 Firefish. All came from same LFS. Everyone has been doing fine (eating, swimming around, etc.). I noticed last night that the Butterfly has a single white dot on its right fin. That's it nothing else. Wondering if it is possible that it is something besides ICH. I have turned the lights off for now and everyone is still eating like a champ. Tested the water last night and
Ammo 0
trates 15
trites 0
Sal 1.024
temp 75.5
It's amost like I could reach in grab its fin and pull it off. Don't want to freak out and start HYPO or anything if it could be nothing to worry about.
Thanks in advance for the input........
Cory
 

nicetry

Active Member
Can you decribe the spot you're seeing? Does it look at all raised or clumpy? Could be lymphocystis, which would require only time, good water and diet. It is entirely possible to see only one ich spot but if it is ich, this will quickly change. Lymphocystis can appear to be one spot or several, usually on the fins, and is very common in butterflies.
 

hogcr8

Member
As luck would have it I just got home and it now has a small one on the tail. It looks clumpy almost like a really small cotton ball and is on the very edge of the fin and tail. I will have to wait til the lights come on in the morning to get a better look. Will post what I see then.....
I guess the thing I don't get, if it is ICH, is that the butterfly has been in the QT tank for just over 2 weeks, water qual is good and its eating like a banchee...... Can ICH just come out of nowhere like that or could it have just taken this long to show up??????????
Thanks folks.......
Cory
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by HogCr8
As luck would have it I just got home and it now has a small one on the tail. It looks clumpy almost like a really small cotton ball and is on the very edge of the fin and tail. I will have to wait til the lights come on in the morning to get a better look. Will post what I see then.....
I guess the thing I don't get, if it is ICH, is that the butterfly has been in the QT tank for just over 2 weeks, water qual is good and its eating like a banchee...... Can ICH just come out of nowhere like that or could it have just taken this long to show up??????????
Thanks folks.......
Cory
Butterflies are second to tangs in the ich dept. Don't count it as ich yet. If the original spot is still there and this one just happened then be ready. Watch him closely. It could be Lymph, but it wouldn't spread so quickly. This is the reason that you watch them of at LEAST 3 weeks.
 

hogcr8

Member
Thank GOD for QT's. I will NEVER place anything in my tank again without going through QT first........ Hopefully its not ICH and they can go in the tank on schedule. If not I guess I will have to HYPO......
Cory
 

hogcr8

Member
I guess at this point I need a little advice as to my next move. 2 more white dots have appeared on the tail and 2 on the other fin. The Butterfly is still very active and has a real good appitite. Not sure if this is ICH or not. Any suggestions would be very helpful. The firefish don't seem to be effected at all. I also noticed what looks like a small soar on one side of the Butterfly. It is very small and hard to see but I can see the pink of its flesh on the white backgroud of the fish......... Also, there are no white spots on the body of the fish only on the fins and tail.......
Thanks
Cory
 

hogcr8

Member
Could really use some help with this one. The dots are still there but have not multiplied. I original one on the right fins seems to be a little bigger but he still has lots of energy and eats like a horse. I don't think it's ICH cause it has not gotten worse. Have no idea what to do at this point. Tomorrow marks three weeks since they have been in the QT. If I need to do something for the Butterfly but can go ahead and put the firefish in the DT I would like too, but just not sure. Any help would be appreciated.......
Thanks
Cory
 

beth

Administrator
Staff member
It does sound like ich, however, if you can't post a picture, try looking at the thread on Diseased Fish at the top of this forum and note the pictures on ich and lympocyctis to see which look like your situation.
 

hogcr8

Member
I started HYPO this evening and will ask question/post as the process goes forward..... Just wish I could have moved the firefish to the DT before the HYPO but I know better........
Thanks folks......
Cory
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by HogCr8
I started HYPO this evening and will ask question/post as the process goes forward..... Just wish I could have moved the firefish to the DT before the HYPO but I know better........
Thanks folks......
Cory
Any fish that was in with him is carrying ich as well. They all need to be hypo'd
 

hogcr8

Member
Started the HYPO precess thursday night leaving the Firefish in the QT. It seemed right away that the white spot were getting smaller. They are still there and I have about .004 ppt to go before I get the water to 1.009. The little pink spot on the side of the Butterfly has not gotten any bigger or pinker. Not sure if I should and some antibiotics or not at this point..... Can't really tell if it is a sore or just a birth mark that looks like a sore.....
Cory
 
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