Noob needs help with sick Damsel

[reefnoob]

I have a 55g tank that has been finished with the cycle for about 2 weeks now. I have a yellowtail damsel and a striped damsel (black and white) and that is the extent of my bioload at the moment.
My striped damsel has a white spot on top of hit's dorsal fin and a while spot on the bottom of this lower fin (not sure what it's called).. the spot on the lower fin looks like it has something very small sprouting out of it.. kinda warty lookin. The fish seems otherwise healthy.. eating, breathing, swimming..
I may get flamed for this, but I don't really care about the fish itself, it was the test for my tank and is going back to the LFS soon anyway... but my main concern is that my tank is infected now with something that will cause me great grief.
I have self diagnosed this as Cystivirus virus because it matches the description i read in books and it is on the Fin. The books I am reading in, describe Ich as a 'skin' symptom and do not specifically mention infection of fins. If my diagnosis is correct, then the virus will run it's course and life in my tank will resume unharmed. That's just too good to be true for my luck though.
My LFS who sold me the fish was no help.. he suggest adding CopperSafe or fungus stuff. Not gonna go there until I know what this is and then i'll quarantine it to treat with copper.
Any advice here?

 

[beth]

Consider yourself flamed. First off, there really is no reason to sacrifice a fish to cycle. A piece or 2 of LR will do better with cycling a tank, and you can actually keep the LR for the tank.
Ich can most certainly appear on fins of fish. It can cover every bit of space on a fish's body, fins, etc.
Are these spots you are seeing irregular in shape? Does it look like something is attached to the fish?
If you don't want your tank becoming contaminated, then don't risk it by placing fish in it that have not been QTed. Luck has nothing to do with it. Good hobby practices is the key to sucess. You may want to take a look at the FAQ Thread at the top of this forum.
Ultimately, if you leave your tank fishless for 2 mos, that will pretty much take care of most contagious fish diseases.

 

[reefnoob]

first of all, thanks Beth.. I guess.. I did not mean that I 'Sacrificed' fish to a cycle.. I sacrificed nothing but the die-off from some LR.. so thanks. I got the damsels after my cycle because they are cheap, I am new at this, and if they make it awsome, if not then I figure out what I did wrong and try again.
Thanks for making sure I won't be asking for help on this thread anymore...

 

[beth]

Reef, you invited being flamed just by suggesting that you would be flamed....what did you expect, then? When any hobbyist comes to a BB where BB participants generally value marine life, even a measly, lowlife damsel , and comment, "I may get flamed for this, but I don't really care about the fish itself, it was the test for my tank and its going back to the LFS soon anyway" then you are basically saying flame me I don't really care.
You went out of your way to say you didn't care about the fish, so flame me. I did. Just as easily, you could have asked your question wo ever incerting comments about whether you cared about the fish's life or not. Why do you think no else bothered to answer your question? Attitude. You gave it, I gave it back. You're insuled, I'm not. However, your best bet if you really want advise and answers in a fish community, is not to go out of your way looking for flames.
I can only assume you were looking to stir the pot a bit. In any case, I gave you sound advise and you should take it whether you participate in this thread again or not.