Young percs with growth.

[the fisherman]

I have had two percs that are about 3/4 inch for three weeks. I noticed about a week ago that one has a "cotton ball" looking growth on one gill. Today I noticed a smaller but similar growth on the back below the tail of the other. The tank has a six line wrasse and lr with mushrooms. Clean up crew, pepermint shrimp and a cleaner shrimp. Water looks good, percs act fine, eating ect. These were "tank raised". I do 15% wc once a week. I was thinking it was damge turning the transfer, but now I do not know.

 

[beth]

Are they eating? How is their color and behavior? Is the "cotton ball" actually a growth, or a discoloration of the skin?
Can you get a pic up?
What are your water readings?

 

[the fisherman]

They are eating like hungry little clowns, cruising the tank relentlesly. They are definately growths, the first one on his head is getting larger, and turning a hint of pink. It looks like two or three little cotton balls bigger than a piece of sand protruding from his head on the white stripe. Now that I look their is another good size white dot on its head in the black area, new today. I do not have QT set up, I do have 3 gallons of water than I have been putting air through, I also could probably dip, they are very friendly.

 

[beth]

Could it be ich? Are they scratching on rocks?

 

[the fisherman]

Nothing like the ich I have seen before, I have been keeping fish for 20 years and salt for two. I do not think this is ich, no scratching, seriously this thing prtrudes 5mm from the skin, can ich do that?

 

[the fisherman]

I searched under "cotton clown" and a couple posts came up but no significant recomendatinons .. HELP!

 

[the fisherman]

The water parameters are
77 degrees
o nitrites
0 nitrates
.1 ppm amonnia
ph 8.2
SG 1.24
No one has any thoughts?

 

[beth]

I don't know what these "growths" could be. Very strange that both have it. Why do you have ammonia? That could be a part of the problem.
Can you get a pic up on the percs?

 

[the fisherman]

Don't know why I have ammonia, maybe because I am due for a wc, but the 3 gallons I made up I have left ageing, thinking I may need to make a poor amns QT 50% tank water 50% new. I can not get a pick. on "ree cenrtal online" there seems to be a consensus that it is a fungus if cotton like. ANd fish should beQted for a week with meloncite green. So what do you thinlk. Their is also virus that starts wih a L, that it could be??

 

[the fisherman]

Have been told through reef central this is fungus and so now they are in a 5 gallon hospital bucket. I am using rid ich which has the "green" in it. The fungus has seemed to stop growing but is still their. Behavior the same, it has been 3 days.

 

[beth]

Did someone suggest using rid ich for fungus?