Help, Blue ram with skin problems

[Fishie boy]

Hi all,

I recently got a blue ram (about 1 1/2 months) but over the past week I’ve noticed these white patches above his eye and on his fins, pictures attached. The tank pH varies between 6.6-7 and nitrates are 20. Ammonia and nitrites have been 0 for a few months.
I was thinking maybe HITH but I’m not sure? Ive had electric blue rams before and never seen anything like this...

 

[FJB]

I could not see anything wrong in the 1st two pictures, but the other ones show clearly the white patches (forehead/eye) and blobs (fins).
Not looking good. I don't know what it is, but it looks similar to what what is referred to as lymphocystis, nasty bacterial infections that often get secondarily infected and make for bad wounds. Can be lethal.
What is unusual, is that lymphocystis usually occurs in very poor water quality conditions, poor maintenance, insufficient water changes, leftover rotting stuff, etc.
The pictures of your aquarium show a fairly clear aquarium, speaking well about your routines, which does not seem leading to lymphocystis issues.
What is your maintenance routine? Regardless, I would step-up water changes, add some salt and observe.
Hopefully others may have complementary advise for you.
Good luck!

 

[Fishie boy]

I could not see anything wrong in the 1st two pictures, but the other ones show clearly the white patches (forehead/eye) and blobs (fins).
Not looking good. I don't know what it is, but it looks similar to what what is referred to as lymphocystis, nasty bacterial infections that often get secondarily infected and make for bad wounds. Can be lethal.
What is unusual, is that lymphocystis usually occurs in very poor water quality conditions, poor maintenance, insufficient water changes, leftover rotting stuff, etc.
The pictures of your aquarium show a fairly clear aquarium, speaking well about your routines, which does not seem leading to lymphocystis issues.
What is your maintenance routine? Regardless, I would step-up water changes, add some salt and observe.
Hopefully others may have complementary advise for you.
Good luck!

Thank you for your help. I do weekly 20L water changes, with carbon, peat moss and resin being used in the filter. The sand is vacuumed to remove any debris on the floor as weekly as well. I have now moved him to the hospital tank, with salt, and added an anti fungus and white spot treatment as it didn’t seem to respond to the anti bacterial treatment.

 

[fishorama]

Lymphocystis is an iridovirus that can spread, there is no treatment, but fish don't die very fast...small comfort, I know. It looks like that on the fins...It's really a viral type, not due to tank upkeep...Although poor maintenance can add stress & speed fish signs of infection...If that's what it is, I'm very sorry. Are any other fish showing white lumps? If you have a second tank you can use as a quarantine that might be good

The white by the eye looks more like HITH, I've never seen it on the fins...but maybe...I've never had to deal with it, thank goodness. It's mostly seen in cichlids I believe. If that's what it is you probably should treat the tank.

Since I've never had HITH I'm not sure of the best treatment. I "think" I've read of praziquantil &/or metronidizole being used...but look it up. I don't think salt is the answer from what I recall...I could be wrong.

Again, I'm so sorry. I wish I had better help to give.

 

[Sprinkle]

HITH, aka Hexamita. Are little parasites that make holes in the fish, not white blobs.
Doesn't look like lymphocistis to me either.
Do a 75% water change, clean your susbtrate and wipe down tank walls.
Add 1-2 tablespoons of aquarium salt per 20L (5 gallons) of water.
This dose will not harm any fish (including plecos and other catfish or loaches), shrimp or plants.
When water changes are carried out, make sure you dechlorinate any water before putting it in the tank and add salt to keep salinity levels stable.

- - - - - - - -

You should be doing 50%+ water changes weekly, ideally 75% to dilute out more microorganisms out of water that are potentially harmful to fish.
You should keep nitrates below 20ppm.
Add floating plants like salvinia sp, frogbit, anacharis (known as elodea densa in the UK) and hornwort to the tank, these fast growing plants will help in taking out most of nitrates out of tank water as well as bigger water changes.
My only concern with high nitrates is stocking and size of the tank.
What is your tank size? What fish do you have in the tank?

 

[the loach]

Add 1-2 tablespoons of aquarium salt per 20L (5 gallons) of water.
This dose will not harm any fish (including plecos and other catfish or loaches), shrimp or plants.

Nor will it harm any pathogenic organisms. It is an old myth that it would at this dose. Don't add salt with black water fish, it's not going to do anything for them.
I can't tell from the pictures, the patches on his fins are the 3 white things on his dorsal fin?

 

[Sprinkle]

I can't tell from the pictures, the patches on his fins are the 3 white things on his dorsal fin?

Not ICK, not HITH (Hexamita) not lymphocystis either. I'd say excess mucous, which salt will help, checking for ammonia, nitrite and cleaning the tank for 2 weeks. Did that when my fish had excess mucous, worked.

 

[FJB]

RE my earlier suggestion -
I should have been clearer. Two things going on,

1- Lymphocystis - The blobs that have appeared on fins and perhaps other places
I was corrected (appropriatedly) by Fishorama - " ...is an iridovirus that can spread, there is no treatment, but fish don't die very fast...small comfort, I know."

2- The white patch on forehead, above eye - May be and possibly is advanced HITH. But I am not sure. Not fully curable in well advanced cases, but definitely partly reversible.

In my experience, HITH may is more frequently with larger cichlids, not in Rams, and can be prevented with varied, good quality diet, and good routine maintenance.

Good luck!

 

[Sprinkle]

Lymphocystis is not an iridovirus, dwarf gouramis carry it, the ram does not have it.

HITH (aka Hexamita) is a "hole in the head" (not a white patch) disease, and the ram does not have it either. Though you are right, it is not fully curable.

The white patch is/might be excess mucous or even columnaris.

 

[FJB]

These blobs on the fin do not look like excess mucus.