My fish has developed a patch of red on his belly. It looks like a lot of tiny little red spots together. At first I thought it was a wound so I treated with Melafix. Now the red patch is gradually spreading down his belly towards his tail. He also seems to be rather lethargic except when I feed him.
The tank is 10 gallons, and I did a 40% or 50% water change several weeks ago. I probably can't get the tank specs until Monday.
Any ideas on what this is and the proper treatment for it?
Full Version: Red Patch On Belly
Can you answer more questions in the red box above? This way we have more of an idea if it has something to do with your water or if its a parasite in the fish.
Well the red patches that appeared overnight are now suddenly gone. He still sits on the bottom of the tank unless I get his attention.
When I was feeding him just now (he didn't eat anything) I noticed something clear going in and out of his mouth. He spit it out and it was like a strand of long clear poop. I thought it was a symptom of columnaris, but now I don't know if it really was or if my fish was choking on his own poop. I don't know if whatever infection he had is gone.
I can't get the water tested until tommorrow, but I will do so.
Has anyone ever had a fish like this? Any help is appreciated.
When I was feeding him just now (he didn't eat anything) I noticed something clear going in and out of his mouth. He spit it out and it was like a strand of long clear poop. I thought it was a symptom of columnaris, but now I don't know if it really was or if my fish was choking on his own poop. I don't know if whatever infection he had is gone.
I can't get the water tested until tommorrow, but I will do so.
Has anyone ever had a fish like this? Any help is appreciated.
Now he occasionaly starts to freak out. He goes from being lethargic and sitting on the bottom to jumping up and rapidly opening/closing his mouth. I'm getting very worried.
Ok, I got the water tested.
pH - 7.2
Chlorine - 0
Ammonia - 0.25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 80
Hardness - 250
Alkalinity - 80
My main concern is the pH. It used to always stay at 7.8. The alkalinity was usually above 120. Does a water change stablize the pH or do I need to add something to the water?
pH - 7.2
Chlorine - 0
Ammonia - 0.25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 80
Hardness - 250
Alkalinity - 80
My main concern is the pH. It used to always stay at 7.8. The alkalinity was usually above 120. Does a water change stablize the pH or do I need to add something to the water?
O NO!!!! seiosue this presents a problem? my older fish i have had for a long time it was a comet it is so old now it has white scales showing up and it has a lil red patch on its sides near its gills nothing related to gills but a little red patch could just be like the fish getting old or could it be a parasite? 
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