German Blue Ram fin growth ID

[Finding NiMo]

20 long

7 lemon tetra, 1 GBR, 6 pygmy corys, 5 amano shrimp, 1 nerite snail

pH 8.2, nitrite 0, nitrate 20-30, don't remember exact kh/GH, but it's high, 12+

Anyone know what this is on my GBR dorsal fin? It's thick like a mass, not flat. Also a similar small spot on the upper lip.

Appreciate your help

Edited February 10 by Finding NiMo

[Tlindsey]

On 2/10/2024 at 11:49 AM, Finding NiMo said:

20 long

7 lemon tetra, 1 GBR, 6 pygmy corys, 5 amano shrimp, 1 nerite snail

pH 8.2, nitrite 0, nitrate 20-30, don't remember exact kh/GH, but it's high, 12+

Anyone know what this is on my GBR dorsal fin? It's thick like a mass, not flat. Also a similar small spot on the upper lip.

Appreciate your help

@Finding NiMo looks like a bacterial or viral infection to me but not sure.

I suggest doing larger water changes to reduce the Nitrate level. 

Edited February 10 by Tlindsey

[cmo1922]

The fin looks like a bit of fit rot which is typically caused by a bacteria. Then you can get secondary fungal infections on top of the damaged tissue, which is why you are seeing the raised white growth. At this point it looks mild but it could get worse. Start by frequent water changes like Tlindsey says. Unless you have live aquarium plants or very salt sensitive fish, I would also do salt per https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/aquarium-salt-for-sick-fish. I would treat the whole tank with the 1 tbsp per 3 gal dose to start. When you water change I would replace the salt with the water change to keep it the same concentration in the water (1tbsp per 3 gal concentration for the whole tank).

Also you probably are aware of this GBR but they need higher temps than most tropical fish. Low temps can cause them to become more susceptible to infection.

[Finding NiMo]

Thanks for the tips, much appreciated. I have 4 live plants, a crypt, 2 red swords and a java fern, I'm nervous to salt and injure them. I've already increased water changes, the nitrate bump is a recent change.

What temp range would you suggest? I currently run 79-80

 

Many thanks for helping a beginner

 

Nick

[Colu]

It Could be bacterial or viral as other have mentioned I would do a course of maracyn2 or kanaplex both are broad spectrum antibiotic treatments and add an extra air stone during treatment @Finding NiMo

[cmo1922]

Hello again

On 2/10/2024 at 6:12 PM, Finding NiMo said:

Thanks for the tips, much appreciated. I have 4 live plants, a crypt, 2 red swords and a java fern, I'm nervous to salt and injure them. I've already increased water changes, the nitrate bump is a recent change.

What temp range would you suggest? I currently run 79-80

 

Many thanks for helping a beginner

 

Nick

I do not keep rams but this article written by a breeder of rams says 84-86 F https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/ram-cichlid-care-guide.

Many aquarium hobby fish don't do well in that temperature long term, so your other inhabitants could have issues. If the temp for the ram is out of range for your other fishes, I would suggest doing the higher end of your other fishes temp range and then adding an air stone to help with oxygen levels, unless you want to move the ram to another tank where you can keep them hotter.

There are probably some people who successfully keep GBRs cooler (80-82) maybe they will see the post and answer?

[Guppysnail]

On 2/10/2024 at 6:12 PM, Finding NiMo said:

What temp range would you suggest? I currently run 79-80

I’ve kept mine from 78-83. I find they thrive and breed best at 81 for me.  80 and lower slows breeding and slows the development of the babies as well as their color is not as instense. 82 and higher increases breeding to fast and they get a touch grumpy with one another.  It causes the males to want to breed non stop and the girls cannot keep up. The boys try to bully the girls into breeding and harass them constantly.  

[Finding NiMo]

Thanks everyone for the tips