PlanetCatfish.com

On October 13, I bought a male Ancistrus catfish approximately 4½â?

Good question - you seem to have gone through a heap of different fungicidal and anti-bacterials, with no effect.

Is it possible that it's some sort of growth on the fish (perhaps scar tissue) rather than any "illness"?

Another thought that struck me is that none of the medications is against paracites. I don't know if that will help or not, just thinking about the things you've tried and what you haven't ...

--
Mats

Is it possible that it's some sort of growth on the fish (perhaps scar tissue) rather than any "illness"?

Well, if it's a growth, what is it do you think?
When I first got him he just had a couple of these white patches, then it spread rather extensively, and now after all these various treatments, there's a lot less of it but some places are still hanging on.

Another thought that struck me is that none of the medications is against paracites.

No, you're right. It just doesn't look like parasites, but if I were to try something which is the right one for loricariids? Methylene blue or malachite green? Do you have a name brand for me, we might have the same thing in the US.
Thanks.

Hi Deb,

Looking at the photographs it is difficult to be sure of what the problem is,but as the range of medication you have tried hasn`t cleared it,I am wondering if the problem is viral,in which case you could be wasting your money treating the fish at all.The cocktail of medication he has been getting won`t have done him any good either.

If it is viral, there is no cure,but that is not to say the fish will die and it doesn`t necessarily mean it is infectious.Very often in these cases the virus looks as if it has gone away but often returns again later,but it rarely causes the fish a problem.

One virus that comes to mind is Lymphocystus,but that doesn`t usually affect catfish,but I am unsure about Loriciidae.

Usually the infected area is quite hard unlike fungus that tends to be fluffy.

If you still think it is fungus you could consider treating the area topically i.e.putting neat medication directly on the infected area with a very small(new) paintbrush.Dry the area off completely with a cotton bud and paint the medication on,but be very careful not to get it in the gills.

If it is viral and his immune system is strong he could still do very well.I wish you luck.

Hey, grahams. This is what I found out:
Lymphocystis occurs in channel catfish, and loricariids. Here's one example: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... ight=*lymp*
and there's a few more posts on this site like it. I'll have to haul him out of the bucket to look at him. He won't like it, but he'll survive. From what I can see with the flashlight, though, it does not look like this condition. I'll have a look.
Thanks for your treatment tips, which I'll try if I determine it's not viral.

Is it me, or does your bristlenose look like a female not a male?

Sorry for being Off topic, i just had to point that out

That's ok! I don't know, is it a female? I assumed it was a male because of the development of the bristles. Here is a look at the ventral area and a close-up of the head:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/sp ... es_id=1007
What do you say?

Oooppps, i guess i made a mistake, DEFINATLY male.
I couldn't see the bristles properly in the first pic.