Raised Red Spots - Cannot Identify

[kohakuriver]

I purchased this honey gourami from a store that was closing. It was the only fish left, and as I already have some honey gourami, I figured I would add her to my group. She has been in quarantine since July 2. Her gills were dark when I got her, but with fresh water and changes, it has mostly gone away. She had a whiteish, transparent spot on her tail when I got her. That spot has turned into two BRIGHT red raised spots on her tail. They look like ich spots but larger and bright red. The tip of her tail right above/beside the spots looks to be shredded. I have treated her with aquarium salt, ICH-X, General Cure, and Fin & Body Cure. None of these treatments were done together. Nothing has affected these spots. After the ICH-X is when the whiteish spot became the red spots. Does anyone know what this is? I figured it would go away on its own eventually, but it hasn’t and I feel sorry for her being alone for so long. Thank you for any help you can give!!!!

Attachments:

[kohakuriver]

I also swabbed her tail initially with Dip-a-way (Merbromin)

[Carl]

The use of Dip away is a good idea, however it is a less concentrated form of "AAP Wound Control" & is meant more for fish baths.

It seems you have provided good care and quarantine was definitely a good idea.

What are your water parameters, including GH & KH?

What are you feeding?

While your Gourami does not look to be in serious condition, I would suggest AAP Spectrogram based on the treatments that you have tried ("Fin & Body Cure" being the only true anti bacterial)

As for Ich-X, the ingredient "formaldehyde" can be hard on exposed fish tissue and the other ingredient malachite green can be hard on fish if pH, KH, & GH are low.

Reference:
www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2016/09/how-to-treat-sick-fish.html

Resource:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquatronics.html#spectrogram

Carl

[kohakuriver]

Thank you so much for your input! I was wondering about Spectrogram actually and already had some on hand, so I began that treatment Monday night. She also had another spot come up since Sunday - which surprised me because there’s been very little noticeable change in weeks aside from the spots getting more “rotund.” I can’t tell if it’s a growth or a hitchhiker. They remind me of a cross between a blood blister and warts that older dogs get. I apologize that my pictures aren’t better.  



My parameters are (as of Monday):
Ammonia - <0.25
Nitrite - 0.25
Nitrate - >5
PH - 7.2
KH - 4
GH - 9

Her tank was cycling at one point but since the meds, I’ve been doing water changes 2-3 times a week.
I use seachem prime to treat my tap water.
I feed all my gourami omega one super color flakes.

If the Spectrogram doesn’t affect the spots, are there any other options you’d suggest? I have the following meds on hand but could order others:
EM Erythromycin
Metroplex
Kanaplex
Neoplex
Triple Sulfa
General Cure
Fin and Body Cure
Fungus Cure
Furan-2
Spectrogram
Ich-X
Methylene Blue
Dip-A-Way
Potassium Permanganate
Medicated Wonder Shell
Colloidal Silver (if that counts?)

Would it be safe to add her to my gourami tank if the spots don’t go away?

[devonjohnsgard]

Parameters look good.

I would try the spectrogram for one or two treatments, along with swabs and baths if you can. That would be best. Then follow up with a medicated wonder shell.

I would keep the fish in the hospital tank until the treatment is done, then think about adding it back in.