Bluegill disease

I just noticed something on the side of a couple of my Bluegills, in the 40 gallon tank.

On one it looks like a piece of cotton on its side, almost like a piece of raw shrimp stuck to it, like I occasionally feed them.
I've never had Ich in any of my tanks so I really don't know what Ich looks like, although I've read about it.

Another, in the same tank, has what looks like a raw spot on its side. Doesn't look like the first one I referred to.

I don't think they have been fighting because I I don't see a lot of aggression in this tank. I change water often and never leave uneaten shrimp in the tank for more than 24 hours. I've always felt that the water quality is quite good.

If anyone has an idea of what this might be or how to deal with it, I'd be grateful.

Pictures would help with ID.

I had good results recently treating "looks like a piece of cotton on its side" with Melafix. Initially I tried to treat with good water quality and good food, but it spread fast and I was on track to lose the whole tank. My mollies were hit first and hardest, with their fins turning cottony. It also manifested as a pinkish (I assume from blood) mouth fungus on my golden topminnows, and a couple juvenile bluegill had white puffs coming out of their entire sides. No fish recovered untreated.

I moved those affected into a 50 gallon Rubbermaid tub and treated with Melafix for about five days and I only lost one of seven fish that got moved. All are now back in the main tank and looking good.

Joe,

A photograph is needed, gross and microscopic. Based on your limited description and what I understand of your feeding / care regimen, your most likely disease organism is a protozoan that forms colonies (cotton like growth similar to fungus but more localized) called epistylus. Can you mechanically remove the growth and put on a slide? Your local high school or community college biology instructor is likely to be able to make a photograph of sample. The image need not be all that mangified so no fancy scope required. If guess confirmed, then targeted treatment can be advised.

That would be the best way to diagnose the problem for sure.

Here are a few photos taken with an inexpensive point and shoot. It's all I have at the moment.

The first is out of the water, the next two were taken through the side of the tank. It seems the cotton-like growth is gone and it is now a red spot. Not sure if that is good or not. Hopefully these photos will help. Sorry for the poor quality.

I had something similar on a beta I ended up getting free from petco because his fins where rotted and he had the evil white fuzz. I kept him on melafix treatment and he did fine, thats my suggestion, it's a pretty good little tool when it comes to sick fish, it hasn't failed me yet.

I had something similar on a beta I ended up getting free from petco because his fins where rotted and he had the evil white fuzz. I kept him on melafix treatment and he did fine, thats my suggestion, it's a pretty good little tool when it comes to sick fish, it hasn't failed me yet.

Joe,

Your bluegill appear to be suffering from social problems, not epistylus I postulated earlier. Photographed fish have wounds on flanks typical of what is seen in confinement where aggressor directs most biting attacks. Scales frequently dislodged with bacterial and secondary fungal infections setting in. If legal in California, then I would use an antibiotic to suppress bacterial infection. My preferred method is to place female in a 5-gal bucket filled 2/3 full with water from tank of female, aeration from a diffuser / airstone and an antibiotic dosage appropriate for a bath (some antibiotics have such listed uses). Change entire solution at 24-h intervals for recommendended treatment period. Or use a quarantine tank for same proceedure. Controlling bacteria will help control fungus.

The correcting cause (social strife) in my opinion is by either removing some fish or adding a couple more males.

centrarchid, good call on the complete water/bath change. Thank you. I forgot how quickly ammonia can build up in an un-cycled tank.

10 gallons properly treated with PRIME, no feeding. 18 hours later there was .5 ppm ammonia. (no chloramines at my house)