I really don't think it's ich
Hi, I'm writing about a problem with my Pleco.  I bought a clown Pleco recently and put it in my tank, and a few days later noticed a few white bumps on his body.  I don't think it's ich... I've had fish with that before, and ich looks like sugar or salt sprinkled on the body, right?  
<Usually, yes>
This looks more like he has warts.  They're about the size of his eye or larger.  I read up to see if it was a fungus, but all the stuff on fungus described it as "cottony"...and this isn't cottony, it's smooth.  Yesterday it spread to
our loaches... I don't know what it is, so I'm not sure how to treat it.  On that note, though, all I have in the tank are Cory cats, upside-down cats, loaches and the one Pleco.  So would I need a special medication, since they're all scaleless?
<I would treat this as it has spread... and may well be parasitic in nature... with a less toxic "ich" medicine (are good for most all external parasites) at half dose, raising your water temperature to the mid 80's F., and possibly adding a teaspoon of salt per five gallons of water (okay for Corydoras at this concentration) over a period of three days>
It's a 55-gallon with an undergravel filter, if that helps...
Thanks for your help,
Sarah
<Does help. Do monitor your nitrogen cycle and have new water available in case you need to change... Bob Fenner>

Discus with Hexamita? - 02/02/2004
Please help...I don't want to lose me discus fish. I have been treating with rid-ich for 5 days now. The ich is almost gone, but the fish have developed cloudy eyes, a whitish clear coating on their bodies and ragged fins. 
<This sounds perhaps like "skin slime disease" - caused by protozoan parasites, likely Hexamita, or possibly Ichthyobodo (Costia), Childonella, Trichodina.... All should respond favorably to Metronidazole administered in food. Metronidazole can be found made by Aquatronics (Hex-a-Mit, green or blue box) and by Seachem (simply Metronidazole).>
I have a 55 gallon aquarium. Temp is at 86 degrees. Nitrates, nitrites and ammonia are ok. Ph is at 7. I've been doing a 20 - 25% water change daily, and I added 8 tablespoons of aquarium salt to the water. Please let me know what else I should do....
<A good start - and may in and of itself effect improvement or cure. I would still treat with Metronidazole in food.>
Thank you sooooo much, Anna
<Wishing you well, -Sabrina>