Bacterial Tufts
So, I borrowed this terminology from Dr. Charlie Gregory: https://www.aquaveterinarian.com
It basically refers to white growths on the fish that are bacterial in nature. They oftentimes start out looking like Ich (or sometimes as small as Velvet) and then look more like Lymphocystis nodules as they grow in size. Bacterial tufts can be skinny, wiry looking white growths or look like raised thicker white dots.
Two ways to distinguish these from Ich trophonts:
Viral Nodules
To complicate things even further is fish will sometimes get viral nodules as well, and they can look exactly the same as bacterial tufts!! Again, Lymphocystis nodules are the closest comparison: Lymphocystis
Treatment
No medications should be used. I've found that just keeping the fish in clean water, utilizing good nutrition and food soaking Vitamins/Beta-glucan seems to clear both in time: Vitamins & Herbal Remedies
Hippo Tangs seem to be most susceptible, especially right after they come out of copper (probably because it suppresses their immune system).
Photos
Below is a video of a Tiger Angel with virus nodules:
And the associated skin scrape:
So, I borrowed this terminology from Dr. Charlie Gregory: https://www.aquaveterinarian.com
It basically refers to white growths on the fish that are bacterial in nature. They oftentimes start out looking like Ich (or sometimes as small as Velvet) and then look more like Lymphocystis nodules as they grow in size. Bacterial tufts can be skinny, wiry looking white growths or look like raised thicker white dots.
Two ways to distinguish these from Ich trophonts:
- Bacterial tufts will remain on a fish for > 7 days. Ich trophonts typically disappear within 7 days.
- Bacterial tufts will protrude outward from the fish, and dangle off and sometimes even get blown by the flow. Ich will appear to be just under the epithelium (outer skin layer).
Viral Nodules
To complicate things even further is fish will sometimes get viral nodules as well, and they can look exactly the same as bacterial tufts!! Again, Lymphocystis nodules are the closest comparison: Lymphocystis
Treatment
No medications should be used. I've found that just keeping the fish in clean water, utilizing good nutrition and food soaking Vitamins/Beta-glucan seems to clear both in time: Vitamins & Herbal Remedies
Hippo Tangs seem to be most susceptible, especially right after they come out of copper (probably because it suppresses their immune system).
Photos
Below is a video of a Tiger Angel with virus nodules:
And the associated skin scrape:
