Sick fish

[Johnnyb]

The ice has finally cleared on my pond and I noticed a sort of infection or fungus on one of my fish. I attempted a picture today to show the fish. It has 2 spots around its head and also appears to have some on one of its fins. This is the only fish I have noticed anything on, all the other have no signs of problems? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[sissy]

looks like ick to me

 

[HARO]

Ick looks like tiny salt grains; this is some kind of fungus. Google Saprolegnia and check for similarities.
John

 

[Johnnyb]

From the reading that I have done on Saprolegnia, there appears to be two trains of thought. Remove the fish and treat the fungus or leave the fish if it is still schooling with the others and only remove it if it starts to appear like it is losing the battle. These are 2 very different approaches. The sick fish is with the others and appears fine other than the fungus spots. Any thoughts, suggestions or past experiences?

 

[callingcolleen1]

I had this happen one time, about 18 years ago. It is fungus and it should clear up once the sun hits the pond good. The sun should burn it out and in the mean time good ensure good filtration.

Pond peat concentrate can be purchased and would help the whole pond. Pond peat is a natural fungacide.
Covering the pond in the winter is bad and can make this problem worse as the sun can not shine threw the ice and burn it up, or heavy snow over ice for long periods also can make problem worse.