[duy]

Just wanting second opinions on this light discoloration I just noticed on one of my cocama otocinclus.

What do you think, is it part of his natural pattern or a light scrape?
After careful observation, it doesn't look like a infection (yet), not cottony and he is acting normal, though very much more active than his peers in the same tank.

This is the most detailed photo I could capture of him, and it somewhat looks like a bald spot lacking bristles, shinier than the rest of his body at certain angles. When I was putting in the last batch, one did get stuck on the net and that took about 1 minute to dislodge the fish gently. Not sure if it is the same individual but it is likely. Could it be getting stuck to the net broke some of the otocinclus' odontode and caused this slight discoloration? Please let me know your thoughts

 

[bigbadjon]

It is hard to tell from the picture but it doesn't look too bad. You might use some melafix to speed up the healing a bit.

 

[duy]

I do have some Melafix on stand by, though since they are recent additions I am hesitant to add anything to the tank at the moment. And since the others looks fine, I think I will wait and monitor his progress; at least until the end of this week. That is just my opinion though, feel free to advise me.

I apologize for the quality, he is a very active fella and its hard to see in person also. I just did a ~20% water change and will keep that up every 1-2 days. Dropped in an Indian Almond leaf inside also. I hope that will serve as preliminary defense for any fungal/bacterial infections for the moment. If it does get worst I will drop in the Melafix.