Over the past few days I've noticed some tiny white spots on my Oscar's eyeballs - YIKES!. They look like tiny grains of salt (much smaller than table salt, but noticeable - and countable.... 5 on one eye, and 3 on the other O's eyeball). I really don't think they're air bubbles - and they are definitely on the surface. I've tried without success to get a photo.

Amm 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate about 5, Ph steady; temp maintained at a steady 80 degrees. Stocking levels: 2 young O's about 6", 3 clown loaches and one young Severum in a 135 US gallon tank, running an Eheim Pro3 canister. I am very diligent about water parameters and water changes - testing every few days and never going more than 7 days without an approx. 25% water change. After noticing the spots a few days ago, I've slowly raised the temp to 83 degrees F.

There are no other signs of Ick.... no flashing, no other spots. Spots not getting better or worse.

Can this possibly be ICK? or something else?? I'm hesitant to treat for ICK, but what else could it be??

For now, I suppose I'll wait and monitor - but has anyone else ever encountered this?

ick is easy to eradicate...just raised the temp to 85 deg F and it will be
gone before the 10th day...just continue your regular w/c ....

keep an eye if your o will scrub its body against the substrate or
any decor inside....which means there is an irritant inside your tank

do you think it's Ick?

i am not sure without the picture but if the o scrub it body against
any hard object, perhaps it is...but if not, then you need not worry.
higher temp can kills those parasite without medication if ever it is an ick.

that's my best guess too - I've battled Ick before, yet never seen it on the eyeballs; and without other symptoms such as flashing/rubbing on objects - so I decided to ask. Plus, my very susceptible loaches show no signs.

i'll try again to get a photo

def sounds like ick.

but cant really tell without a piccy!

well, the spots on the eyes are gone. I'm going to keep an "eye" on them and the tank and keep the temp up just in case for a while.

congrats! nice to know its gone...

well, do the eyes look at all popped out? Like there is fluid in them and the outer most part looks white possibly? Small white definately sounds like ick, but if they seem popped out, salting with EPSOM SALT (not really salt, its magnesium sulfate) the tank can remove the fluid thats in the eyes if thats the case. Aquarium salt will cure the ick if thats what it is. Take the temp up to 85.

Salt is not needed when treating ICK (white spot). either get some white spot meds(remove carbon from filter) or increase temp to 30c or both if you want to be double sure

why would you say salt is not needed when treating ick? Meds can do more harm than good, the salt-heat method helps make the cysts(fluid filled sacks) fall off and helps promote healing. Salt does not harm the fish, but plecos require a smaller dose, 1 tbsl per 10 gallon instead of 1 tbsl for 5 gallon).

The meds sometimes dont work and should be avoided if possible since they do stress the fish.

I would not use salt as a regular thing, but it is well tolerated for illness and injury and can improve gill function and can even heal wounds.

Just would like a different take on why you dont think one should use salt, maybe I can learn something new!