A white spot

[melypr1985]

Im at the lfs for a kids reading/kraft program and they have some kole tangs. The fatest most active one has this knot on his head, its white but doesnt seem to effect his behavior or eating. What do you think it is? Sorry for the quality of the pictures. I should definitely not buy it right?

 

[melypr1985]

Im definitely not getting it. Their whole system looks like it's infected with this. Still wanna know what it is though.

 

[Cleo642]

Im definitely not getting it. Their whole system looks like it's infected with this. Still wanna know what it is though.

Is that the place you were talking about before? @Humblefish, can probably help.

 

[melypr1985]

Yeah. My friend wasn't there today. Im going to call him and give him an earful

 

[Cleo642]

Yeah. My friend wasn't there today. Im going to call him and give him an earful

I think it's right not to buy it. Small red flags always lead to big red flags. But I think most of these diseases are from stress of journeys the fish make to finally get to a pet shop. I have read that 70-90% of fish don't make the journey. Maybe they didn't notice the white spot when they got the fish in but most likely it got the disease in transit.

 

[melypr1985]

While that's entirely possible, even probable in most cases... i know this tang has been at his store for a couple weeks and was healthy last Friday when i was there. My friend is not the only one in the store and he has a hard time keeping up with everything that pops up, especially when the others that take care of the fish when he's off don't always do the things they should. After i posted the thread i kept looking and that entire system is sick with something. Some fish look like they have brook or ick or any number of things. SOMETHING must of happened to cause this. The tanks should be running with copper and hypo salinity to keep some diseases at bay.
I don't have a clue what this white bump on these tangs is and I'm really curious as to possibilities. It was just the kole tangs (3 total) that have it, all in separate tanks yet on the same system. When he orders my fish I'll be picking them up before they come out of the bags for sure.

 

[Cleo642]

While that's entirely possible, even probable in most cases... i know this tang has been at his store for a couple weeks and was healthy last Friday when i was there. My friend is not the only one in the store and he has a hard time keeping up with everything that pops up, especially when the others that take care of the fish when he's off don't always do the things they should. After i posted the thread i kept looking and that entire system is sick with something. Some fish look like they have brook or ick or any number of things. SOMETHING must of happened to cause this. The tanks should be running with copper and hypo salinity to keep some diseases at bay.
I don't have a clue what this white bump on these tangs is and I'm really curious as to possibilities. It was just the kole tangs (3 total) that have it, all in separate tanks yet on the same system. When he orders my fish I'll be picking them up before they come out of the bags for sure.

Shoot, one fish could have spread that to all of them. That's a shame.

 

[melypr1985]

It truly is a shame.

 

[Cleo642]

Hey, I just saw on DD on liveaquaria.com they have a Kole Tang. And that's What You See Is What You Get. It's nice looking, but I am sure you still want to be loyal to your buddy. It's just a suggestion. They must have just gotten it in.

 

[melypr1985]

since he's selling them for $40 and I can either wait until he finishes treating them or have him order me a new one, I'll stick with my LFS.
He thinks its Flukes by the way. He's dipping them and has copper in the system. He can't get the GM of the store to let him treat them separately with prazipro then put them back in the copper. Dumb just dumb

 

[Cleo642]

@Humblefish, would fluke cause a white spot on the head?

 

[Humblefish]

That white spot on it's head is too big to be flukes or a parasite, such as ich. It's either an injury and/or a bacterial infection. Good call not buying that fish...

 

[melypr1985]

Since all three kole tangs have the spot on their heads and they are all in different tanks with different mates, would it be more likely that it's bacterial then? I mean, what are the odds that they all three got injured in the same spot? right? I want to tell my friend so he can come up with something better to treat them.... even if it is behind the GM's back.

 

[Humblefish]

Since all three kole tangs have the spot on their heads and they are all in different tanks with different mates, would it be more likely that it's bacterial then? I mean, what are the odds that they all three got injured in the same spot? right? I want to tell my friend so he can come up with something better to treat them.... even if it is behind the GM's back.

Probably a bacterial infection/disease then. The harmful bacterium is free floating in the water, and travels from tank to tank (assuming they are all plumbed together.) I don't know if bacteria are capable of aerosol transmission like parasites are.

Most healthy fish can fight off harmful bacteria via their natural immune system. However, fish that are not healthy (ex: afflicted by a preexisting parasitic infestation such as ich or velvet) are much more susceptible to "secondary" bacterial infections. Their immune systems are already pushed to the brink from battling parasites and now this?!

You usually have to treat with a broad spectrum antibiotic for 10 consecutive days to complete eradicate harmful bacteria. Your friend could dose Kanaplex, and no one would ever know because it doesn't cloud/discolor the water. Also, a UV sterilizer would be useful on the common return line (if all tanks are tied together by a common sump.) A UV is more effective at zapping bacteria than parasites, and could prevent both from travelling from one tank to another. The flow must be slow and the bulb must be changed out every 6 months though.

 

[melypr1985]

Can he treat with the Kanaplex while the system has copper in it? He's afraid to put any meds in the system and mix them with the copper that's already in there. Thanks for your help Humblefish! Even if I can't help him save these fish, I'm learning a lot!

 

[Humblefish]

Can he treat with the Kanaplex while the system has copper in it? He's afraid to put any meds in the system and mix them with the copper that's already in there. Thanks for your help Humblefish! Even if I can't help him save these fish, I'm learning a lot!

Yes, I've mixed Kanaplex with both Cupramine & Coppersafe many times. That's one advantage of copper; being it's considered a poison (in liquid form) and not an actual medication, there aren't many known interaction issues with legitimate medications. Strange, I know.

Does your friend test the Cu level daily to ensure it remains at therapeutic levels? Copper is not always stable in SW, and IMO/E running non-therapeutic copper can mask symptoms of certain parasites (velvet, possibly ich). So the fish may look "fine" while at the LFS, but then develops full blown symptoms once placed in a tank with no copper. I've seen it happen numerous times, and I'm not the only one.

 

[melypr1985]

After much arguing and a lot of hardheadedness... I think I won. He's concerned because Seachem told him he couldn't mix ANY medications with their product. I told him he's feeding kanaplex not mixing it into the water. So an hour of "debating" between two hardheaded people and I think I won. He's going to feed the kanaplex to a small sampling of the sick fish and "see if they all die" - his words. To be fair he's doing it against strict instructions from the GM to do nothing, so I give him props for at least trying it on a few of them. I hope it works.

 

[Cleo642]

After much arguing and a lot of hardheadedness... I think I won. He's concerned because Seachem told him he couldn't mix ANY medications with their product. I told him he's feeding kanaplex not mixing it into the water. So an hour of "debating" between two hardheaded people and I think I won. He's going to feed the kanaplex to a small sampling of the sick fish and "see if they all die" - his words. To be fair he's doing it against strict instructions from the GM to do nothing, so I give him props for at least trying it on a few of them. I hope it works.

This is just my opinion, but after dealing with too much bullsh** from there I wouldn't even buy from them anymore. Go with liveaquaria.com or somewhere else. There while system was infected and they didn't really know what to do it. After all that I would just go somewhere else until they prove that their improved. I understand loyalty because I can be overly loyal but....
If do buy it from them, make sure you still quarantine it at home just to safe than sorry.

 

[melypr1985]

I made it clear i wouldnt be buying anything from two of their systems and that he better not be upset about it. Its not a problem. Im scared to buy online, but i might just try it.

 

[Cleo642]

I made it clear i wouldnt be buying anything from two of their systems and that he better not be upset about it. Its not a problem. Im scared to buy online, but i might just try it.

I have many reviews about liveaquaria.com and divers den and have always been positive. They have reviews next to the fish description on liveaquaria.com. I know I will be buying from them when the time comes. Maybe there is another fish store in your area?