Anyone onow what this is?

[mrp741]

So, a couple weeks ago, a different guy came down with what we thought was ick. We slowly dosed the tank with copper until we got to 2.5.

But then this guy started looking weird. His scales look like blisters. This started about a week ago. He still eating well and moving around.

Is this ick or something else?

 

[vetteguy53081]

So, a couple weeks ago, a different guy came down with what we thought was ick. We slowly dosed the tank with copper until we got to 2.5.

But then this guy started looking weird. His scales look like blisters. This started about a week ago. He still eating well and moving around.

Is this ick or something else?

As they are susceptible to it, this may be the start of uronema. With uronema which is is an oval ciliated motile protozoan which causes tissue necrosis as seen on fish. What other fish are in the tank?
This can also be triggered by low salinity levels as well as excess food waste on tank bottom which this protozoan can feed on as often prevention can be more valuable than cure for this.
Fish will have to be quarantined and treated with formalin based treatment which is harder to find, so next option is Ruby rally Pro. Chloroquine Phosphate will also work but must be used precisely. Uronema is not an obligate parasite, and can thrive on bacteria, uneaten food, and waste so besides treatment also maintain a clean tank removing waste daily. This can also be triggered by low salinity levels

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So, a couple weeks ago, a different guy came down with what we thought was ick. We slowly dosed the tank with copper until we got to 2.5.

But then this guy started looking weird. His scales look like blisters. This started about a week ago. He still eating well and moving around.

Is this ick or something else?

How long have you had the fish?
How long has it been at 2.5 copper?
Could it be getting nipped at by the other butterfly?

Jay

 

[mrp741]

As they are susceptible to it, this may be the start of uronema. With uronema which is is an oval ciliated motile protozoan which causes tissue necrosis as seen on fish. What other fish are in the tank?
This can also be triggered by low salinity levels as well as excess food waste on tank bottom which this protozoan can feed on as often prevention can be more valuable than cure for this.
Fish will have to be quarantined and treated with formalin based treatment which is harder to find, so next option is Ruby rally Pro. Chloroquine Phosphate will also work but must be used precisely. Uronema is not an obligate parasite, and can thrive on bacteria, uneaten food, and waste so besides treatment also maintain a clean tank removing waste daily. This can also be triggered by low salinity levels

It's gotten worse. Any thoughts?

 

[vetteguy53081]

It's gotten worse. Any thoughts?

Bacterial/fungal outbreak
Treatment will be in a separate tank using Maracyn 2

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

It's gotten worse. Any thoughts?

Are the fish still in copper? (there is calcium gravel in the picture, and that can interfere with copper Rx)
How long have you had the fish?
Is the butterflyfish still showing symptoms?
What other fish are in with the angel?
Have you treated the fish for flukes recently?

These answers are all important to know before trying to make a diagnosis here.

It is possibly a secondary bacterial infection. Those are best treated by a broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic such as Neomycin or Kanamycin.

Jay