baby blue tang not looking so good

[reefguy40gal]

I'm babysitting a baby blue tang in my 40gal (he's about 1-1/2" long) while my buddy finishes his tank build.

The tag has brown or black spots on it...and I can't tell but there may be a very small white spot on it. Past two days I have seen him scrape his body along the sand bed repeatedly.

Is this ich?

 

[wildcrazyjoker81]

It could be. Pictures would help. Is the fish eating and or what are you feeding it?

 

[reefguy40gal]

It's hard to get pictures....he moves so fast. This is the best I could do.

He's also "buddy buddy" with my two clowns, and that makes me nervous. They all hang out in the same area in the daytime.

There are definately "raised bumps" on his body. The other fish look ok.

 

[reefguy40gal]

I'm feeding him spirulina flakes and frozen mysis.

 

[reefguy40gal]

I can't edit my posts.....

Yes, he's eating and I'm also feeding him 1 sheet of seaweed every ~2-3 days.

 

[Kworker]

To remove Ich from my display I removed all my fish and going fallow for 11 weeks.

My fish will be QT'd in Hypo-salinity.

 

[wildcrazyjoker81]

It is possible those are anemone stings. Clowns typically get those when they acclimate to an anemone. Just keep an eye on him and prepare to think about running a QT tank if needed. A simple 20L works well and is easy to dose. As far as food goes keep up the nori feeding and try and get some better live food. You able to get live black worms or brine from your LFS? Or maybe something a bit more nutritious like LRS food?

 

[reefguy40gal]

Actually....my LFS guy says the same thing as WildCrazyJoker.

The blue tang thinks he's a clownfish and he hangs out with them from sunup to sundown. One of the clowns recently started to host the torch coral.....and there is a nem close by.

I think I can get live worms and brine.....let me go check with my live fish store.


thanks for your help

 

[coraal]

My blue tang is "buddy buddy" with my two clowns also. He had developed those same black spots but after a few weeks it changed and turned his face black and now he has a black face. As long as he eats he will be fine. Ich will go disappear as long as it eats and isn't stressed. The blue tang I get always gets ich again when I introduce new fish but after a day it disappears again.

 

[reefguy40gal]

Thanks coraal.

I'm debating on whether to purchase a $400 "reef tank" that's pre-drilled along with a proper $400 LED lighting system. I was given this 40gal tank with "hang on back" overflow, sump and skimmer for free.

The entire set up is as loud and cumbersome as a 1930's Russian tank. The $175 LED light that I bought online....makes my coral look like crap.

I was quoted $800 for 40gal tank and LED light. I got a few brand new laptops that I'm not using (briefly owned a computer business)....could always put those on eBay. lol

 

[wildcrazyjoker81]

Actually....my LFS guy says the same thing as WildCrazyJoker.

The blue tang thinks he's a clownfish and he hangs out with them from sunup to sundown. One of the clowns recently started to host the torch coral.....and there is a nem close by.

I think I can get live worms and brine.....let me go check with my live fish store.


thanks for your help

Yeah I have seen this issue numerous times over. The black spots seems almost like a dead giveaway of a coral/anemone sting. On a side note, keep an eye on your torch. Most torches can't handle the beating a clown gives to it trying to host. I personally have lost 2 torches to clowns. Glad I could help give a little peace of mind.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

IMO, those white spots are too big to be Ich. As long as he's happy and eating good...I don't see a problem.

They also look like nem marks to me.

 

[Kworker]

I agree with people about possible sting marks for the black spots. My female clown gets black spots now and than from playing in LPS corals. I guess your best bet would be to wait and see how the fish do for a few days. Hopefully your case isnt ich at all.

 

[FLipp]

you're a good friend! lol

 

[reefguy40gal]

Thanks guys. I have a nem, but apparently it is the wrong species for clowns to host.

I don't want to get rid of the nem, because he's been with me for so long.....sentimental reasons.

Will keep an eye on the torch.....it looks fine for now.

Stupid tang, thinking he's a clownfish.

 

[EZMAC114]

How is the tang doing?

 

[reefguy40gal]

Tang is doing the same....see him swimming along the sand bed, trying to scratch his sides.

Showed the picture on my phone to the guy at the local LFS....he said it might be a parasite.....so I got some garlic liquid and put it all over its food.

 

[EZMAC114]

I asked because I was thinking that the white spots could possibly be lymphocystis. I saw this thread the other day but didn't think about it until now.

 

[Kworker]

Garlic will do nothing for a parasite, garlic is to entice a fish to eat.

If he's scratching himself like that its possible it is in fact Ich, you will have to go through proper QT in order to rid him of it along with your other fish. You will have to let your tank go fallow as well. There are those who say they have had ich in their system and the fish don't get it but thats according to what they actual see. The ich parasite attacks the fishes gills first and cause slight inflammation that you will not be able to notice. The only time you will be able to notice ich's presence in the gills is if they have rapid respiration.