Black ich on yellow tang

[TheSaltLife]

Is black ich something to stress over if fish are still eating really good? I’ve dosed prazipro which seemed to get rid of all the black dots except a couple but now he breaking out with black dots again a week later.

 

[Spare time]

How many treatments of prazi did you run (i.e. how many doses) as you might just need to finish out the life cycle of the parasite

 

[TheSaltLife]

he was covered in black dots two weekends ago so I did one dose last tuesday(the 15th), done a water change on sunday and noticed only one or two black spots but then noticed he was covered in spots again yesterday so I done another dose yesterday.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is black ich something to stress over if fish are still eating really good? I’ve dosed prazipro which seemed to get rid of all the black dots except a couple but now he breaking out with black dots again a week later.

This does appear to be blach ich as its called but are turbellarian worms and likely the Paravortex version which are smaller and appear as grains of black spots that give it the appearance of ich as melanin pigmentation causes the appearance of black dots .
These worms have a single host life cycle producing several juveniles which can last up to 30 days but rarely do. Best is to treat with Praziquantel better known as prazi pro for two 8 day intervals with a water change on day 9.
other option is formalin based medication such as quick cure or ruby Rally Pro starting with a bath for 45 minutes followed by treatment
Do note that Prazi will lower both oxygen and appetite, so an airstone is recommended for added aeration and monitor water quality during treatment with a reliable test kit

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Is black ich something to stress over if fish are still eating really good? I’ve dosed prazipro which seemed to get rid of all the black dots except a couple but now he breaking out with black dots again a week later.

I always used formalin to treat for these turbellarians. There is some pretty solid information that indicates that praziquantel does not work on these turbellarians. Prazi doesn't actually kill flukes, it just makes them drop off the fish. Turbellarians are not flukes, and they live deeper imbedded in the fish's skin.

Turbellarians come and go on the fish, so you're seeing the spots come and go is normal, and may not be related to your treatment.

Jay