Black Spots on Blue Hippo Tang

[H22fast4u]

I have a fairly new Blue Hippo Tang that I just noticed spots on it yesterday. Red Sea Max250 that is roughly 1.5 years old. “Dory” has been following the Clowns around and they are hosted in an anemone. Is this Black ich or stings?

 

[vetteguy53081]

While Black Ich Black ick (Turbellarian flatworms) is usually about 1/2 mm in diameter, it appears to be Piscinquilinus black ich which is larger in size. They have about a 10 day Life cycle and treatment is straight forward. Start with a 5 minute freshwater dip, the same temperature as display tank and then start treatment with either :
PraziPro for one week followed by water change and one more week
OR
60 minute formalin bath and then treatment with Quick cure. If no quick Cure, ruby Rally Pro will work, but takes a little longer.

 

[H22fast4u]

While Black Ich Black ick (Turbellarian flatworms) is usually about 1/2 mm in diameter, it appears to be Piscinquilinus black ich which is larger in size. They have about a 10 day Life cycle and treatment is straight forward. Start with a 5 minute freshwater dip, the same temperature as display tank and then start treatment with either :
PraziPro for one week followed by water change and one more week
OR
60 minute formalin bath and then treatment with Quick cure. If no quick Cure, ruby Rally Pro will work, but takes a little longer.

Thank you! I’ll start PraziPro tonight.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have a fairly new Blue Hippo Tang that I just noticed spots on it yesterday. Red Sea Max250 that is roughly 1.5 years old. “Dory” has been following the Clowns around and they are hosted in an anemone. Is this Black ich or stings?

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Are the spots just on one side of the fish?
They look like they are different sizes, one very large one and then some smaller ones. That indicates to me that there is either two issues at work, or that they are not turbellarians (as those spots would all be about the same size).

Jay

 

[H22fast4u]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Are the spots just on one side of the fish?
They look like they are different sizes, one very large one and then some smaller ones. That indicates to me that there is either two issues at work, or that they are not turbellarians (as those spots would all be about the same size).

Jay

Hello Jay,
Yes, they are only on one side.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello Jay,
Yes, they are only on one side.

Well, that points even more to it being some skin injury, like from a sting, as turbellarians are more of less randomly peppered across the fish's body. The smaller spots *could* be turbellarians as well - picture isn't super clear and blue lights tend to mess up the contrast a bit.

Jay

 

[H22fast4u]

Update: Day 5 of PraziPro and the spots are gone! I will do a water change on day 7 and then dose again.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Update: Day 5 of PraziPro and the spots are gone! I will do a water change on day 7 and then dose again.

Sounds like that was a minor skin injury. The second dose of prazi would just be insurance.....

Jay

 

[H22fast4u]

Sounds like that was a minor skin injury. The second dose of prazi would just be insurance.....

Jay

Jay,

would you recommend me doing the second dose? Thanks

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Jay,

would you recommend me doing the second dose? Thanks

Yes, that is a normal part of a good quarantine process, so it makes sense to do it.
Jay

 

[learn2reef]

Help. This looks similar. Can you help I’d? I couldn’t get it out of the tank into QT tonight and will try again tomorrow. This seems to have come over night. I just put a purple tang from quarantine in the tank 2 days ago. I also changed carbon, and added new bio pellets all this week as well. New tang is separated from other fish by egg crate since I put it in. Red Sea 525

Similiar but different shapes spot on other side.

 

[learn2reef]

Pictures

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Pictures

Tough to say if it is the same cause or not.

Do you see any other symptoms, or just the spots?
Have you treated the fish with anything yet?

Jay

 

[learn2reef]

The spots have greyed a little and aren’t as dark black. He’s got some grayish spots under his belly. I finally got him out of display into QT today. I will take more pics. Fish was eating fine in display this morning.

 

[learn2reef]

White dots are air bubbles in water they are not on fish.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

White dots are air bubbles in water they are not on fish.

Oh, that looks more like head and lateral line disease (HLLE). Take a look at this article:

Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE)

This article discusses studies performed regarding head and lateral line erosion in captive fishes. Specifically, carbon use and nutrition as they relate to this syndrome.

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

 

[learn2reef]

Thanks. Read the article. I did just change the carbon I have in my carbon reactor I used BRS rox carbon.

 

[learn2reef]

Are these grey areas on his belly related or of any concern?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Are these grey areas on his belly related or of any concern?

Yes - same sort of skin erosion, just in a different location.

The ROX carbon may not be the issue, that can usually be safely used. This can be caused by previous carbon exposure (the dusty stuff) before you even got the fish.

Jay

 

[learn2reef]

Thanks so much!