Black tang spots

[Kruss7]

For full context I got this fish from a fellow reefer who shut down their tank and kept this fish isolated for awhile. During this time they said that they qted the fish in copper while alone. I never would risk my display tank so I put the fish in observational qt and have been monitoring the fish. Fish eats like a pig (nori, pellets, frozen)

I came back home tonight after being gone for a few hours and noticed these spots on the fish, didn’t notice them before but maybe wasn’t looking close enough. The fish is now in 2.41 ppm copper as I suspect that it is ich.

Just looking for some confirmation on this as this is a very special fish!

If it is ich, is there any additional treatment I should be doing? Fish still eats amazing like before.

 

[RV Reefs]

Could be ich. #fishmedic @Jay Hemdal

 

[Kruss7]

Could be ich. #fishmedic @Jay Hemdal

That’s my thought but other opinions are always good

 

[Nonya]

Flukes

 

[Kruss7]

Flukes

Really? I have prazi on hand or could dip the fish if this is the case

 

[Kruss7]

This could also be Lymphocystis or Bacterial Tufts or Nodules?

 

[Kruss7]

Seems to have gotten worse overnight

 

[DrkNMighty]

Lets see what the #fishmedic have to say about it. They usually have good insight.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

For full context I got this fish from a fellow reefer who shut down their tank and kept this fish isolated for awhile. During this time they said that they qted the fish in copper while alone. I never would risk my display tank so I put the fish in observational qt and have been monitoring the fish. Fish eats like a pig (nori, pellets, frozen)

I came back home tonight after being gone for a few hours and noticed these spots on the fish, didn’t notice them before but maybe wasn’t looking close enough. The fish is now in 2.41 ppm copper as I suspect that it is ich.

Just looking for some confirmation on this as this is a very special fish!

If it is ich, is there any additional treatment I should be doing? Fish still eats amazing like before.

See the conical shape? Those are mucus plugs. They are a reaction some tangs show to stress. Trouble is, sometimes the stress is from ich. Flukes don’t cause white bumps like that. Copper is sometimes implicated in causing mucus plugs, but I’ve not seen that myself.

Often, these just go away over time. The original stressor needs to be identified and resolved though. It might be the move of the fish in this case?

 

[Kruss7]

See the conical shape? Those are mucus plugs. They are a reaction some tangs show to stress. Trouble is, sometimes the stress is from ich. Flukes don’t cause white bumps like that. Copper is sometimes implicated in causing mucus plugs, but I’ve not seen that myself.

Often, these just go away over time. The original stressor needs to be identified and resolved though. It might be the move of the fish in this case?

Thank you Jay, I was looking at it and that was what I started thinking eventually. I honestly haven’t noticed any issues with the fish up until this, seemed super healthy for the 2 weeks I have had it. I did do a 50% water change on the QT the day before these showed up which I’m sure could have added some stress as well?

Currently I got the copper up, I’m just wondering if I should get the copper out and maintain clean water and just let the fish destress? Fish is eating great and swimming around as normal. Breathing is fine too.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thank you Jay, I was looking at it and that was what I started thinking eventually. I honestly haven’t noticed any issues with the fish up until this, seemed super healthy for the 2 weeks I have had it. I did do a 50% water change on the QT the day before these showed up which I’m sure could have added some stress as well?

Currently I got the copper up, I’m just wondering if I should get the copper out and maintain clean water and just let the fish destress? Fish is eating great and swimming around as normal. Breathing is fine too.

Since you started copper, you should continue it. You could shorten things to 14 or 21 days I suppose….

 

[Kruss7]

Since you started copper, you should continue it. You could shorten things to 14 or 21 days I suppose….

Is there anything I can do to help improve or lessen stress? Covering the tank? Food etc? It’s eating a mix of mysis, bloodworms, brine, roe with garlic guard and nori mainly.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Is there anything I can do to help improve or lessen stress? Covering the tank? Food etc? It’s eating a mix of mysis, bloodworms, brine, roe with garlic guard and nori mainly.

Diet sounds fine. Make sure it isn't scrapping with any tankmates and that it has enough open room to swim in. Avoid sudden movements outside the tank. You could cover the back and sides of the tank, but not the front, you want it to remain used to seeing people.

 

[Kruss7]

Diet sounds fine. Make sure it isn't scrapping with any tankmates and that it has enough open room to swim in. Avoid sudden movements outside the tank. You could cover the back and sides of the tank, but not the front, you want it to remain used to seeing people.

Do you believe in supplements for fish?

There’s no tank mates all alone. Think I might cover the sides and back like you suggested.

 

[Kruss7]

It seems to be getting worse every few hours…

 

[Nonya]

I'm only going be what I was able to guess based on the pics. Research marine flukes to see if that's what you're seeing. If you agree, and your fish is isolated, search for praziquantel or other fluke treatments.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

It seems to be getting worse every few hours…

I went back and reread the whole thread -

I presume you’re using copper power or copper safe? I think you can back that down to 2.0 ppm. Can you ask the previous owner if they saw mucus plugs when they treated it with copper?

I really don’t think this is flukes, they aren’t pointed and white like that and this fish was isolated for a long period, right?

 

[Kruss7]

I went back and reread the whole thread -

I presume you’re using copper power or copper safe? I think you can back that down to 2.0 ppm. Can you ask the previous owner if they saw mucus plugs when they treated it with copper?

I really don’t think this is flukes, they aren’t pointed and white like that and this fish was isolated for a long period, right?

Yes it’s copper power, I will back it down to 2ppm.

I will send the previous owner a message

This fish was isolated for 6 months and has been in captivity for 5 years

 

[Nonya]

I really don’t think this is flukes, they aren’t pointed and white like that and this fish was isolated for a long period, right?

What else would look like what are hanging off the fish then? Clearly not ich.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

What else would look like what are hanging off the fish then? Clearly not ich.

Those are mucus plugs.