Blonde Naso - Black Spots

Bozburn · Aug 26, 2023

Hey everyone,

I have this blonde naso that has been a problem child since shortly after I got him (March). He has had stomach issues twice and both times I got him out of the tank and put him in a bucket with tank water and epsom salt to help clear the blockage and then acclimated him back into the tank the following morning. The first time he started eating nori again in a few days and frozen shortly after that. The second time I didn't see him eat for 2 whole weeks after putting him back in the tank. Now he only nibbles on nori and I have not seen him eat frozen at all. Last night I got home and noticed these black spots on him, and they look like his white stress spots but black.

Since that second stomach issue he has never been fully himself, only nibbling on nori through the day and not as active as he once was.

Any thoughts on this? I added 3 new coral this past Wednesday and they were acclimated and dipped prior to going into the tank. Also battling Dinos right now.

280 Gal
Ph 8.2
Nitrates ~15-20
Phosphates - .02
Salinity 1.026

Thanks!

#fishmedic

fishguy242 · Aug 26, 2023

@Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081 best wishes.

MnFish1 · Aug 26, 2023

I can't see the 'black spots under the current lighting - a picture under white lite would be more helpful. That said -

1. Black spots can be manifestation of

Black Ich (turbellarians) - Reef2Reef

2. Other causes are also possible - Are any other fish sick, etc?
3. As to the stomach issues - Epsom salts do not help in saltwater. What are you feeding the fish? Some foods can be constipating, and sometimes mysis shrimp can help. Were your fish quarantined?

Can you send better pictures and /or a video if possible.

Jay Hemdal · Aug 26, 2023

What corals did you add?
The spots look like coral stings.

The spots could be turbellarian worms, but showing up at this time, all at once, is unusual. The spots are also larger and more diffuse than normal with that disease.

Blonde nasos have been sowing up here a lot, various issues, they just aren’t doing well for a lot of folks.

Jay

Bozburn · Aug 26, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
What corals did you add?
The spots look like coral stings.

The spots could be turbellarian worms, but showing up at this time, all at once, is unusual. The spots are also larger and more diffuse than normal with that disease.

Blonde nasos have been sowing up here a lot, various issues, they just aren’t doing well for a lot of folks.

Jay

Added 3 from the tidal gardens sale, Birdsnest, Stylo and Digi and all were dipped and are on the tops of the rock. . Yeah this guy has been through a lot, and worse part it is my wife's favorite fish. All of the other fish are doing great with no signs of anything and fatter than ever. It's like he has his stress spots but they are black instead of white, still smooth skin so no bumps.

Could be a few stings from a nem? I know my 2 nems just split and there are now multiple around the tank that im going to get rid of at some point.

Bozburn · Aug 26, 2023

MnFish1 said:
I can't see the 'black spots under the current lighting - a picture under white lite would be more helpful. That said -

1. Black spots can be manifestation of

Black Ich (turbellarians) - Reef2Reef
2. Other causes are also possible - Are any other fish sick, etc?
3. As to the stomach issues - Epsom salts do not help in saltwater. What are you feeding the fish? Some foods can be constipating, and sometimes mysis shrimp can help. Were your fish quarantined?

Can you send better pictures and /or a video if possible.

I will see if I can get better shots.

Tank is fed reef frenzy in the morning and mysis shrimp in the evening with Nori added in the morning as well.

All fish have been purchased through a reputable source that quarantines them prior to shipping. I haven't added any fish in a month or so, everyone else is doing fine with no symptoms.

Now that I look closer it seems like it could be black ich. UGHHHH

Could the corals have brought it in?

Bozburn · Aug 26, 2023

This might help

MnFish1 · Aug 26, 2023

Bozburn said:
I will see if I can get better shots.

Tank is fed reef frenzy in the morning and mysis shrimp in the evening with Nori added in the morning as well.

All fish have been purchased through a reputable source that quarantines them prior to shipping. I haven't added any fish in a month or so, everyone else is doing fine with no symptoms.

Now that I look closer it seems like it could be black ich. UGHHHH

Could the corals have brought it in?

I wonder if it is stings from the anemone? It could also be too 'fed'
I would doubt corals did it.

MnFish1 · Aug 26, 2023

Nice video. The pictures to me look like stings or injury of some type (not 'black ich'). Which goes along with the history you gave.

Jay Hemdal · Aug 26, 2023

Bozburn said:
Added 3 from the tidal gardens sale, Birdsnest, Stylo and Digi and all were dipped and are on the tops of the rock. . Yeah this guy has been through a lot, and worse part it is my wife's favorite fish. All of the other fish are doing great with no signs of anything and fatter than ever. It's like he has his stress spots but they are black instead of white, still smooth skin so no bumps.

Could be a few stings from a nem? I know my 2 nems just split and there are now multiple around the tank that im going to get rid of at some point.

Those corals won't sting a fish and if you have bubbletip anemones (BTAs) those are unlikely to cause an issue either.

Jay

Bozburn · Aug 26, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
Those corals won't sting a fish and if you have bubbletip anemones (BTAs) those are unlikely to cause an issue either.

Jay

So black ich?

sc50964 · Aug 26, 2023

Bozburn said:
So black ich?

He seems to use one pectoral fin more than the other. The one he doesn’t use as much seems to have torn edges.

Uncle99 · Aug 26, 2023

Bozburn said:
This might help

I see a Sailfin tang.
Could they have had any dispute?

Jay Hemdal · Aug 26, 2023

Bozburn said:
So black ich?

Possibly - but the spots are kind of large and the pectoral fin damage is caused by something else.
Jay

Bozburn · Aug 27, 2023

Uncle99 said:
I see a Sailfin tang.
Could they have had any dispute?

Possibly?

I have a white tail bristletooth that can be a little bit of a bully from time to time but rarely see any aggression.

This morning he was acting a little lethargic when I came into the room but now is swimming around a bit more. The black spots have gone away a little bit this morning.

I will be turning the lights off these next two days to help with the battle against dinos, so that might calm them down a bit for a few days.

The worst part is im going out of town Wednesday and my in-laws are watching the pups and tank.

Uncle99 · Aug 27, 2023

Best wishes to you and your fish friends!

Bozburn · Sep 3, 2023

Welp just got home from vacation and its not good, looks like black ich? I think my sailfin is a huge jerk and is aggressive to the naso.

Also, my white tail looks iffy, looks like he has a fuz on his face and some white spots. No fish have been added since a royal gramma and goby back on the first of August. I did add a few hermit crabs about 2 weeks ago, but I don't think those lasted long due to my melanurus wrasse, forgot about that.

Any thoughts? I think im going to get rid of my white tail bristletooth because he is aggressive towards the goby and a few others. He is super fat and is all over the place and camera shy, so hard to get a pic.

Ive got PraziPro. If needed I can run to petsmart and get a small hospital tank. This is super frustrating.

Bozburn · Sep 3, 2023

Tried to get a video of my whitetail, this is the best I could get.

Jay Hemdal · Sep 3, 2023

Bozburn said:
Tried to get a video of my whitetail, this is the best I could get.

Sorry, I can’t really see any issues on the bristletooth.

Jay

Jay Hemdal · Sep 3, 2023

Bozburn said:
Welp just got home from vacation and its not good, looks like black ich? I think my sailfin is a huge jerk and is aggressive to the naso.

Also, my white tail looks iffy, looks like he has a fuz on his face and some white spots. No fish have been added since a royal gramma and goby back on the first of August. I did add a few hermit crabs about 2 weeks ago, but I don't think those lasted long due to my melanurus wrasse, forgot about that.

Any thoughts? I think im going to get rid of my white tail bristletooth because he is aggressive towards the goby and a few others. He is super fat and is all over the place and camera shy, so hard to get a pic.

Ive got PraziPro. If needed I can run to petsmart and get a small hospital tank. This is super frustrating.

So now, see all the tiny black dots with sharp margins? That’s how black ich looks. So - what to do? Everyone will tell you praziquantel - except, it may not work. Praziquantel causes flukes to relax and drop off the fish. Then, they can’t reattach. Turbellarians are a different type of worm and are deeply encysted, so they won’t drop off.
The standard treatment is formalin dips. Some people use dylox but that is too toxic for home use (formalin is safer, but still dangerous).
So why do people say praziquantel works? Well, many cases of black ich are self-limiting, the fish gets a few spots and then they go away…despite the treatment. Maybe I’m wrong and it does have some benefit?

Jay