Blue Hippo may have ich

[firstsalttank91011]

Hello All,

Recently our blue hippo tang (which we've had for about 6 months) started (2/24/2022) scratching against rocks. Been keeping a close eye on it and yesterday (2/25/2022) very much looked like it may have ich but today appears to look much better and haven't noticed any scratching (pictures below). Apologize for the load of questions below and as always appreciate any guidance. And yes, this was most likely due to not quarantining a recent addition (royal gramma which died in 5 days most likely due to aggression).

1. I know the pictures aren't the best, but does it appear to have ich?
2. If it does have ich, we plan to follow the guidance here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ich-eradication-vs-ich-management.188775/, is this still a recommended approach?
2a. We have a 55 gallon (supposed to be QT), should we move all of our fish (8 - 2 clowns, 2 PJ cardinals, 1 diamond goby, 1 blue hippo, 1 sailfin tang, 1 6-line wrasse) to the 55 gallon tank and treat for ich for the recommended 73 days?
2b. Based on the research done, it sounds like ich will remain in the tank if we don't remove and treat all the fish. But if we move all of the fish, are we going to create more problems with the smaller tank?
2c. Is it possible just to treat the blue hippo? also worry about reacclimating a single fish as the tangs were introduced at the same time a get along fine.
3. If the blue hippo is "getting better", should we hold off a few days while keeping a close eye on all the fish or should we move sooner than later?

Tank info at bottom.

Any additional guidance in general for next steps will be greatly appreciated as I'm sure I'm not asking all the right questions!

2/25/2022

2/26/2022

Tank info
About 8 months old
120 Gallon display tank
Salinity 1.025
Temp 77.8
Low nitrate and phosphate (but not zero)
Ph always shows 8.6 when we test but 8.3 when LFS test...
About 12 "beginner" corals from frags
7-10 day 12% water change schedule
5-7 day filter sock changes
Feed froze (variety) 3x daily, flake here and there for the scarlet skunk (1) and fire (1) shrimp, nori 2x weekly

 

[ariellemermaid]

Following along for @Jay Hemdal response. Doesn’t look like ich to me (looking for discrete circular white spots).

 

[ocnbrze]

i also concur that it does not look like ich. is the fish eating? other than scratching, is there any other odd behavior? is it breathing rapidly?

if it has not gotten worse, i would just continue to monitor the fish.

 

[threebuoys]

The markings in the black hook section of the 25th photo appear to have disappeared by the 26th. How long were they on the fish? Any similar markings on the other side, or just on the right side? That's all I can see in the photos. Am I missing anything?

Did the scratching last very long? Could be a sign of Crypto, or flukes, or maybe nothing to worry about.

I would monitor the fish very closely for a day or two. If white spots begin to appear, disappear, reappear, Crypto/Ich could be the culprit. More pictures if conditions change would be helpful. If the scratching returns and endures, you may need to use prazi to combat flukes.

Should the diagnosis turn out to be Crypto, you will need to assume all fish in the tank are at risk. QT with copper treatment, and a 45 day minimum fallow is the standard recommendation.

Let us know what you see today and tomorrow.

 

[Sebastiancrab]

It looks like Brooklynella to me as it is on his head. Relief can be provided in a 10 minute saltwater dip using Hydroplex. It will kill the bugs that are deep and provide less stressful relief than a freshwater dip. Agree with @threebuoys about going ahead and using Copper Power or Cupramine and the fallow period. Those medications will treat it whether it is Brook, flukes or Ich. I have not had any luck with Prazi treating flukes.

 

[firstsalttank91011]

Thank you for the quick replies!

@ocnbrze - Eating fine from what we've seen today. No other odd behavior, only thing to note is when I put on the "white" light to try and get a picture the two tangs like mirror each other but it's only when I temporarily change the standard light settings. Other than that, breathing and acting normal.

@threebuoys - We really started to notice about 2 days ago and yesterday being the most noticeable. Little scratching 2 days ago, lots yesterday and haven't really seen any today. Will update with pictures and any changes as they occur.

Random question about taking pictures, what type of light is recommended to accurately show what the conditions look like?

I swear this fish knows when I want to take pictures and makes it difficult, here is a left side picture from today.

 

[Sebastiancrab]

White light is needed for the best pictures.

 

[ocnbrze]

yeah hard to tell with the pics.....do these spots look like they are growths? or does it look more part of the pigmentation? ich is more like little bumps the size of a salt grain.

if the tang is eating and not breathing hard, i would just continue to observe them.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

yeah hard to tell with the pics.....do these spots look like they are growths? or does it look more part of the pigmentation? ich is more like little bumps the size of a salt grain.

if the tang is eating and not breathing hard, i would just continue to observe them.

I've never seen Brooklynella on a hepatus tang. The most common ailment that can cause these symptoms is flukes. However, you made the observation that it looked like it had ich spots and then they went away - this is very commonly seen in early ich infections, the spots come and go more or less in unison. The life cycle then spreads out and you start to see spots all of the time.

Jay

 

[firstsalttank91011]

Hello All,

Latest updates on our blue hippo. Shortly after the latest post the fish stopped scratching and any discoloration went away. I've included a few pics further below. However, between last night and this morning we now see a noticeable white spot only on the fish's left side (right side looks fine).

Curious if this is a sign or symptom of something to be more concerned about given the history or continue to keep an eye. The fish is still behaving normally, eating well and not scratching on the rocks. We've done at least one water change since and started dosing more 2 part due to low alkalinity (5.9 dKH); all other parameters pretty much the same.

Appreciate any additional guidance.

Today

Yesterday (3/5/2022)

2/26/2022

 

[threebuoys]

I assume you are referring to the area just above the pectoral fin? That doesn't look like a parasite or an infection yet. Perhaps a bump up with another fish or object in the tank overnight? I would just monitor the fish as usual for changes that would indicate deterioration of condition.