Blue tang with white spots

Reefmx · Dec 21, 2018

Hello, I have a blue tang about 1.5" large

I just notice white spots on the fin and side of body. Also 2 black spots on one side.

75 gal DT

There is 1 yellow tang 2" large
2 clownfish
1 cleaner fish

Tank being running for 2 months
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
Salinity 1.026

Need help to identify the disease.

Thanks

HotRocks · Dec 21, 2018

First I would recommend a 5 min FW dip.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/

Blue tangs are very hard to judge, since they naturally wedge themselves in rockwork.

Frtdrmrose7 · Dec 21, 2018

The spot behind his eye looks like ich but you should do a FW dip to check for flukes. I would start looking at setting up a QT and getting meds on hand. Not trying to be the Tang police but a 75G is no where near large enough for a blue tang, he will quickly outgrow it.

Reefmx · Dec 22, 2018

Next day didnt have anything. Its clean of any white or black spot.

Still can be itch? Or any disease?

Didnt use the freshwater dip yet

All this happen in less of 24 hrs

Thanks

Frtdrmrose7 · Dec 22, 2018

Reefmx said:
Next day didnt have anything. Its clean of any white or black spot.

Still can be itch? Or any disease?

Didnt use the freshwater dip yet

All this happen in less of 24 hrs

Thanks

Ich spots can disappear as the parasite progresses. Depending on where the life cycle of the parasite is, ich will drop off of the fish to encyst. I still recommend a FW dip to check for flukes and treat with copper for both.
I read that the tank has been up for 2 mos with a YT, 2 clowns and a cleaner fish (wrasse?). Has this Tang. Been in there 2 mos also or is it a new addition? Was this Tang QT’ed?

4FordFamily · Dec 22, 2018

That looks like ich but the timeline shouldn’t be that fast.

If you don’t quarantine though ich or velvet will eventually show its head, almost certainly. How long have you had it?

Reefmx · Dec 22, 2018

Have 2 weeks with me.
Its on QT now.

I have these with me, should i use just cupramine?

Frtdrmrose7 · Dec 22, 2018

Unfortunately from the first pic you posted it looks like the Tang was in your DT with your other fish correct? If so you will more than likely need to QT all of your fish and leave the tank fallow for 67 days (I believe). I do believe the Tang has ich and without going fallow and treating all exposed fish this will only happen again. You need to cut the life cycle of the parasite. This is of course assuming he was in your DT with your other fish. Cupramine will work for the Tangs but I’m not sure what cleaner fish you have. I’m sure others will chime in also.

Reefmx · Dec 22, 2018

Frtdrmrose7 said:
Unfortunately from the first pic you posted it looks like the Tang was in your DT with your other fish correct? If so you will more than likely need to QT all of your fish and leave the tank fallow for 67 days (I believe). I do believe the Tang has ich and without going fallow and treating all exposed fish this will only happen again. You need to cut the life cycle of the parasite. This is of course assuming he was in your DT with your other fish. Cupramine will work for the Tangs but I’m not sure what cleaner fish you have. I’m sure others will chime in also.

Yes the picture is from my DT

Its possible to set all in one QT?

I cant imagine 5 tanks [emoji26]

Reefmx · Dec 22, 2018

Reefmx said:
Yes the picture is from my DT

Its possible to set all in one QT?

I cant imagine 5 tanks [emoji26]

I have a empty 55 gal tank

Maybe set all other fishes on the 55 gal?

Thanks for your time!

4FordFamily · Dec 22, 2018

Reefmx said:
I have a empty 55 gal tank

Maybe set all other fishes on the 55 gal?

Thanks for your time!

Yes you’ll need to QT them all. Do it right the first time and keep it up— the result will be longer-term enjoyment and far less stress.

Reefmx · Dec 22, 2018

I didn't quarantine any fish

Maybe thats the reason i am dealing with this situation.

The blue and 2 clowns are from my first addition 2 weeks ago.

Next week i added yellow and cleaner

HotRocks · Dec 22, 2018

Reefmx said:
I didn't quarantine any fish

Maybe thats the reason i am dealing with this situation.

The blue and 2 clowns are from my first addition 2 weeks ago.

Next week i added yellow and cleaner

It is almost a guarantee something came in on one of the new fish. The distribution system right now is unfortunately polluted. I am dealing with a vicious uronema strain in a QT right now affecting all kinds of fish. Not just the normal chromis you'd expect to see it on.

Reefmx · Dec 24, 2018

After FW dip my tang die. Dont know what happen.

I tried to get the best equipment but still having to deal with this kind of loss.

I just learn the bad way. I wont surrender

Just want to say everyone should read all about marine aquariums before get any fish.

I was excited for having fish on my new cycled tank that did not think about quarantine them.

I still have 4 more fish on my DT and may get infected soon.

The tang had a black spot.
After the FW dip did not find any fluke or something weird

Thanks

Frtdrmrose7 · Dec 24, 2018

I’m sorry for your loss, I would recommend placing your other fish in QT and treating them before they develop symptoms, this will make it easier on the fish because they haven’t been weakened by a parasite.
The one take away from this is now moving forward you will QT your fish and this will help you achieve success in this hobby.

In the future avoid buying Tangs that small, the smaller they are the tougher they can be.

Aliasger · Mar 22, 2019

Hi Sorry for your loss. But sometimes you need not act very fast. As many articles suggest, marine ich is always present in the water. It is just that the fish needs to avoid it. Making changes with the environment especially when the fish is sick isn't appreciated unless you know exactly how it is to be done. Incase of Freshwater dip, well some for me it has worked many times but the fish needs to be monitored continuously, as the freshwater not only affects the ich but also the fish. I have had little more chances with chloroquine phosphate. In the beginning i use to get worried regarding this, but it all depends on parameters and making sure that the fish is feeding.

I have 2 tanks with 5000 gallons of marine. I have almost like 100 fish in each and i had ich many times, it was quite difficult to remove the fish and quarantine so i just made sure the fish ate and that it gets proper space to hide and relax and it worked. Blue tangs do get ich even if the parameters are correct. Recently i have white spots on my blue tangs in one of my friend's tank in Tanzania ( 3000 Gallons). All i am doing is making sure that it is feeding and checking if it is getting the place to relax.

Parameters
pH- 8.1
KH-8.4
Salinity- 1.025
NH4 - 0
NH2- 0
NO3- 0
PO4- 0.03ppm
Temp- 26.0 deg C.

Reefmx said:
After FW dip my tang die. Dont know what happen.

I tried to get the best equipment but still having to deal with this kind of loss.

I just learn the bad way. I wont surrender

Just want to say everyone should read all about marine aquariums before get any fish.

I was excited for having fish on my new cycled tank that did not think about quarantine them.

I still have 4 more fish on my DT and may get infected soon.

The tang had a black spot.
After the FW dip did not find any fluke or something weird

Thanks

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