Blue Tang with White Spots

[Nick Rose]

Just noticed that our 20 year old Blue Tang has some white spots on its body. I can see a small white string attached or coming out of two of the spots. The spots were not there last night. It’s eating well, very active. I feed the tank twice a day and the food has selcon in it. The other tank inhabitants(2 14 year old clowns, 5 blue/green chromis 2-3 years old) are fine. The only new additions were snails on December 27th.

 

[Big G]

Sorry I can't get your video to work on this end.

Are the spots raised a bit and cottony/fibrous? If so probably lymphocystis. It is a virus. Usually not a problem unless the fish's immune system is compromised or the fish is older, as you stated in your post. Not sure there is much you can do. I've not had a fish that old. Let's get some help.

@4FordFamily

Lymphocystis

Lymphocystis What You Need To Know: * This is a virus that many fish carry for life. The white nodules (cauliflower-like growths) can grow both externally and internally; so symptoms are not always visible. * There is no known cure for Lympho. However, feeding vitamin-enriched foods and...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Nick Rose]

There just screen grabs from a video I did. They are raised and it’s hard to tell if there cottony. Two of them seems to have a string coming out maybe a few mm long. I hope it’s just Lymphocystis. This was my late fathers tank. He passed away from cancer in July. I took over maintenance for him in 2017. I would hate to see anything bad happen to the fish. They’ve been in the family for such a long time.

 

[4FordFamily]

I don’t see anything definitive— I’d try dosing prazipro (2 doses 5 days apart) and see if that helps.

have you added anything new/wet over the past month?

 

[Nick Rose]

I don’t see anything definitive— I’d try dosing prazipro (2 doses 5 days apart) and see if that helps.

have you added anything new/wet over the past month?

Only thing I added was 25 snails.

 

[4FordFamily]

Only thing I added was 25 snails.

It’s possible that you introduced ich or something on them, but after 14 years I’d have to assume it would largely be resistant to ich (unless nothing was added for a couple years or so) and that’s too large of a spot for velvet.

 

[Nick Rose]

I won’t be able to get prazipro until Wednesday-Thursday. Is it Reef safe? I guess I’ll see if the spots get worse or maybe go away.

What do you think the white strings coming out of some of the spots are. The strings are maybe a few mm long. It’s a active fish so it’s hard to get a good close up photo.

 

[Qasimja]

try posting a video

 

[Nick Rose]

This is the best video I could get.