Brown spots on yellow eye tang

[Dvir]

Hi,

Can someone help me identify these brown spots that started appearing on my yellow eye tang in a QT tank?
I started copper about 4 days ago, but i'm not sure if the spots were there before or not. Can it be related?

Thanks

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi,

Can someone help me identify these brown spots that started appearing on my yellow eye tang in a QT tank?
I started copper about 4 days ago, but i'm not sure if the spots were there before or not. Can it be related?

Thanks

Cant open video. Perhaps try You tube video.
Which copper product are you using and how are you testing the levels?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi,

Can someone help me identify these brown spots that started appearing on my yellow eye tang in a QT tank?
I started copper about 4 days ago, but i'm not sure if the spots were there before or not. Can it be related?

Thanks

Those spots are not related to copper use. From what I can see, those are tang turbellarians, an encysted worm parasite fairly common in tangs and a few other species.

Treating it can be difficult, copper won't help. Luckily, many cases of this are "self limiting" they go away on their own. You can help with that by siphoning the bottom of the tank each morning to try and remove the infective life cycle. Formalin dips are the best treatment, but formalin is difficult to acquire and toxic to use around people. Many people suggest using praziquantel, but that is actually for a different species of worm. Praziquantel also doesn't outright kill the worm, it just stuns them and they fall off the fish. The problem with these worms is that they are in cysts, and so do not fall off as readily, then they recover and are still on the fish.

Jay

 

[Dvir]

Cant open video. Perhaps try You tube video.
Which copper product are you using and how are you testing the levels?

Here's a link on onedrive: https://1drv.ms/v/s!AsvAp_GmQ5dTg89QzxK8ThZs6grNsQ
Using copper power with hanna checker

 

[Dvir]

Those spots are not related to copper use. From what I can see, those are tang turbellarians, an encysted worm parasite fairly common in tangs and a few other species.

Treating it can be difficult, copper won't help. Luckily, many cases of this are "self limiting" they go away on their own. You can help with that by siphoning the bottom of the tank each morning to try and remove the infective life cycle. Formalin dips are the best treatment, but formalin is difficult to acquire and toxic to use around people. Many people suggest using praziquantel, but that is actually for a different species of worm. Praziquantel also doesn't outright kill the worm, it just stuns them and they fall off the fish. The problem with these worms is that they are in cysts, and so do not fall off as readily, then they recover and are still on the fish.

Jay

Should I isolate the fish from the other 2 fish in QT (****** trigger, emperor angelfish?
I will siphon each morning, but not planning on doing formalin and wondering, is it practical to not get this parasite onto my DT?

Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here's a link on onedrive: https://1drv.ms/v/s!AsvAp_GmQ5dTg89QzxK8ThZs6grNsQ
Using copper power with hanna checker

The video is a little fuzzy but I can sort of make them out. It appears to be bacterial or worms and may be associated with water in the quarantine tank. Assure you are monitoring water in the QT tank. You can safely treat with Ruby Rally pro or Sera Tremazolee which is similar to Prazi Pro.

 

[Dvir]

Assure you are monitoring water in the QT tank.

Which specific parameters?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Which specific parameters?

Ammonia-ph and even nitrate to assure hasnt gone past 50-60ppm

 

[Dvir]

Ammonia-ph and even nitrate to assure hasnt gone past 50-60ppm

Ammonia - 0 (Seachem badge)
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 25
PH - 8.1

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ammonia - 0 (Seachem badge)
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 25
PH - 8.1

I will not trust a seachem badge (also for freshwater) and Api kit to sustain/maintain Hundreds in Livestock. I recommend hanna, salifert, nyos brand for reliability. If none of these available in your country, SERA would be next choice

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Should I isolate the fish from the other 2 fish in QT (****** trigger, emperor angelfish?
I will siphon each morning, but not planning on doing formalin and wondering, is it practical to not get this parasite onto my DT?

Thanks!

I have not seen this disease spread to triggerfish or emperor angelfish. However, moving these fish to your DT depends on what fish are in there...any tangs?

Jay

 

[Dvir]

I have not seen this disease spread to triggerfish or emperor angelfish. However, moving these fish to your DT depends on what fish are in there...any tangs?

Jay

Yes, there is a sailfin tang and a blue tang in my DT.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yes, there is a sailfin tang and a blue tang in my DT.

They would be at risk for catching this then.
Jay

 

[Dvir]

They would be at risk for catching this then.
Jay

Ok so if not using formalin what should be my plan?

Daily siphons and wait for symptoms to disappear? How long after that should I transfer all 3 to DT?

Thanks

 

[Dvir]

Also, I'm seeing spots on the emperor angelfish now as well. Could it be that he caught it too?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Also, I'm seeing spots on the emperor angelfish now as well. Could it be that he caught it too?

The emperor looks more like it has marine ich, Cryptocaryon. What copper product are you using and what is the dose?

Jay

 

[Dvir]

The emperor looks more like it has marine ich, Cryptocaryon. What copper product are you using and what is the dose?

Jay

Using Copper Power and aiming for 2.5 reading by hanna. I got a bit higher though, at 2.62 currently

 

[Dvir]

Ok so if not using formalin what should be my plan?

Daily siphons and wait for symptoms to disappear? How long after that should I transfer all 3 to DT?

Thanks

@Jay Hemdal - would love for your feedback here. I'm not sure what would be the definition of done for this QT cycle, when would it be "safe" to introduce to DT?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

@Jay Hemdal - would love for your feedback here. I'm not sure what would be the definition of done for this QT cycle, when would it be "safe" to introduce to DT?

I typically wait 30 days beyond the last date that symptoms were seen, but some people say 14 days is sufficient.
Jay

 

[Dvir]

I typically wait 30 days beyond the last date that symptoms were seen, but some people say 14 days is sufficient.
Jay

Sorry, I should have been more precise. I was referring to the tang turbellarians. Is it the same answer?

Thanks