Copperband butterfly white dots on fin

LoganGG · Oct 3, 2023

Hello, I recently got a cbb along with a few other fish from my lfs. Everyone’s eating and fine, but I noticed a few white dots on the right fin of my cbb. He’s been eating, and it doesn’t look like ick, but I want to know what it is and how to help it.

Jay Hemdal · Oct 3, 2023

LoganGG said:
Hello, I recently got a cbb along with a few other fish from my lfs. Everyone’s eating and fine, but I noticed a few white dots on the right fin of my cbb. He’s been eating, and it doesn’t look like ick, but I want to know what it is and how to help it.

That's Lymphocystis, a common viral disease. It may get worse before it gets better in a month or so, but it, by itself, won't be fatal to the fish. It isn't treatable, just watch for other symptoms.

Jay

LoganGG · Oct 3, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
That's Lymphocystis, a common viral disease. It may get worse before it gets better in a month or so, but it, by itself, won't be fatal to the fish. It isn't treatable, just watch for other symptoms.

Jay

Would it still be safe to transfer my other fish from qt in two weeks when my quarantine period is over? Or should I wait until the cbb is healed before adding them to my main tank?

Reefering1 · Oct 3, 2023

Cleaner shrimp took care of that, in a couple days, on my cbb. Never to be seen again in over a year after shrimp disappeared(got eaten?)

Pickle_soup · Oct 3, 2023

LoganGG said:
Would it still be safe to transfer my other fish from qt in two weeks when my quarantine period is over? Or should I wait until the cbb is healed before adding them to my main tank?

If they were in the QT together it doesn't matter. It's something that clears up on its own. It is viral, but it's spread through contact, not water as far as I know. It's ugly, but it's not a big deal. What you're seeing are clinical signs. Some fish carry it without any signs, it's additional stressors that cause the clinical signs to show, for example, being put in a new tank...Just be very nice to the little fella, reduce stress, and he will be fine.

Jay Hemdal · Oct 3, 2023

LoganGG said:
Would it still be safe to transfer my other fish from qt in two weeks when my quarantine period is over? Or should I wait until the cbb is healed before adding them to my main tank?

"Safe" is a relative term, Two weeks is awfully short for a quarantine - what treatments will you run?

Lymphocystis is slightly contagious, but since it isn't fatal, just a bit unsightly, it isn't really much of a worry. Now, other diseases that could make it through your quarantine - those are a bigger risk.

Jay

LoganGG · Oct 3, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
"Safe" is a relative term, Two weeks is awfully short for a quarantine - what treatments will you run?

Lymphocystis is slightly contagious, but since it isn't fatal, just a bit unsightly, it isn't really much of a worry. Now, other diseases that could make it through your quarantine - those are a bigger risk.

Jay

Two weeks as in two more weeks, they’ve already been in qt for 3 weeks.

Jay Hemdal · Oct 4, 2023

LoganGG said:
Two weeks as in two more weeks, they’ve already been in qt for 3 weeks.

Quarantine with no preventative treatment will limit, but not eliminate ectoparasites. Here is our preferred quarantine method:

Current Quarantine Protocol

2024 Quarantine Procedures Jay Hemdal David Scarborough Protozoans (Cryptocaryon/ich, Amyloodinium/velvet) and Metazoan trematodes/flukes are by far the most common parasites found on newly acquired fish. A carefully managed, proactive quarantine process can effectively eliminate these...

www.reef2reef.com