Dark spot on swallowtail angel fish

[koolademan]

My swallowtail angelfish seems to have this decently sized dark spot. There’s a smaller one on the other side too. I was wondering if it could be a disease or if it’s normal. It does seem to be eating and I have fed it a mix of focus and metroplex in case of infection.

I’ve had it for around 2 weeks. The fish may have already had the marks on it when I got it but I’m not sure

 

[1112-425XL]

Is it internal? It looks like the same spot on both sides. Hopefully one of the fish medics can help you out.

 

[koolademan]

The one in the pictures is larger and also in a different spot than the one not shown in the pictures. I’m not too sure if it’s internal or how to check it it is though.

 

[MnFish1]

With the lighting it's hard to tell - it may be some damage/minor injury with shipping/netting, etc. Did you Qt the fish? Any other symptoms or other fish in the tank (which could be a bullying issue)

 

[koolademan]

For a couple of reasons I didn’t qt the fish. Thinking back on it none of them for a good reason. There’s a blue eye kole tang that initially seemed to fight with when I placed the angelfish into the tank but it’s wasn’t anything serious and they don’t touch each other now. The other fish are 4 fire fish 1 cleaner wrasse 1 leopard wrasse and a tail spot blenny.

I can try to get a better picture of it

 

[koolademan]

@MnFish1 hope these are a little better

 

[koolademan]

Not sure if the video will play

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Ugh, that could be Uronema. The spot looks like it and the fish is breathing a bit fast and is swimming a bit "off".

Uronema / Red Band Disease - Hemdal

Red Band Syndrome in Marine Fishes: Caused by the Protozoan; Uronema sp. Jay Hemdal Introduction: This moderately common disease of certain species of marine fish is so often misdiagnosed that most aquarists apply incorrect treatment methods...

www.reef2reef.com

The firefish also is breathing a bit fast. Does your tank have good aeration (not just circulation)?

Jay

 

[Reefer911]

Looks like uronema. I lost two Watanabei angels to it. And when my third one started showing spots like yours, I started dosing hydrogen peroxide daily. I had read that by the time they show spots, it’s a done deal and there’s nothing that can be done (in the case of uronema).

This was back in May I’m guessing and the spots have cleared and my fish seems as healthy as ever.

There’s a big write up on Humblefish talking about dosing peroxide in a diseased aquarium.

Of course, there’s no way to know 100% if my fish had uronema but this fish had been in the same QT with another fish with uronema so I am confident that’s what it was. Also, does H2O2 cure certain diseases? I’m not sure but I know my fish is still living after showing spots that looked like uronema. I still dose H2O2 daily

 

[koolademan]

Ugh, that could be Uronema. The spot looks like it and the fish is breathing a bit fast and is swimming a bit "off".

Uronema / Red Band Disease - Hemdal

Red Band Syndrome in Marine Fishes: Caused by the Protozoan; Uronema sp. Jay Hemdal Introduction: This moderately common disease of certain species of marine fish is so often misdiagnosed that most aquarists apply incorrect treatment methods...

www.reef2reef.com

The firefish also is breathing a bit fast. Does your tank have good aeration (not just circulation)?

Jay

Thank you I’ll take a look at that thread. I thought it was but I just put an air stone into the tank so if it wasn’t hopefully it is now.

 

[koolademan]

Looks like uronema. I lost two Watanabei angels to it. And when my third one started showing spots like yours, I started dosing hydrogen peroxide daily. I had read that by the time they show spots, it’s a done deal and there’s nothing that can be done (in the case of uronema).

This was back in May I’m guessing and the spots have cleared and my fish seems as healthy as ever.

There’s a big write up on Humblefish talking about dosing peroxide in a diseased aquarium.

Of course, there’s no way to know 100% if my fish had uronema but this fish had been in the same QT with another fish with uronema so I am confident that’s what it was. Also, does H2O2 cure certain diseases? I’m not sure but I know my fish is still living after showing spots that looked like uronema. I still dose H2O2 daily

I’m sorry to hear that but glad the third one is doing alright! How much did you dose in the tank? Did your fish recover or does he still show those spots?

 

[Reefer911]

I roughly followed their 1ml/5gallon 3x daily recommendation.
I say roughly because I was a little under that per dose, but I did dose 3x daily

My fish is doing fine and shows no red spots. Eating well and super active. Lots of personality too by the way.

 

[Reefer911]

Something you can do until you figure out what’s going on, or another course of action.

How To - Peroxide (H2O2) dosing for parasites in reef tank

***Current dosing recommendation for active outbreaks, using 3% hydrogen peroxide*** (a TLDR for people who just need to know how to get started) Week 1: 1mL/8g, 3x per day Week 2: 1mL/5g, 3x per day Week 3: 1mL/5g, 3x per day, plus overnight dosing. Continue the week 3 dosing regimen for a...

humble.fish

 

[koolademan]

Thank you! Hoping this works

 

[Reefer911]

Keep us updated

 

[MnFish1]

@MnFish1 hope these are a little better

Without reading the rest that stripe down the middle - not quite a spot looks like uronema. However I think thats quite rare here

 

[MnFish1]

Thank you I’ll take a look at that thread. I thought it was but I just put an air stone into the tank so if it wasn’t hopefully it is now.

Additionally, - the spot is on both sides.

 

[koolademan]

@MnFish1 thanks for following up ive been dosing hydrogen peroxide to the tank and feeding it metroplex mixed with food. I also realized it seems like the large spot is on a bump on its side not sure if that changes anything

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

@MnFish1 thanks for following up ive been dosing hydrogen peroxide to the tank and feeding it metroplex mixed with food. I also realized it seems like the large spot is on a bump on its side not sure if that changes anything

Each day that goes by with the fish still alive and the spot not growing larger, rules out Uronema as a possible diagnosis.
That said, hydrogen peroxide as an external treatment would have NO benefit against inter-cellular Uronema. Metroplex in the food has been tried before, but with advanced uronema, the fish stop feeding, so of course that won't help then.

Jay

 

[MnFish1]

Each day that goes by with the fish still alive and the spot not growing larger, rules out Uronema as a possible diagnosis.
That said, hydrogen peroxide as an external treatment would have NO benefit against inter-cellular Uronema. Metroplex in the food has been tried before, but with advanced uronema, the fish stop feeding, so of course that won't help then.

Jay

Have you ever seen a fish with uronema survive?