Dark wet spot on Powder Blue tang

305rob305 · Feb 23, 2018

Hey people! So my fairly new tang just got a dark wet looking spot on it. It extends all the way to the top yellow part of his body He seems ok and he's swimming around like nothing... I don't see any white ick. What do you guys think?

Fishfinder · Feb 23, 2018

Need some more pics but it looks like he has ick. I see 2 seperate spots. Also what other fish do you have? Is someone bulling him? He's got some rips

Big G · Feb 23, 2018

How recently has it been handled by someone? Are there other fish in the tank?

305rob305 · Feb 23, 2018

Big G said:
How recently has it been handled by someone? Are there other fish in the tank?

I bought him not too long ago and had him in qt but but I couldn't keep the ammonia down so I had to cut it short and put him in my dt. I once lost a blue tang in a qt because of ammonia so I didn't want to risk his life. I was doing 50% water changes every day and still couldn't hold it down.
Just yesterday I put him in and he's doing great but came from work now and noticed this patch on him.

Big G · Feb 23, 2018

305rob305 said:
I bought him not too long ago and had him in qt but but I couldn't keep the ammonia down so I had to cut it short and put him in my dt. I once lost a blue tang in a qt because of ammonia so I didn't want to risk his life. I was doing 50% water changes every day and still couldn't hold it down.
Just yesterday I put him in and he's doing great but came from work now and noticed this patch on him.

The spot is probably just a bit of a mild bruise from handling. But you want to keep an eye on it as sometimes bacterial infections kinda look similar initially. How big was your QT ?

305rob305 · Feb 23, 2018

Big G said:
The spot is probably just a bit of a mild bruise from handling. But you want to keep an eye on it as sometimes bacterial infections kinda look similar initially. How big was your QT ?

Qt is a 10g... He's a small PBT, like 2.5 inch. I don't think it's ick since I've been staring at him and see no scratching or anything crazy. What do you think I should feed him? I got pellets, flakes and brine shrimp. I put some nori and he doesn't even look at it. I have garlic that u can add to the food

Big G · Feb 23, 2018

Even though he is very small, those tangs are poop/pee factories and a 20 qt would be suggested min. for tangs.
Consider some frozen herbivore food and if you can find it some red or purple or brown nori. It's weird how sometimes a tang seems to take to one color or another. Take the nori and wrap it around a rock, secure with a rubber band. Tie a length of fishing line to the rubber band. Easy to lower into the tank and to take it out. Soak the nori in selcon or zoe or zoecon.
Oh and the mark could also be related to the ammonia irritating the skin and then being handled.. Lots of reefers with far more experience than me, often use a 40 breeder tank for tangs, just for the ammonia control you gain with the extra gallons.

305rob305 · Feb 23, 2018

Big G said:
Even though he is very small, those tangs are poop/pee factories and a 20 qt would be suggested min. for tangs.
Consider some frozen herbivore food and if you can find it some red or purple or brown nori. It's weird how sometimes a tang seems to take to one color or another. Take the nori and wrap it around a rock, secure with a rubber band. Tie a length of fishing line to the rubber band. Easy to lower into the tank and to take it out. Soak the nori in selcon or zoe or zoecon.
Oh and the mark could also be related to the ammonia irritating the skin and then being handled.. Lots of reefers with far more experience than me, often use a 40 breeder tank for tangs, just for the ammonia control you gain with the extra gallons.

Thanks for the info man. I'm going to try all that tomorrow. I'll keep you posted. Tks

4FordFamily · Feb 23, 2018

I second @Big G on everything. The dark spot could also be stress or infection presenting itself strangely. Please keep us posted so we can advise!

Maritimer · Feb 23, 2018

Big G's probably got you covered ... but a thought crosses my mind.

Could "Tang Thumbprint Disease" present this way?

~Bruce

Fishfinder · Feb 23, 2018

I still think another pic of the right side is needed. I see something in front of the dark area

305rob305 · Feb 23, 2018

Fishfinder said:
I still think another pic of the right side is needed. I see something in front of the dark area

Ok so the dark patch has turned whitish and has shrunken. I think he was just banged up or something because I don't think it's ick. Also, I did see him nipping at the nori

305rob305 · Feb 23, 2018

Fishfinder said:
I still think another pic of the right side is needed. I see something in front of the dark area

Here you go...

Maritimer · Feb 23, 2018

@melypr1985, @Humblefish ... would appreciate it if you fine folks could have a look at this guy.

With the spot having gone from dark to whitish, I'm rather more concerned than previous, and would be thinking about readying a quarantine tank at this point.

~Bruce

305rob305 · Feb 23, 2018

Maritimer said:
@melypr1985, @Humblefish ... would appreciate it if you fine folks could have a look at this guy.

With the spot having gone from dark to whitish, I'm rather more concerned than previous, and would be thinking about readying a quarantine tank at this point.

~Bruce

Thing is he's absolutely not scratching himself nor look sick at all and I don't see any dots on him. I only see this one patch and just on one side. He's swimming around and acting normal...?

Humblefish · Feb 23, 2018

305rob305 said:
Thing is he's absolutely not scratching himself nor look sick at all and I don't see any dots on him. I only see this one patch and just on one side. He's swimming around and acting normal...?

It could be the start of a bacterial infection: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bacterial-infections.191511/

How did his dorsal fin get ripped up?

305rob305 · Feb 23, 2018

Humblefish said:
It could be the start of a bacterial infection: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bacterial-infections.191511/

How did his dorsal fin get ripped up?

Humble, I have no idea. I'm clueless about the ripped fin. Should I give it the night and if he's the same tomorrow qt him? Prazi or Cupramine or Maracyn Two? I'll check the link now

Humblefish · Feb 23, 2018

305rob305 said:
Humble, I have no idea. I'm clueless about the ripped fin. Should I give it the night and if he's the same tomorrow qt him? Prazi or Cupramine or Maracyn Two? I'll check the link now

I would wait until tomorrow, and see how he looks before doing anything. Too soon to tell anything for sure at this point.

305rob305 · Feb 23, 2018

Humblefish said:
I would wait until tomorrow, and see how he looks before doing anything. Too soon to tell anything for sure at this point.

Ok then, I'll check with allof you guys tomorrow and we'll take it from there. Goodnight everyone tks

305rob305 · Feb 25, 2018

Humblefish said:
I would wait until tomorrow, and see how he looks before doing anything. Too soon to tell anything for sure at this point.

Hi Humble, so I took some pics this morning so we can compare from last time. The spot or rather the stain has shrunk big time. Here's the pic if the second day I put him on my dt compared to this morning. BTW, he's pretty much doing fine, swimming fine and constant and he ate some brine shrimp. His fin looks much better as well and not that ripped

What do you think?