Diagnosing a PBT

joffems · Mar 28, 2018

I'm currently trying to diagnose what is wrong with my PBT. A photo is included below.

A few notes.
- Powder brown has been in the tank for 1.5 years. The fish through TTM like all of my other fish.
- No fish have been added to my tank for at least 6 months.
- I need to check tank parameters, but that won't happen until tonight.
- Stress levels have been high in the tank as I had an ATO fail while traveling and chemistry went to hell. That was fixed roughly two weeks ago and the tank is slowly recovering (see algae everywhere)
- The powder brown will occasionally be chased by my yellow tang, but eventually the yellow tang backs down.

Thanks for the help!

william.sting · Mar 28, 2018

Are you asking about the white spot?

joffems · Mar 28, 2018

william.sting said:
Are you asking about the white spot?

Yes, the white spot is new and was definitely not there two days ago.

Sorry, I should have circled it

william.sting · Mar 28, 2018

Are there others or just the one?

joffems · Mar 28, 2018

william.sting said:
Are there others or just the one?

There is only one.

hybridazn · Mar 28, 2018

Possibly a wound from fighting with the yellow tang would be my guess. It should disappear in a few days if healthy.

william.sting · Mar 28, 2018

I'd recommend watching. Tangs are prove to skin infectious generally. Though it could be from a low level parasite infection, your fish must then have acquired immunity, and so will likely recover.

I think the more likely scenario given the history is a viral infection. Viral infections are omnipresent throughout the animal kingdom. And as you have or will someday discover for yourself some can relapse (such as herpes simplex).

Even if it is a virus, skin lesions can lead to secondary infections, so keep an eye on it.

joffems · Mar 28, 2018

william.sting said:
I'd recommend watching. Tangs are prove to skin infectious generally. Though it could be from a low level parasite infection, your fish must then have acquired immunity, and so will likely recover.

I think the more likely scenario given the history is a viral infection. Viral infections are omnipresent throughout the animal kingdom. And as you have or will someday discover for yourself some can relapse (such as herpes simplex).

Even if it is a virus, skin lesions can lead to secondary infections, so keep an eye on it.

Ha, the gift that keeps on giving.

Thank you all. I will keep a close eye on him. Would you recommend stocking up on any medications to be prepared for a secondary infection? In my 2.5 years of reef keeping I've only ever used prazipro, QT, and the tank transfer method.

william.sting · Mar 28, 2018

I wouldn't. But then my dogs veterinarian had provided appropriate medications in the past and I'm less than 15 minutes away from two reef stores and three pet super stores. I realize not everyone has such easy access.

4FordFamily · Mar 28, 2018

joffems said:
Ha, the gift that keeps on giving.

Thank you all. I will keep a close eye on him. Would you recommend stocking up on any medications to be prepared for a secondary infection? In my 2.5 years of reef keeping I've only ever used prazipro, QT, and the tank transfer method.

It sure does look like ich but if it’s gone in the next day or two it’s probably not. It’s too large to be velvet.

Meds to always have on hand: Copper Power, acriflavine, metroplex, furan 2, kanaplex (the last 4 being for infections, acriflavine as a bath). I’d also buy focus should you ever need to feed metroplex for intestinal parasites. Prazi for flukes, black ich, etc.

melypr1985 · Mar 28, 2018

It could be ich, but with only one spot I wouldn't recommend doing anything just yet. Keep an eye on him and the spot and note how long it takes for it to go away... even if it's just 24 hours or 3-5 days ect.