Did I overreact?

[ErikVR]

Hi all,

Last night I spotted what looked like ich on my powerbrown tang.
Some 10-15 white spots on the body and fins. Looked like an early stage.

I took him out of the DT right away, even though it meant removing quite a few rocks. So it was a messy process and stressful for all fish.
As soon as I transferred him into the QT, all white dots were gone! This morning he was still completely clean.

So my question is, did I overreact or did I do the right thing?
Should I leave him in the QT for now or does ich not just fall off instantly and was it probably just some sand dust or something?

Erik

 

[Icryhard]

Without pictures it's difficult to determine whether it was actually itch. Depending on the life-cycle the spots could've just dropped by chance. When itch "goes away" it's free floating in the water column looking for new animals to attach to. I'd treat it anyway, but if its in your DT then QT won't do much. What I did myself when I suffered from itch outbreak: I didn't try to chase it, since I couldn't get to him due to the rock structure. I decided to leave it to not cause stress and fed it multiple times a day. People will say garlic doesn't do anything, but I did put garlic on it for the sake of attracting the blue tang to it (in the hopes of getting him fatty and healthy remaining). I then did the full cycle of 20 days of PolyLab aqua medic. I recommend you to dose it the max amount of time (3 times a day) and run a UVC. I also did 30% water change a week after the treatment and did that multiple times (each week 30%) to remove any residu of the treatment (or to lower concentration you could say). Has it been erradicated? I doubt it, but my tang does not suffer from itch any longer. If you want to be certain about no itch in the system you'd have to give your tangs and fishes a copper treatment, QT animals like snails and stuff (they cannot handle copper and will die) and your DT should undergo a fallow period of 67 days or so(?)

 

[ErikVR]

Without pictures it's difficult to determine whether it was actually itch. Depending on the life-cycle the spots could've just dropped by chance. When itch "goes away" it's free floating in the water column looking for new animals to attach to. I'd treat it anyway, but if its in your DT then QT won't do much. What I did myself when I suffered from itch outbreak: I didn't try to chase it, since I couldn't get to him due to the rock structure. I decided to leave it to not cause stress and fed it multiple times a day. People will say garlic doesn't do anything, but I did put garlic on it for the sake of attracting the blue tang to it (in the hopes of getting him fatty and healthy remaining). I then did the full cycle of 20 days of PolyLab aqua medic. I recommend you to dose it the max amount of time (3 times a day) and run a UVC. I also did 30% water change a week after the treatment and did that multiple times (each week 30%) to remove any residu of the treatment (or to lower concentration you could say). Has it been erradicated? I doubt it, but my tang does not suffer from itch any longer. If you want to be certain about no itch in the system you'd have to give your tangs and fishes a copper treatment, QT animals like snails and stuff (they cannot handle copper and will die) and your DT should undergo a fallow period of 67 days or so(?)

The fish was completely spot-free just hours earlier. I know with 100% certainty because I've been monitoring him like crazy. I assume the lifecycle isn't so rapid that spots appear and disappear in a matter of 2-3 hours, right?

I'm picking up a 38W UV 'filter' this afternoon. Something I wanted to do anyway.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

The fish was completely spot-free just hours earlier. I know with 100% certainty because I've been monitoring him like crazy. I assume the lifecycle isn't so rapid that spots appear and disappear in a matter of 2-3 hours, right?

I'm picking up a 38W UV 'filter' this afternoon. Something I wanted to do anyway.

+1 on the UV sterilizer! Good call. I believe everyone should plum one into there system and just run it when needed.

 

[ErikVR]

+1 on the UV sterilizer! Good call. I believe everyone should plum one into there system and just run it when needed.

Only run it when needed instead of always?

 

[Salty_Northerner]

Only run it when needed instead of always?

Yes sir, or wherever you want to clear up the water to make it look pristine.

 

[Dave1993]

if it was ich you have to remove all fish not just the powder brown

 

[Icryhard]

Only run it when needed instead of always?

I would run it 24/7. It also helps kill algae bacteria floating in the water column.

 

[threebuoys]

Before taking anymore steps, WAIT until the diagnosis can be confirmed. If it was ich, it will return. If it was not ich, then perhaps a different diagnosis can be nade. When we know more we can be more accurate in diagnosis and treatment . Don't take a shotgun approach unless deterioration in condition is quick and evident.

 

[threebuoys]

Be ready to take pictures and videos and look at the link for what info will help.

 

[ErikVR]

Be ready to take pictures and videos and look at the link for what info will help.

I went into panic-mode after seeing the white dots and just started reacting right away. Instead of thinking things through... My thought was that it could spread. Even though I know dang well that it's in the water anyway. I was going to take clear pictures in the QT but they just vanished.

Lessons learned for next time: calm the **** down

 

[hunterallen40]

Hi all,

Last night I spotted what looked like ich on my powerbrown tang.
Some 10-15 white spots on the body and fins. Looked like an early stage.

I took him out of the DT right away, even though it meant removing quite a few rocks. So it was a messy process and stressful for all fish.
As soon as I transferred him into the QT, all white dots were gone! This morning he was still completely clean.

So my question is, did I overreact or did I do the right thing?
Should I leave him in the QT for now or does ich not just fall off instantly and was it probably just some sand dust or something?

Erik

Ich does not fall off instantly. It will remain on the fish for 3-7 days. The white spots are not the tomonts, they are the fish's reaction to the tomonts.

Are you seeing any other symptoms? I would look for that before I did anything else.

 

[ErikVR]

Ich does not fall off instantly. It will remain on the fish for 3-7 days. The white spots are not the tomonts, they are the fish's reaction to the tomonts.

Are you seeing any other symptoms? I would look for that before I did anything else.

No he looks healthy happy and is eating like crazy.

 

[hunterallen40]

No he looks healthy happy and is eating like crazy.

Then yeah, you probably just panicked haha.

I 100% get it. I have an Achilles and a powder brown, so I QT everything wet for my system... And run UV + ozone.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

No he looks healthy happy and is eating like crazy.

I see that @threebuoys has you pointed in the right direction. White spots are sometimes sand that got stuck to a fish, but tangs don't have really "sticky" skin, so less common with them. Spots on the fins can be a sign of ich, over seeing just spots on the body. Spots can come and go on the fish in 24 to 48 hours, but odds are they would not all drop off in one instance like that.

Just remain vigilant for any return! If it does happen, leave the fish in the tank as you formulate a plan. Looks like you may have had the fish for some time? Ich management *could* be an option for you.

Jay

 

[ErikVR]

I see that @threebuoys has you pointed in the right direction. White spots are sometimes sand that got stuck to a fish, but tangs don't have really "sticky" skin, so less common with them. Spots on the fins can be a sign of ich, over seeing just spots on the body. Spots can come and go on the fish in 24 to 48 hours, but odds are they would not all drop off in one instance like that.

Just remain vigilant for any return! If it does happen, leave the fish in the tank as you formulate a plan. Looks like you may have had the fish for some time? Ich management *could* be an option for you.

Jay

I've only had him for a month or so. Two weeks in quarantine and two weeks in the DT now. The vendor had him for a couple of months. He's about 8cm long.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I've only had him for a month or so. Two weeks in quarantine and two weeks in the DT now. The vendor had him for a couple of months. He's about 8cm long.

Any treatment while in quarantine? If not, that makes it more likely that it could develop ich.

Jay

 

[ErikVR]

Any treatment while in quarantine? If not, that makes it more likely that it could develop ich.

Jay

dang I have a lot to learn....
I thought monitoring a fish in quarantine for a few weeks was a good thing.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

dang I have a lot to learn....
I thought monitoring a fish in quarantine for a few weeks was a good thing.

No - without proactive treatment, diseases get through, especially flukes and ich. Some fish don't handle medications well (flashlight fish, etc.) for those, you can give them a 45 isolation period to help prevent them from bringing diseases into your main tank, but that does nothing for those fish themselves.

We keep our current quarantine protocol on the first page of this thread:

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

Jay

 

[j.falk]

I went into panic-mode after seeing the white dots and just started reacting right away. Instead of thinking things through... My thought was that it could spread. Even though I know dang well that it's in the water anyway. I was going to take clear pictures in the QT but they just vanished.

Lessons learned for next time: calm the **** down

We all do it from time to time. The longer I've been reefing the more I've learned to not panic and to really think things over before doing anything drastic. Drastic actions usually lead to more problems.