Foxface Brown spots

[Fabianslit]

Foxface has a few spots on him that almost look like dead skin, even on his top fin.
He is acting fine still eating no other fish show signs

125 gallon
Mixed reef.

Tank mates:
1 Sand shifting starfish
1 Red line wrasse (added 3 weeks ago)
1 sunk clown
3 pelicura clowns
1 tomi tang
1 yellow sailfin tang
1 emerald crab
1 skunk cleaning shrimp
1 bandit shrimp
2 cardinal bangahi

 

[Fabianslit]

 

[Humblefish]

Do the spots move at all (worms) or remain stationary? Also, did you see any white dots (ich) before the brown spots appeared?

 

[Fabianslit]

Do the spots move at all (worms) or remain stationary? Also, did you see any white dots (ich) before the brown spots appeared?

Spots are stationary.
Did not see any ich prior to this.

 

[Humblefish]

Spots are stationary.
Did not see any ich prior to this.

Probably a bacterial infection: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bacterial-infections.191511/

Although performing a FW dip would conclusively eliminate worms from the equation, as some should dislodge during the dip: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/

There would be no change following the FW dip if this is, in fact, bacterial.

 

[wkscott]

As mine became full grown about a year ago, he developed the same brown coloration. I took these pics just now. May just be a part of aging. Mine never flashes or acts oddly. Eats everything.

 

[Maritimer]

I think there's a distinct difference between the OP's small, defined brown spotting and the smudging I see on WKScott's fish. The latter does look like the natural darkening I've seen on a lot of foxfaces, while Fabianslit's fox does look like it's got _some_ kind of smaller injuries or insults going on. (Nothing I've seen before - thank Heaven we've got a Humblefish!!)

~Bruce

 

[Humblefish]

I think there's a distinct difference between the OP's small, defined brown spotting and the smudging I see on WKScott's fish. The latter does look like the natural darkening I've seen on a lot of foxfaces, while Fabianslit's fox does look like it's got _some_ kind of smaller injuries or insults going on. (Nothing I've seen before - thank Heaven we've got a Humblefish!!)

~Bruce

I agree. I've seen brown coloration develop on rabbitfish, but don't remember it starting off as several dots.

 

[4FordFamily]

I agree. I've seen brown coloration develop on rabbitfish, but don't remember it starting off as several dots.

I'll support this as well. Looks like an infection to me as well.

 

[Kershaw]

I had two fox faces develop these spots as well a standard and a magnificent. I had these two fish different times not together. I had one for about 7 months spots developed I decided not to take action a few weeks after the spots showed the fish went from healthy to dead in what seemed like overnight. The second one same fate. but it happened in a qt tank. I did not treat with any thing other then prazipro.

 

[Kershaw]

How ever mine did not have any fin rot like yours in picture. I don't know if that is related or you have two things going on

 

[melypr1985]

I agree that it's likely a bacterial infection. The FW dip is still a good idea to rule out flukes first though.

 

[Fabianslit]

Just did a fresh water dip. Took a picture of the spots

 

[melypr1985]

I don't see much of a change in the spots. Did any of them turn white and come off?

 

[Fabianslit]

Not that I saw, also wasn't sure how long I could keep the foxface in FW. Put him in for a minute. Should I do a longer dip?

 

[Humblefish]

Not that I saw, also wasn't sure how long I could keep the foxface in FW. Put him in for a minute. Should I do a longer dip?

5 minutes is optimal; IME it takes 2-3 minutes for worms to begin to dislodge.

 

[Fabianslit]

5 minutes is optimal; IME it takes 2-3 minutes for worms to begin to dislodge.

Thank you! Will try a longer dip tomorrow

 

[Maritimer]

This link to one of melypr1985's recent articles is a perfect explanation of how to do a freshwater dip:

http://reef2reef.com/ams/video-how-to-do-a-freshwater-dip.214/

~B.

 

[melypr1985]

Thank you! Will try a longer dip tomorrow

Watch the video when you do. It will help ease your mind about what will happen, what the fish will do and what to look for in the dip.

 

[rowdyreefing]

Hello, sorry to bring back this old post. I am dealing with a fox face with similar spots. They have come and gone a couple times now. How did it work out for your fox face?