Help ID disease on my blue tang

[pnchowdary]

I recently got this tang from another person and it was initially stressed. Then it settled down in my tank and I started noticing white spots growing on it and the other fish. Fins on some of the other fish were frayed. I researched and figured out that it was most likely fin tail and rot. I did start treating it with focus + general cure + kanaplex for the last 9 days. The white stringy stuff started growing more and more and now I see that his eye has started to cloud. I am on the 9th day of above treatment. I was going to transfer it to a QT and start treating it with Marcyn 2, after 10 days of current treatment. I was hoping to wait until tomorrow to start the new treatment. However he is looking bad. Could you please confirm that my diagnosis of bacterial infection is correct and whether Maracyn 2 is the best treatment option available to me. Also, please let me know whether it is advisable to put him in QT and start Marycyn 2 right away. I would really appreciate your advice.

 

[Hoodstream]

With white dots I usually always go to ich, however some of those are seasame seed shaped which makes me also think flukes. Eye cloudiness is definitely sign of bacterial infection but stress and ich/flukes can lower an fishes immune system making them more prone to bacterial infections. I’d go with flukes but Im not sure Fluke’s can be diagnosed with a fresh water dip. I’d start with that. However I’d wait for others to chime in and get a more accurate diagnosis because freshwater dip can stress out a fish even worse.

 

[Geebs19]

@Jay Hemdal

 

[Hoodstream]

@Jay Hemdal

Definitely wait for Jays input @pnchowdary

 

[pnchowdary]

With white dots I usually always go to ich, however some of those are seasame seed shaped which makes me also think flukes. Eye cloudiness is definitely sign of bacterial infection but stress and ich/flukes can lower an fishes immune system making them more prone to bacterial infections. I’d go with flukes but Im not sure Fluke’s can be diagnosed with a fresh water dip. I’d start with that. However I’d wait for others to chime in and get a more accurate diagnosis because freshwater dip can stress out a fish even worse.

I believe it might also have ich, I was going to treat him for bacterial infection first with Maracyn 2 (Furan-2 is no longer available) and then do a TTM treatment for ich after that.

 

[pnchowdary]

Here is a short video of the tang to help see it better.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Here is a short video of the tang to help see it better.

The spots are too large and raised up to be ich. It appears to be what I have been calling "idiopathic mucus plugs". It is pretty common on hepatus tangs that are stressed.

Here is an article about that:https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/mucus-the-slime-that-binds.793/
(PDF is on the right side of the link)

The trouble is, the fish may well have other issues (flukes, or ich that is hidden by the larger plugs). The cloudy eyes show that something else is going on here.

The idea of feeding Focus+GC+Kanaplex needs to go away. There is NO way that you can get the dose for that correctly, except by accident. The amount of these drugs needs to be dosed by weight, and you don't know the fish's weight, nor the amount of medication the fish is actually ingesting. Here is my article on that issue:
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/proper-dosing-of-medicated-foods.780/

So: what to do? I wish I could tell you!

If it is just mucus plugs, just give it time, these usually just go away.
If it is mucus plugs + flukes, you can treat the fish with Prazipro.
If it is mucus plugs + ich, you would need to move the fish to a treatment tank with copper, TTM or hyposalinity.

Jay

 

[pnchowdary]

The spots are too large and raised up to be ich. It appears to be what I have been calling "idiopathic mucus plugs". It is pretty common on hepatus tangs that are stressed.

Here is an article about that:https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/mucus-the-slime-that-binds.793/
(PDF is on the right side of the link)

The trouble is, the fish may well have other issues (flukes, or ich that is hidden by the larger plugs). The cloudy eyes show that something else is going on here.

The idea of feeding Focus+GC+Kanaplex needs to go away. There is NO way that you can get the dose for that correctly, except by accident. The amount of these drugs needs to be dosed by weight, and you don't know the fish's weight, nor the amount of medication the fish is actually ingesting. Here is my article on that issue:
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/proper-dosing-of-medicated-foods.780/

So: what to do? I wish I could tell you!

If it is just mucus plugs, just give it time, these usually just go away.
If it is mucus plugs + flukes, you can treat the fish with Prazipro.
If it is mucus plugs + ich, you would need to move the fish to a treatment tank with copper, TTM or hyposalinity.

Jay

Hi Jay,

Thanks a lot for your invaluable advice. I will transfer the fish to the 20 gal QT tank and start treating them with Prazi. Since the QT tank is not cycled, I am planning to use prime, as and when the Seachem badge shows any slight ammonia or maybe once everyday proactively. Please let me know if it is ok to use prime when treating with prazi. I will follow the instructions on your website for the prazi treatment.

Naveen

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi Jay,

Thanks a lot for your invaluable advice. I will transfer the fish to the 20 gal QT tank and start treating them with Prazi. Since the QT tank is not cycled, I am planning to use prime, as and when the Seachem badge shows any slight ammonia or maybe once everyday proactively. Please let me know if it is ok to use prime when treating with prazi. I will follow the instructions on your website for the prazi treatment.

Naveen

Be sure to aerate the QT very well. I would consider using bacteria in a bottle, or even moving some biomaterial from your DT if you can. Controlling ammonia with just Prime can be very difficult.

Jay

 

[pnchowdary]

Be sure to aerate the QT very well. I would consider using bacteria in a bottle, or even moving some biomaterial from your DT if you can. Controlling ammonia with just Prime can be very difficult.

Jay

Yes, that’s exactly what I did. I added a rock and filter sponge from DT. In addition I added bacteria in a bottle. I have added good aeration too. The tang looks a little better, but still has a lot of those stringy white stuff attached to it. If they were flukes, they would have already dropped of the fish (been 10 hrs in QT). Is my thinking correct or do they take several days to fall from the fish?.

Naveen

 

[pnchowdary]

Yes, that’s exactly what I did. I added a rock and filter sponge from DT. In addition I added bacteria in a bottle. I have added good aeration too. The tang looks a little better, but still has a lot of those stringy white stuff attached to it. If they were flukes, they would have already dropped of the fish (been 10 hrs in QT). Is my thinking correct or do they take several days to fall from the fish?.

Naveen

@Jay Hemdal

I finished treating the blue tang with two rounds of Prazi and some of the white specks fell off. I started him on Maracyn 2 to take care of the cloudiness around his eyes. It didn’t resolve the issue. So I started another round of Maracyn 2 yesterday. He seems to have lost his appetite and not eating since yesterday. His eye seems to be pretty badly clouded and he is hiding in one corner and not wanting to move or eat when I put the food in front of him. He looks very sick, please advice if I need to try a different medicine. I would really appreciate any help. Please help.

 

[vetteguy53081]

@Jay Hemdal

I finished treating the blue tang with two rounds of Prazi and some of the white specks fell off. I started him on Maracyn 2 to take care of the cloudiness around his eyes. It didn’t resolve the issue. So I started another round of Maracyn 2 yesterday. He seems to have lost his appetite and not eating since yesterday. His eye seems to be pretty badly clouded and he is hiding in one corner and not wanting to move or eat when I put the food in front of him. He looks very sick, please advice if I need to try a different medicine. I would really appreciate any help. Please help.

Did you increase oxygen/aeration as suggested?
You said maracyn 2- ethromyacin (Maracyn 1 best for eye issue)
Fish looks much better3

Prazi treatment is 8 days, siphon and then one more 8 day treatment

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

@Jay Hemdal

I finished treating the blue tang with two rounds of Prazi and some of the white specks fell off. I started him on Maracyn 2 to take care of the cloudiness around his eyes. It didn’t resolve the issue. So I started another round of Maracyn 2 yesterday. He seems to have lost his appetite and not eating since yesterday. His eye seems to be pretty badly clouded and he is hiding in one corner and not wanting to move or eat when I put the food in front of him. He looks very sick, please advice if I need to try a different medicine. I would really appreciate any help. Please help.

Sorry to see this.....

Can you post a short video? Those are sometimes clearer than still pictures.
When you say you've dosed Maracyn 2, how long and how many times so far?

Jay

 

[pnchowdary]

Sorry to see this.....

Can you post a short video? Those are sometimes clearer than still pictures.
When you say you've dosed Maracyn 2, how long and how many times so far?

Jay

@Jay Hemdal
I have treated it for 6 days with Maracyn 2 and did a 25% water change and started round 2 yesterday as per the instructions. I have attached my treatment schedule also. I am using a powerhead and an oversized cycled HOB filter from another tank, so I dont have any issue with ammonia or oxygenation. Please let me know if you need any other information from me. The other tank mates Yellow tang, 2 clown fish and blenny are all doing fine.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

@Jay Hemdal
I have treated it for 6 days with Maracyn 2 and did a 25% water change and started round 2 yesterday as per the instructions. I have attached my treatment schedule also. I am using a powerhead and an oversized cycled HOB filter from another tank, so I dont have any issue with ammonia or oxygenation. Please let me know if you need any other information from me. The other tank mates Yellow tang, 2 clown fish and blenny are all doing fine.

I went back and reviewed this case - it is unusual. I see you've given it two different antibiotics - Kanaplex and Maracyn 2. It didn't respond to either, so that makes the issue less likely to be bacterial.

Flukes can cause cloudy eyes, but that cloudiness is more smooth, and less spotty like this is.
Mixed infections are common; mucus, flukes and ich all at the same time for example. However, the length of time this is going on, and the other fish not being affected tends to rule out ich.

That leaves me at mucus plugs plus flukes. I'm not happy with that diagnosis as I have not seen that combination myself.

What about trying a 5 minute freshwater dip and continuing the prazi treatment on day 8 or 89?

Jay

 

[pnchowdary]

I went back and reviewed this case - it is unusual. I see you've given it two different antibiotics - Kanaplex and Maracyn 2. It didn't respond to either, so that makes the issue less likely to be bacterial.

Flukes can cause cloudy eyes, but that cloudiness is more smooth, and less spotty like this is.
Mixed infections are common; mucus, flukes and ich all at the same time for example. However, the length of time this is going on, and the other fish not being affected tends to rule out ich.

That leaves me at mucus plugs plus flukes. I'm not happy with that diagnosis as I have not seen that combination myself.

What about trying a 5 minute freshwater dip and continuing the prazi treatment on day 8 or 89?

Jay

@Jay Hemdal
I will do the fresh water dip for 5 mins and begin the prazi treatment after replacing the entire water in the QT tank to take out as much Maracyn 2 as possible. I have also treated them with 6 days of prazi treatment followed by 25% water change and another round of Prazi for 3 days, even before starting them on Maracyn 2. When I changed the water yesterday, I noticed the water a little rust colored, is that anything to worrry about?. Please let me know what you would advise to do with its other tank mates.