Help ID please

[Michael_Henry7]

This whitetail bristletooth tang I’ve had for a couple months has a few white spots that I just noticed yesterday. Can I get some help with ID?

 

[timmyrules]

looks like ich

 

[NonstopSoda]

@vetteguy53081 @Jay Hemdal assistance please!

 

[eecummins]

the spots on the face look more like flukes

 

[umersaleem0388]

the spots on the face look more like flukes

I agree. I would give the fish a freshwater bath for 3-5 minutes depending on how stressful the fish look and see what falls off. Make sure the temperature matches in the freshwater dip and aerate the water with an air stone.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This whitetail bristletooth tang I’ve had for a couple months has a few white spots that I just noticed yesterday. Can I get some help with ID?

No freshwater bath which will do nothing and may add stress to fish. These are mucus cones likely mixed in with ich and will warrant treatment with coppersafe at level 2.25 for a full 30 days and monitor level with a Hanna brand copper test kit. Add aeration with air stone and keep an eye on ammonia level. Often other fish will not show any signs but keep an eye on them for any outbreaks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

the spots on the face look more like flukes

Flukes you wont see . Nebendendia flukes sometimes but its symptoms that will notate flukes such as elevated breathing, itching, darting and loss of appetite due to irritation

 

[Michael_Henry7]

Thank you all for the help, qt tank is being set up now

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thank you all for the help, qt tank is being set up now

Some of the spots look like mucus plugs (the larger ones). The smaller spots could be developing mucus plugs, or they could be ich. The confounding factor is that ich is one common cause of mucus plugs in tangs (ugh).

You won't see flukes as spots. What you will see is the fish rocking/flashing or scratching on things. as well as a more general "bedraggled" look.

 

[eecummins]

Flukes you wont see . Nebendendia flukes sometimes but its symptoms that will notate flukes such as elevated breathing, itching, darting and loss of appetite due to irritation

you can usually see them on dark coloured fish

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

you can usually see them on dark coloured fish

Only Neobenedenia flukes are visible, and then only with a careful eye and looking at them from one side. All the other species are too small to see directly without a microscope, although you can sometimes infer their presence from the skin damage they cause.