Help. Unknown external parasite.

[Crazwolf]

I have a powder brown tang that has been going thru issues.
He has white strings on his skin, 1-3 mm long.
He had ich, quarantined, hypo treatment, well over a month after disapearance, it came back, retreated with hypo, it went away, i waited extra long to confirm disappearance (3 months).
He was good, put him in a newly set up small tank with only a puffer and angelfish, a week and half later saw spots again. Quickly back to QT, I thought it was ich again, but this time the spots grew into strings.
I can't find info on what it is or what to do, please help. This poor fish has been in a small QT for so long, its just not fair to him.
Hard to see in pics, he moves quick, hard to get pics, but look under chin

, can see them easier.

 

[HotRocks]

I would recommend a 5min FW dip to see if they detach.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/

 

[JumboShrimp]

@HotRocks, do you think it’s a case of Ich that was never properly treated (never any copper treatment), and now a secondary infection has arisen on top of the persistent Ich?

 

[HotRocks]

@HotRocks, do you think it’s a case of Ich that was never properly treated (never any copper treatment), and now a secondary infection has arisen on top of the persistent Ich?

This ^^^^ is where I was going if the dip didn't cause any detachment.

 

[Big G]

Look closely with a magnifying glass at the "tail" of the "strings." Can you see a "V" like shape?

 

[JumboShrimp]

(I’m trying, in years to come, to be like @HotRocks when I grow up!) ;Happy

 

[Crazwolf]

Look closely with a magnifying glass at the "tail" of the "strings." Can you see a "V" like shape?

I don't have mag glass, what i can see is,
On the larger ones, possibly a "v" shape, definitly see the end is a tiny bit larger on most of them like a small flower, or bud.
Some of the strings/spikes are small and rigid (appear thick relative to length), while others are very thin and stingy.
There is also salt like spots, (which is why at first i thought it was ich at first, possible just young parasites, or possibly both parasites at same time?)

 

[Big G]

Is the area where the "strings" are attached a bit red or redish?

 

[Crazwolf]

I will be trykng a FW dip, but i can't right now, i have a dentist appt i need to go to, was going to stop at LFS while im out, and talk to the boss there, see what he thinks and get treatment/medicine.
I can also say it escalated quickly, from a just a few "ich like" spots to these spiky stringy things in one day.
Thank you all for the quick attention to this.

 

[HotRocks]

@Big G is thinking anchor worms I'm guessing. Which is possible. We just don't see them very often in SW fish. They have to be removed manually with tweezers if that is the case.

 

[Crazwolf]

I also did try copper / cupramine on the second round of ich. Before getting to .5mg/l ( it was close, about .4, the fish went blind. I quickly changed water out, and his vision came back.
This poor fish has had it very rough.

 

[Crazwolf]

Is the area where the "strings" are attached a bit red or redish?

No red spots where attached. none whatsoever, can see real good with his yellow coloring. skin looks fine just the white spots and strings.
There are some on fins also.

 

[Crazwolf]

Looked up anchor worms, and do not appear to be, that defined V isnt there, the bigger ones are much fatter and shorter than the pics of anchor worms i seen. Also seems there are many more on this fish than the pics of fish with anchor worms i see.

 

[Crazwolf]

Might be easier to see in a vid.

 

[Crazwolf]

Might be easier to see in video.