Hippo tang fuzz

Rickybobby · Mar 21, 2023

Hi everyone. My new juvenile hippo came from the ocean and now been in my care n 2.5ppm copper (Hanna) for about 5 days now. She eats like a pig and is doing so well. Today I've noticed looks like white fuzz running from her nose up along the spine pretty much. She has flashed a few times for me as well in the last little while. Very hard to photo but I will show what I can. You have to zoom in but on one pic you can see a white spot near her eye. She hasn't had anything other than copper yet as I was planning general cure later on and whatever else needed

Rickybobby · Mar 21, 2023

She was perfect yesterday should I run general cure as well right now? I've never had an issue like this. She has started flashing more so but it's strange it's only along her spine and nose area

Rickybobby · Mar 21, 2023

Diet. Pe mysis. Spirulina brine. Pe Calanus. Selcon diet of salmon shrimp scallop and clam. She won't touch nori. But I think diet wise I'm ok

vetteguy53081 · Mar 21, 2023

Rickybobby said:
She was perfect yesterday should I run general cure as well right now? I've never had an issue like this. She has started flashing more so but it's strange it's only along her spine and nose area

As you stated, the pics are distant and hard to make out but appears to be HLLE which is an erosion known as Head and lateral line erosion
Not abnormal with this type of fish and often triggered by poor water quality and diet but also copper exposure and high use of carbon. General cure likely not needed but :
- reduce copper next water change to 2.25
- Assure you maintain water quality
- Provide food with fats and viramins such as Mysis shrimp and LRS fish Frenzy.

To assure you are on track with treatment:
using Coppersafe or Copper Power at therapeutic level 2.25 For a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored by a reliable Copper Test kit such as Hanna Brand- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 21, 2023

Rickybobby said:
Diet. Pe mysis. Spirulina brine. Pe Calanus. Selcon diet of salmon shrimp scallop and clam. She won't touch nori. But I think diet wise I'm ok

Good and not theyre not big on nori . Thanks for providing as much info as possible

Rickybobby · Mar 21, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
As you stated, the pics are distant and hard to make out but appears to be HLLE which is an erosion known as Head and lateral line erosion
Not abnormal with this type of fish and often triggered by poor water quality and diet but also copper exposure and high use of carbon. General cure likely not needed but :
- reduce copper next water change to 2.25
- Assure you maintain water quality
- Provide food with fats and viramins such as Mysis shrimp and LRS fish Frenzy.

To assure you are on track with treatment:
using Coppersafe or Copper Power at therapeutic level 2.25 For a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored by a reliable Copper Test kit such as Hanna Brand- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone.

This fish has never seen copper and has the best diet money can buy. I don't think white fuzz and the odd white spot is hlle. Currently running copper power 2.5. I stated the diet above. Fish has only been in North America for a week I've had her 6 days

Rickybobby · Mar 21, 2023

There are some white spots around her eyes. Flukes? I'm not new to this game at all but I haven't seen this either I see some of these fluff spots near the tail now as well shoukd I fresh water dip. Also just did a 50 percent waterchange and use green killing machine with the copper as well. Doing my best

vetteguy53081 · Mar 21, 2023

Rickybobby said:
There are some white spots around her eyes. Flukes? I'm not new to this game at all but I haven't seen this either I see some of these fluff spots near the tail now as well shoukd I fresh water dip. Also just did a 50 percent waterchange and use green killing machine with the copper as well. Doing my best

Again- the pics are not the best and need closer and clearer pics for best assessment. Fuzz is generally fungal but not seeing anything - at least clearly especially with reflection off of glass

Jay Hemdal · Mar 21, 2023

Rickybobby said:
Diet. Pe mysis. Spirulina brine. Pe Calanus. Selcon diet of salmon shrimp scallop and clam. She won't touch nori. But I think diet wise I'm ok

Many blue tangs avoid nori when they are young.
Just to clarify, copper use is often blamed for HLLE, but that has never been proven. I’ve quarantined hundreds of these in coppersafe at full 2.5 dose and years later, they are all fine.
Jay