Hippo tang has weird black spots on him

[abryant]

I’m pretty sure my hippo tang is stressed because the temp in my tank has been warmer than usual and he’s got ich it looks like plus black little spots. Is it something I have to worry about or just let it be? Here are some photos

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Can you get pictures taken under white light?

I can’t see clearly, but it does seem to have ich. The black spots can be a turbellarian worm disease, but in this species, black spots can also develop around the ich parasite - a reaction of the fish to the parasites.

Do you have a plan in mind to treat for ich?

Jay

 

[abryant]

Can you get pictures taken under white light?

I can’t see clearly, but it does seem to have ich. The black spots can be a turbellarian worm disease, but in this species, black spots can also develop around the ich parasite - a reaction of the fish to the parasites.

Do you have a plan in mind to treat for ich?

Jay

No what should I do to treat him?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

No what should I do to treat him?

Well, I'd like to confirm the issue with photos under white lights first.

You basically have three options: ich management, hyposalinity or copper. The last two require that all of the fish be separated from invertebrates for the duration of the treatment. Ich management often doesn't work if the fish are moderately ill. The other treatment is tank transfer, but that won't work in this case because you need a clean, non-infected tank to move the fish into.

Jay

 

[abryant]

Well, I'd like to confirm the issue with photos under white lights first.

You basically have three options: ich management, hyposalinity or copper. The last two require that all of the fish be separated from invertebrates for the duration of the treatment. Ich management often doesn't work if the fish are moderately ill. The other treatment is tank transfer, but that won't work in this case because you need a clean, non-infected tank to move the fish into.

Jay

I’ll take a pic under white lights tomorrow sorry I forgot to earlier but two days ago it was ich and now the spots got darker. If I didn’t take action would he make it or would he pass?

 

[Eleni18]

Hello. I would suggest you read this

Ich eradication vs. Ich management

Ich eradication vs. Ich management The purpose of this article is to discuss the pros & cons of ich eradication and ich management, and present the best methods for implementing each. Ich eradication - Simply put, this method means doing everything possible to keep ich out of your tank. That...

www.reef2reef.com

Feed heavily, soak food in garlic. Do not stress. Keep watching

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’ll take a pic under white lights tomorrow sorry I forgot to earlier but two days ago it was ich and now the spots got darker. If I didn’t take action would he make it or would he pass?

It depends on how many trophonts the fish has on its skin (thus needing pictures under white light). This parasite reproduces in geometric fashion, and at a point, the number of parasites begins to grow so fast that the fish is overwhelmed and dies. Indeed, the presence of the infective tomites in the water actually acts as a stressor, and that can reduce your ability to manage the infection without medication.

Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello. I would suggest you read this

Ich eradication vs. Ich management

Ich eradication vs. Ich management The purpose of this article is to discuss the pros & cons of ich eradication and ich management, and present the best methods for implementing each. Ich eradication - Simply put, this method means doing everything possible to keep ich out of your tank. That...

www.reef2reef.com

Feed heavily, soak food in garlic. Do not stress. Keep watching

This is an article from 2015 and issue is not confirmed. Feeding heavy raises ammonia and nitrate and stresses fish further.
Garlic is not a cure but boosts immunity system.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’ll take a pic under white lights tomorrow sorry I forgot to earlier but two days ago it was ich and now the spots got darker. If I didn’t take action would he make it or would he pass?

As Jay mentioned, Need clearer pics under white lighting,
Also is fish eating?
Is it breathing normal or labored?
Any itching or twitching ?
Any anemones or other coral in tank ?

 

[Eleni18]

This is an article from 2015 and issue is not confirmed. Feeding heavy raises ammonia and nitrate and stresses fish further.
Garlic is not a cure but boosts immunity system.

Thank you. I have managed ich twice in my tank this way with no fish losses. Obviously, each case is different and there are no guarrantees

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thank you. I have managed ich twice in my tank this way with no fish losses. Obviously, each case is different and there are no guarrantees

Remember that a good diet can help boost a fish's immune system to some degree, but once the disease starts, the best diet in the world won't cure them (think of mom's chicken soup when you have a cold, you may feel better, but it won't cure the cold).

An oversized UV can have some benefit with ich management, as can nightly siphoning the bottom of the tank to try and reduce the number of resting tomonts that fall off the fish and land there. Cleaner shrimp/wrasse may remove some of the active trophonts, but they alone won't cure the disease. Some people add a mild peroxide during management, done properly, it won't hurt, but it is unclear to me if low dose peroxides actually kill tomites.

Jay