I really need help here.

[Terri Caton]

I have a purple tang that all of a sudden developed this...? First the Powder Brown Tang had it and died. That was 3 weeks ago. The fish get super fuzzy looking. It’s not Ich. I’m completely familiar with that. It’s like the fuzz is hanging off in threads.

I’ve been treating with Metroplex. It will be 2 weeks on Friday. Fish acts fine, eats fine, but looks like the poster child for fish neglect. His color does look slightly better. Was super bleached out appearing for a while.

Absolutely nothing new has been added to the tank in at least 2 months Except some wet live rock from the Gulf of Mexico. All other fish are doing fine.


My first thought was velvet even though I can’t understand where they would have gotten it. I guess theoretically it could have come in on the rock but the place I got it from in Tampa (well known) says they have never even had one complaint. Besides it seems unbelievable that the fish would have such a bad case and not be dead weeks later.

Next issue, you can kind of see in the photo a white patch. I believe the fish is getting a secondary bacterial infection.

I’m looking for some direction. Surely the fish is going through stress even though he acts fine. I don’t want to stress him out more by doing the wrong thing.

The photo that is not a purple tang is of a fish with velvet. Mine looked just like that before it improved some. It’s really hard to get a photo of it on the dark fish.

Any help greatly appreciated!

@Humblefish @4FordFamily

Before


Now

Velvet photo

 

[ndrwater]

Sure looks like velvet..

 

[Qasimja]

i really believe thats velvet it knocked out all my fish in november

 

[4FordFamily]

That looks to me to be velvet. Brooklynella doesn't usually impact tangs marginally unless they're already very weak and ill from velvet or other ailments. I'd treat in copper or chloroquine phosphate ASAP.

The fact that it took out an acanthurus tang (more susceptible, perhaps the most susceptible) first, now it's focusing on more hardy tangs (zebrasoma) makes sense. It can absolutely come on rock, in fact, it happens frequently these days.

 

[Euphyllia97]

Velvet... start treatment asap! Try to live with the possibility that you might lose all your fish and read up on what to do after every fish is out of the tank. In other words try to get rid of it to save your future fish!

Good luck!

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

i agree it looks like velvet and needs copper treatment fast.

 

[Terri Caton]

Thanks for your responses