I think my Flame Angel has ich?

[calimel]

Hi all,

I am just getting back into the saltwater hobby after a 20 year break. I put two clowns in after the tank cycled for 5-6 weeks. Parameters have been pretty stable, with the exception of phosphates. I added a flame angel three weeks later...and made a horrible mistake by not quarantining, because the LFS said the fish was in great condition, etc. Anyhow, lesson learned. Because three days later, the white specks showed up on the angels tail, dorsal fin and face. I went to a better LFS for advice and they said it was definitely ich, but putting him in a QT tank now is pointless since it's likely that my whole tank is infected, so I might as well treat the tanks, clowns etc with Kick-ich.

The white spots are larger today, the clowns are still healthy, and my trochus snails are dead (presumably from the medication). Here are my water parameters (Red Sea kit):


NO2= 0
NH3= 0
NO3= 10
Salinity: 1.025
Temp: 77.8
Ph= 8.2
KH = 8.4

My question is: Is this ich? And if so, should I set up an emergency hospital tank and put all the fish in it to let my tank fallow? Or will I risk killing them all?

 

[Redfoxtang]

Looks like a combination of a bacterial disease and possibly ich. If it were me I’d definitely setup a QT to treat all fish. I do not like dosing medications in my DT. That being said kick ich will not kill ich itself. Copper medication needs to be dosed in a QT at proper therapeutic levels to kill ich.

 

[PokeFish]

Yeah i would QT it incase. Wouldnt want the clwons to get it

 

[vetteguy53081]

Those dots are Big and more represent flukes and possible lympho. It may be associated with stress as it appears fins are aggression damaged. Have you notice any tankmates picking on it ?
Start with a Freshwater dip and see if any flukes fall off which will look like sesame seeds. A dark bucket will reveal flukes clearer.
For lymphocystis , FW dip will have been accomplished and then followed by treatment using formalin or formalin based med such as Ruby rally reef or general cure. Best method is to Isolate all infected fish in a Quarantine Tank and feed a healthy diet including supplements and then treat for secondary infections which formalin should work.

Diet:
Mysis shrimp
Formula 2 flake and frozen
LRS fish Frenzy
Spirulina brine shrimp

 

[vetteguy53081]

Also, lets get Jay involved

@Jay Hemdal

 

[calimel]

Looks like a combination of a bacterial disease and possibly ich. If it were me I’d definitely setup a QT to treat all fish. I do not like dosing medications in my DT. That being said kick ich will not kill ich itself. Copper medication needs to be dosed in a QT at proper therapeutic levels to kill ich.

I heard that copper can kill Flame Angels in particular?

 

[calimel]

Those dots are Big and more represent flukes and possible lympho. It may be associated with stress as it appears fins are aggression damaged. Have you notice any tankmates picking on it ?
Start with a Freshwater dip and see if any flukes fall off which will look like sesame seeds. A dark bucket will reveal flukes clearer.
For lymphocystis , FW dip will have been accomplished and then followed by treatment using formalin or formalin based med such as Ruby rally reef or general cure. Best method is to Isolate all infected fish in a Quarantine Tank and feed a healthy diet including supplements and then treat for secondary infections which formalin should work.

Diet:
Mysis shrimp
Formula 2 flake and frozen
LRS fish Frenzy
Spirulina brine shrimp

How long do I dip it in fresh water? The clowns don't look infected, so should I leave them in the DT?

 

[calimel]

Those dots are Big and more represent flukes and possible lympho. It may be associated with stress as it appears fins are aggression damaged. Have you notice any tankmates picking on it ?
Start with a Freshwater dip and see if any flukes fall off which will look like sesame seeds. A dark bucket will reveal flukes clearer.
For lymphocystis , FW dip will have been accomplished and then followed by treatment using formalin or formalin based med such as Ruby rally reef or general cure. Best method is to Isolate all infected fish in a Quarantine Tank and feed a healthy diet including supplements and then treat for secondary infections which formalin should work.

Diet:
Mysis shrimp
Formula 2 flake and frozen
LRS fish Frenzy
Spirulina brine shrimp

I have not noticed tank mates picking on it. The flame angel and clowns cruise around together like a happy family.

 

[vetteguy53081]

How long do I dip it in fresh water? The clowns don't look infected, so should I leave them in the DT?

Up to 5 minutes

 

[vetteguy53081]

I heard that copper can kill Flame Angels in particular?

I dont do copper. I use Polyp Labs "MEDIC". Effective and reef safe

 

[vetteguy53081]

How long do I dip it in fresh water? The clowns don't look infected, so should I leave them in the DT?

If you want to leave them in display- Wouldnt hurt to dip them in FW too BUT use different water from the angel

 

[josephxsxn]

If your just getting back into it I would stop now, catch everything go fallow and then mantain the clean environment. This is what I am doing now... I had to pull over 150# of rock and corals out to catch all the fish. But with some planning we did it in under 15minutes (rock out, fish caught, rock in), so far only fish that passes is one that brought the velvet. Personally I find the lack of qt for both my inverts/corals and fish as one of the major weakness as a hobbyist. I just never knew better when I started and it never mattered for a long time. Once my fish caught velvet I decided to fix it rather then let it go on for peace of mind in the future.

My 2 cents.

 

[calimel]

If your just getting back into it I would stop now, catch everything go fallow and then mantain the clean environment. This is what I am doing now... I had to pull over 150# of rock and corals out to catch all the fish. But with some planning we did it in under 15minutes (rock out, fish caught, rock in), so far only fish that passes is one that brought the velvet. Personally I find the lack of qt for both my inverts/corals and fish as one of the major weakness as a hobbyist. I just never knew better when I started and it never mattered for a long time. Once my fish caught velvet I decided to fix it rather then let it go on for peace of mind in the future.

My 2 cents.

Did you put everything in a QT after catching it? And yes on the lesson learned. I will quarantine every single thing in the future.

 

[josephxsxn]

Did you put everything in a QT after catching it? And yes on the lesson learned. I will quarantine every single thing in the future.

Yes every fish from all my tanks (I have 2) are now in a QT tanks while I wait the 76-90 day fallow period. No sense in doing the fallow period if there are any fish left in the tank as the disease will stay alive. Don't forget about an invert and coral QT as well... The ich/velvet can cyst on the back of shells or coral plugs etc... so you have to qt them as well to give the pests time to hatch before going into your display.

 

[calimel]

The spots are larger today I did a freshwater dip last night, in case they were flukes. Nothing came off.

 

[josephxsxn]

Catch them and start some Metro and Cupramine treatments.

How To - Quarantine

How to Setup a Quarantine Tank (updated 4-6-2023) The following are the essentials: Aquarium (10-30 gallons seems to work for most people. A larger QT lets you house more fish and gives you more wiggle room when it comes to ammonia. A smaller QT is cheaper, easier to maintain and can be...

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