Ick on Tangs

[socal_shane_reefer]

I noticed these white small spots on my powder blue tang and brown tan g. They’re not very visible under the normal blue lights but under the white lights you can see them clearly. They don’t seem to be scratching and they’re eating normally and seem to be healthy. Is this Ick?

it’s not on my clown fish, chromis or goby.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Pics very fuzzy but looks like it may be ich early stage
I will have @Jay Hemdal look at it as I’m headed to work

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I noticed these white small spots on my powder blue tang and brown tan g. They’re not very visible under the normal blue lights but under the white lights you can see them clearly. They don’t seem to be scratching and they’re eating normally and seem to be healthy. Is this Ick?

it’s not on my clown fish, chromis or goby.

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

That does appear to be Cryptocaryon, marine ich. Seeing some spots on the clear fins as well as the body leads towards that. When ich gets going in a system, it is not unusual for it to show up on Acanthurus tangs first.
This is a moderate infection - it needs to be treated before it gets to the exponential growth phase. The trouble is that the two best treatments, copper and hyposalinity, cannot be done with invertebrates present in the same tank. Do you have a treatment tank?

Jay

 

[socal_shane_reefer]

Thank you Jay and VetteGuy. Strange I didn't see this creep up but now that it's there I'm worried it could spread to the Chromis, Pajama Cardinals, Goby and Clown.

I have my kids old snake tank that I will convert to a treatment tank and begin therapy. Would you recommend starting with freshwater or copper?

Appreciate the advice!

Shane

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thank you Jay and VetteGuy. Strange I didn't see this creep up but now that it's there I'm worried it could spread to the Chromis, Pajama Cardinals, Goby and Clown.

I have my kids old snake tank that I will convert to a treatment tank and begin therapy. Would you recommend starting with freshwater or copper?

Appreciate the advice!

Shane

I would use copper. Be sure the tank is clean, I’d be worried about old snake urates stuck to the glass. You’ll also need to manage the ammonia in a new tank using bacteria in a bottle products like Fritz’s or dr tims
Jay

 

[socal_shane_reefer]

I would use copper. Be sure the tank is clean, I’d be worried about old snake urates stuck to the glass. You’ll also need to manage the ammonia in a new tank using bacteria in a bottle products like Fritz’s or dr tims
Jay

Any concerns about the DT and whatever is floating around there when they go back in? I have 18w UV sterilizer but think I need to increase the flow for ideal conditions. So treat them with Copper and when done return to tank. I’ve seen comments elsewhere about Selcon and garlic and diet being an option. I feed Selcon soaked pellets couple times a week along with nori, mysis, brine, mega marine algae , silversides and feel like everyone is eating well but maybe they need more fatty food. If diet can work then great but I’m ok with doing copper as long as I don’t harm the DT.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Any concerns about the DT and whatever is floating around there when they go back in? I have 18w UV sterilizer but think I need to increase the flow for ideal conditions. So treat them with Copper and when done return to tank. I’ve seen comments elsewhere about Selcon and garlic and diet being an option. I feed Selcon soaked pellets couple times a week along with nori, mysis, brine, mega marine algae , silversides and feel like everyone is eating well but maybe they need more fatty food. If diet can work then great but I’m ok with doing copper as long as I don’t harm the DT.

The DT will need to run fishless for 45 to 65 days. Shorter time at higher temperatures.

Boosting a fish's nutrition to stem off disease only helps a bit. Like people taking multivitamins - they don't really help unless you are vitamin deficient to begin with.

Jay

 

[socal_shane_reefer]

Thanks Jay. This is all feeling a bit more comforting with your assessment. To clarify, remove all fish or just the 2 tangs that have Ick? The others do not have the spots.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Jay. This is all feeling a bit more comforting with your assessment. To clarify, remove all fish or just the 2 tangs that have Ick? The others do not have the spots.

Unfortunately, to run a fallow tank, you need to remove all fish, not just the ones showing symptoms.

Jay