Is this ich?

dwayne.b.william · Dec 11, 2016

I added my first fish into my tank yesterday from a very reputable LFS. I added 2 clowns and a purple basslet into a 60 gallon tank. Temperature is 78 and salinity is 1.025 and all parameters are fine. Tank cycled for 1 month and had 3 Turbo snails, 3 blue legged crabs and 2 peppermint shrimp. I drip acclimated them for 1hr. This morning I noticed one of the clowns had some white spots but didn't think it looked ominous. It's eating well and moving fine. See the picture below (you'll have to zoom in towards the tail, it's the best I could get). Thoughts?

dmh41532 · Dec 11, 2016

I could very well be ich, could also be a grain of sand. You could always move the fish to another tank, and treat them, just as a precaution.

dwayne.b.william · Dec 11, 2016

dmh41532 said:
I could very well be ich, could also be a grain of sand. You could always move the fish to another tank, and treat them, just as a precaution.

Thanks. Would it be too late for my DT or is there usually a time before it spreads?

Maddlesrain · Dec 11, 2016

Personally, I'd give the fish another day and see if the spots clear up on their own. Whenever I move fish it seems to do more harm than good. I've had ick explode on my tang and a couple other fish due to the stress of having the lights on too long, and just went about my daily routines, did a small water change, and let them be. Two days later, everyone was ick free and it hasn't come back since. I just did the same thing when my female clownfish looked as though one of her eyes might pop right off. She cut it somehow and it got ugly quick. I just left her in her familiar home, let her dance around in her anemone, and a month later her eye looks the same as it has for the past 10 years.
I know others swear by quarantining, however, so it really comes down to what you're comfortable with doing.

dwayne.b.william · Dec 11, 2016

Maddlesrain I really appreciate your response. I was thinking of giving it another day or two and heard the same thing about the real risk of moving them again. Ultimately I should have QT then first but am hoping this is nothing. Setting this thing up was so expensive - last thing I want is for it to go to waste. Also don't want to hurt the fish so whatever is humane and causes as little stress as possible is imperative. Thanks

Maddlesrain · Dec 11, 2016

dwayne.b.william said:
Maddlesrain I really appreciate your response. I was thinking of giving it another day or two and heard the same thing about the real risk of moving them again. Ultimately I should have QT then first but am hoping this is nothing. Setting this thing up was so expensive - last thing I want is for it to go to waste. Also don't want to hurt the fish so whatever is humane and causes as little stress as possible is imperative. Thanks

I have also never quarantined a fish, ever. I'm not saying it's the right way, or that nothing will ever go wrong, but I understand not having the means (be it money or space) to add a quarantine aquarium. I find that if you keep stress to a minimum, keep your water clean, and your fish are eating, you'll usually be ok.

saltyhog · Dec 11, 2016

I don't honestly see anything abnormal in the photo. If it is Ich, the DT is already infected. Removing that fish only won't do anything for the DT.

The spot going away doesn't mean anything as the spots go away as part of the life cycle of Ich only to return. Get some more pictures if it recurrs. Many people are content to live with/manage ich but I prefer to QT and be free of it. If you choose to treat you will need to treat ALL of your fish and leave your DT without fish for 72 days. @Humblefish has a great thread on Ich/treatment/QT in the fish disease forum

dwayne.b.william · Dec 11, 2016

saltyhog said:
I don't honestly see anything abnormal in the photo. If it is Ich, the DT is already infected. Removing that fish only won't do anything for the DT.

The spot going away doesn't mean anything as the spots go away as part of the life cycle of Ich only to return. Get some more pictures if it recurrs. Many people are content to live with/manage ich but I prefer to QT and be free of it. If you choose to treat you will need to treat ALL of your fish and leave your DT without fish for 72 days. @Humblefish has a great thread on Ich/treatment/QT in the fish disease forum

Thanks. It may be a little paranoia on my part. I'll check the forum you've suggested and figure out my next steps.

Humblefish · Dec 11, 2016

Let's move this thread into the fish disease forum to get it more attention.

melypr1985 · Dec 11, 2016

saltyhog said:
I don't honestly see anything abnormal in the photo. If it is Ich, the DT is already infected. Removing that fish only won't do anything for the DT.

The spot going away doesn't mean anything as the spots go away as part of the life cycle of Ich only to return. Get some more pictures if it recurrs. Many people are content to live with/manage ich but I prefer to QT and be free of it. If you choose to treat you will need to treat ALL of your fish and leave your DT without fish for 72 days. @Humblefish has a great thread on Ich/treatment/QT in the fish disease forum

+1 agree

Reef_Collector28 · Dec 11, 2016

Agree with saltyhog. Clown looks normal probably a grain of sand or two. If he is acting "normal" eating ok and not breathing abnormally he'll be fine. If it is a few spots of ich then it's to late for the DT. IMO I would keep them all in the display and feed 2 small portions a day with some garlic extract. Clowns are very hardy, he should fight it off as long as he eating and healthy.

dwayne.b.william · Dec 11, 2016

Reef_Collector28 said:
Agree with saltyhog. Clown looks normal probably a grain of sand or two. If he is acting "normal" eating ok and not breathing abnormally he'll be fine. If it is a few spots of ich then it's to late for the DT. IMO I would keep them all in the display and feed 2 small portions a day with some garlic extract. Clowns are very hardy, he should fight it off as long as he eating and healthy.

Thanks for the suggestion.