That does look concerning. Difficult to say without doing a skin biopsy, but I'm leaning towards ich combined with a secondary bacterial infection. Amyloodinium (velvet) could perhaps be ruled in or out if you can get me a respiration rate on the fish - try counting the number of breaths it takes in 15 seconds, do that a couple of times, then average that and multiply by 4 to get "breaths per minute".
What other fish are in with this one? Do they show any symptoms? What/when was the last fish added to the DT?
Jay
Jay - Thank you so much. I tried to get respirations but frankly could not keep count; he is not really staying in view long enough. I can say it does not look overly labored; it’s actually somewhat difficult to see the gills flare. He does seem to be swimming somewhat weakly today.
-This is a display tank that had been ich free. This Atlantic blue tang (sick fish pictured) and a powder brown were the last two added; that was 11 days ago.
-I knew I was making an emotional purchase that wasn’t smart with the blue tang. The store had him in a tank with a giant hippo tang tang was beating him up. The faded skin I think was actually skin abrasions from the rock he has was hiding for his life in. His color has actually improved quite a bit in the 11 days. I had a ”save a fish” moment of weakness and now I fear I may pay dearly for that poor decision. He eats well daily but more mysis and frozen than nori Surprisingly.
-There is also currently a Kole tang, fox face, flame angel, royal gramma, Midas Blenny, pair of clowns, one green chromi who was the starter fish.
-There was a hippo tang as well who contracted ich (or this if it’s velvet) last week. He had minimal Small white spots, they dropped off, he never stopped eating and looked vibrant. Then he died right in front of me during a water change yesterday. Did a strange spinning swim motion several times crashing into the rocks before floating to the bottom.
-one clownfish and the Midas Blenny show a few white spots; three or four ich looking spots. The powder brown shows some more but it Is eating like a pig and acting full of energy. The Kole is scratching off the starboard (barebottom) but spotless.
Any information you can provide is greatly appreciated. Whatever parasite this is came with the Atlantic blue tang 11 days ago and he showed no symptoms of it when he entered but then flared up some spots within a couple days. From what I’m reading about velvet it seems that he probably would have been dead many days ago if that was the case but the large number of spots that are now showing has me concerned It’s more than ich.
In regards to the bacterial infection - is this what you think is causing the lighter patches, not skin abrasions? I did notice a lighter patch on the Kole tang I believe this week since he was added. Rookie mistakes for someone who has been in this hobby too long. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
