Lymphocystis and fin erosion

coralbeauties · May 30, 2022

I noticed tonight that my majestic angel has white on its pectoral fin and on its body at the fin area. I am thinking it is lymphocystis. If so can fin erosion be caused by the lymphocystis? A good portion of the fin is eroded away. The quarter size area on the body looks terrible covered in white but other then that and the fin the fish is acting perfectly and eating well. I will have to try and get a good picture of the fish tomorrow.
thanks
Jeff

vetteguy53081 · May 30, 2022

coralbeauties said:
I noticed tonight that my majestic angel has white on its pectoral fin and on its body at the fin area. I am thinking it is lymphocystis. If so can fin erosion be caused by the lymphocystis? A good portion of the fin is eroded away. The quarter size area on the body looks terrible covered in white but other then that and the fin the fish is acting perfectly and eating well. I will have to try and get a good picture of the fish tomorrow.
thanks
Jeff

While large angels are Very susceptible to lympho and cauliflower, a pic or two under white lighting will be very helpful with assessment.

coralbeauties · May 30, 2022

Will lympho cause the fin erosion? I have a trap set up in the tank now to allow the fish to get use to it in case I need to move it to a hospital tank. I will try and get a good pic of the fish tomorrow.
thanks
Jeff

Jay Hemdal · May 31, 2022

coralbeauties said:
Will lympho cause the fin erosion? I have a trap set up in the tank now to allow the fish to get use to it in case I need to move it to a hospital tank. I will try and get a good pic of the fish tomorrow.
thanks
Jeff

Lymphocystis is a virus that causes the skin cells to become enlarged. That means that overall, the fin edges will get larger, not eroded. A fish can however, have rarely Lymphocystis and then fin erosion from another cause at the same time. We'll be able to better advise once we have seen a picture taken under white light.

Jay

coralbeauties · May 31, 2022

Here is the pic. He is the only fish in the tank with any issues. Appreciate the advise. Forgot to mention he is not using the fin much at all.
Jeff

Jay Hemdal · May 31, 2022

coralbeauties said:
Here is the pic. He is the only fish in the tank with any issues. Appreciate the advise. Forgot to mention he is not using the fin much at all.
Jeff

That does not look like lymphocystis to me - certainly not the fin, and probably not the marks on the body.

More likely this is a bacterial infection. What other fish are in with it?
Do you have a treatment tank available?

Jay

coralbeauties · May 31, 2022

I’m seeing some of the white area on his other side but not near as bad. Pretty much a variety of fish. Tangs, copperband, wrasse, clowns. Not really any fighting going on. I just caught him and put him in my 20 gallon hospital tank. Still eating really well even after just being caught and moved. Medications I have on hand are cipro, furan2, focus, metroplex, kanaplex, em erythro, prazi and coopersafe. Lol if that’s not enough
Thanks
Jeff

Jay Hemdal · May 31, 2022

coralbeauties said:
I’m seeing some of the white area on his other side but not near as bad. Pretty much a variety of fish. Tangs, copperband, wrasse, clowns. Not really any fighting going on. I just caught him and put him in my 20 gallon hospital tank. Still eating really well even after just being caught and moved. Medications I have on hand are cipro, furan2, focus, metroplex, kanaplex, em erythro, prazi and coopersafe. Lol if that’s not enough
Thanks
Jeff

Picking antibiotics is mostly a guess- you want to use a broad spectrum gram negative in the water, not in food/focus. I don’t use cipro much, so can’t advise you on that, but the furan-2 would also work.
Jay

coralbeauties · Jun 2, 2022

Two days in on the treatment. Acting ok but not eating guessing because of the furan and being isolated in a strange tank. I did notice these spots that appear to be open sores on his gill covers. Anything to be concerned about to change the furan treatment?
Thanks
Jeff

Jay Hemdal · Jun 2, 2022

coralbeauties said:
Two days in on the treatment. Acting ok but not eating guessing because of the furan and being isolated in a strange tank. I did notice these spots that appear to be open sores on his gill covers. Anything to be concerned about to change the furan treatment?
Thanks
Jeff

That looks odd, initially it looked like HLLE, but wrong location for that. It is more like the infection is spreading.
As I mentioned, picking an antibiotic is often a guess, but it takes up to 5 days for the antibiotic to work, so switching to another one can be risky.
Sorry - I don’t have a clear answer for you here…

Jay

coralbeauties · Jun 3, 2022

The furan treatment is addition of the packets for four days. I have run out after the third treatment and am unable to locate any more. Should I just give this a week or so to work or do a water change and start another antibiotic?
Thanks
Jeff

Jay Hemdal · Jun 3, 2022

coralbeauties said:
The furan treatment is addition of the packets for four days. I have run out after the third treatment and am unable to locate any more. Should I just give this a week or so to work or do a water change and start another antibiotic?
Thanks
Jeff

Personally, I would do a partial water change 24 hours after the last dose and start right up with a second antibiotic. What options do you have?
Jay

coralbeauties · Jun 3, 2022

coralbeauties said:
I’m seeing some of the white area on his other side but not near as bad. Pretty much a variety of fish. Tangs, copperband, wrasse, clowns. Not really any fighting going on. I just caught him and put him in my 20 gallon hospital tank. Still eating really well even after just being caught and moved. Medications I have on hand are cipro, furan2, focus, metroplex, kanaplex, em erythro, prazi and coopersafe. Lol if that’s not enough
Thanks

These are the medications that I have on hand.