Patches on skin

[Fuzzywuzy]

Hi guys,

My blue Tang in my copper laced QT has developed some patches on its left side. It's tank mates, a clownfish and the cowfish are now free from ich (cow fish was terribly infected).

The patches resemble scrapes, like abrasions etc. Can't get a better shot. What could it be?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Appears to be bacterial
When treating, always increase oxygen and maintain good water quality
What is current ammonia and nitrate level and what test kits are you using?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi guys,

My blue Tang in my copper laced QT has developed some patches on its left side. It's tank mates, a clownfish and the cowfish are now free from ich (cow fish was terribly infected).

The patches resemble scrapes, like abrasions etc. Can't get a better shot. What could it be?

Good pics are tough to get, but this just isn’t clear enough for me to be certain what’s going on.
What copper brand are you using, how long has the fish been in it and what concentration are you running?
Jay

 

[Fuzzywuzy]

Good pics are tough to get, but this just isn’t clear enough for me to be certain what’s going on.
What copper brand are you using, how long has the fish been in it and what concentration are you running?
Jay

Finally caught a better pic.
Copper safe, API test kit puts it close to 2ppm, 2weeks

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Finally caught a better pic.
Copper safe, API test kit puts it close to 2ppm, 2weeks

Those certainly do look like scrapes/abrasions. Can't tell if there is a secondary infection or not. If this is just on the fish's left side and if the size doesn't seem to be increasing, I'd just ride it out, if this fish was in with the cowfish that had ich and its only been 14 days, you'll want to go a full 30 days to ensure the ich is gone. Typically, coppersafe is run at 2.5 ppm, but if 2 ppm is controlling the ich, then that's good.

Jay

 

[Fuzzywuzy]

Those certainly do look like scrapes/abrasions. Can't tell if there is a secondary infection or not. If this is just on the fish's left side and if the size doesn't seem to be increasing, I'd just ride it out, if this fish was in with the cowfish that had ich and its only been 14 days, you'll want to go a full 30 days to ensure the ich is gone. Typically, coppersafe is run at 2.5 ppm, but if 2 ppm is controlling the ich, then that's good.

Jay

The tangs been scratching itself...on the glass wall, a rubber hose I left tin the QT... It's been scratching in the shop already tho.

Some of the spots under brighter light looks a tad reddish. Uronema?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

The tangs been scratching itself...on the glass wall, a rubber hose I left tin the QT... It's been scratching in the shop already tho.

Some of the spots under brighter light looks a tad reddish. Uronema?

I've never seen Uronema on a blue tang before, but maybe?

Are there any scratches on the other side of the fish?
If it were flukes, I would expect them to be on both sides of the fish.
I don't know what would make a fish scratch so hard it damages it skin, but only on one side like this.....

Jay

 

[Fuzzywuzy]

I've never seen Uronema on a blue tang before, but maybe?

Are there any scratches on the other side of the fish?
If it were flukes, I would expect them to be on both sides of the fish.
I don't know what would make a fish scratch so hard it damages it skin, but only on one side like this.....

Jay

No the right side unscathed... So odd... Uronema is lethal no? I suppose if the tang lives for another 2 wks it's safe to rule it out? Keen to graduate my 3 fish tot he DT soon, but heard uronema is the devil

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

No the right side unscathed... So odd... Uronema is lethal no? I suppose if the tang lives for another 2 wks it's safe to rule it out? Keen to graduate my 3 fish tot he DT soon, but heard uronema is the devil

Yes, I've had really poor success stopping uronema, but fish with symptoms typically don't live more than a week or so.

jay