Powder Blue Tang with Ich?

[Caesar214]

I introduced a yellow tang without quarantine to my tank which died of what I suspected was ich. I lost a few other fish. I began dosing Ruby Reef Kick Ich as directed and also used Rally along with the Kick Ich for the first three days. I continued with the Kick Ich for about 6 weeks with no further fish losses. My Powder Blue Tang lost all of the white spots on his body portion but never lost all of the spots on his pectoral fins. This last weekend we put the Powder Blue in a fresh water dip for 5 minutes. None of the white spots on the pectoral fins seemed to drop off. It has always seemed like the pectoral fins have changing amounts of the white spots but are never completely gone. I have other Tangs including a Blue Tang and a Naso Tang both of which have never seem affected. I tried Polyp Lab Medic for about a week but my purple coralline began dying off so I stopped. I am not sure where to go from here. Any suggestions?

 

[Qasimja]

how long did it take for the fish to start dying? ich isnt a real fast killer are you sure it wasnt velvet?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Can you possibly get a clear pic? I wonder if you have a chronic case of ich going on. Usually, ich populations increase wildly, but in other conditions, it can simmer for weeks or even months.

I’m not a strong proponent for “reef safe” meds. Additionally, I‘ll never use a product that the manufacturer won’t divulge the ingredients of.

Jay

 

[Pistondog]

I don't know if you can mix remedies, but we had good success with erythromycin Treatment in the dt with the reccomended water changes. 18 months ago.

 

[Caesar214]

how long did it take for the fish to start dying? ich isnt a real fast killer are you sure it wasnt velvet?

I'm not sure what velvet looks like. How do you tell the difference?

 

[Caesar214]

Can you possibly get a clear pic? I wonder if you have a chronic case of ich going on. Usually, ich populations increase wildly, but in other conditions, it can simmer for weeks or even months.

I’m not a strong proponent for “reef safe” meds. Additionally, I‘ll never use a product that the manufacturer won’t divulge the ingredients of.

Jay

I've been trying to get a pic but the tang is really shy, especially when I point a camera at him. I am still wondering why the fresh water dip did nothing.

 

[Caesar214]

I've been trying to get a pic but the tang is really shy, especially when I point a camera at him. I am still wondering why the fresh water dip did nothing. Image 34 shows the spots the best.

 

[Caesar214]

So since all the treatment and the fresh water dip failed, what do u think my next step should be?

 

[Caesar214]

Can you possibly get a clear pic? I wonder if you have a chronic case of ich going on. Usually, ich populations increase wildly, but in other conditions, it can simmer for weeks or even months.

I’m not a strong proponent for “reef safe” meds. Additionally, I‘ll never use a product that the manufacturer won’t divulge the ingredients of.

Jay

These are the best pics I could get.

 

[proxy001]

do the white dots look like that?

 

[Caesar214]

do the white dots look like that?

Smaller dots but very similar. Again, meds and fresh water dip did nothing.

 

[proxy001]

Google that, see if it fits:
lymphocystis blue tang

 

[mitch91175]

Looks like lymphocystis on the CB.

 

[proxy001]

Looks like lymphocystis on the CB.

Oh yes, I know, that's why I was showing that to OP, to see if looked similar. Those white dots diseases in fish can be very confusing and lookalike.

 

[vetteguy53081]

It is Lymph on butterfly

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'm not sure what velvet looks like. How do you tell the difference?

Ich you can count the dots. Velvet, it is covered and looks like the solar system

 

[mitch91175]

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

do the white dots look like that?

I can see four lesions that are likely Lymphocystis. There are two tiny spots middle of the fin and the trailing edge that I can't rule out as ich. Remember, it is entirely possible for a fish to have two issues at one time. With ich, look for secondary symptoms - shimmy, clamped fins, etc. Also, take a picture from this same perspective in a day and compare the locations of the spots....Lymphocystis will be in the same location, possibly having grown larger, while ich will have disappeared, and possibly shown up in new locations.


Edit: Ha! I didn't realize to later that this fish was just used as an example! Info still applies to the PBT tho


Jay

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

The 3 spots on the last pic do not look like ich to me. I see a spot on its cheek that could just be a bit of dust, or could be ich. Watch the location of the 3 spots, if they don't change day to day, I would chalk that up to damaged fin rays.

Jay