Purple tang! Second time with ich

[Redfoxtang]

How is the breathing rate? Usually that is a good indication that velvet is present. If still swimming normal and eating normal then it would be just Ich present and just a relapse at a much more severe case of Ich. I would wait to make any judgement call until @Jay Hemdal gets his eye on it.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

There swimming and eating as normal, not swimming in to flow

This isn’t velvet, it is a severe case of Cryptocaryon, ich. The polyp lab isn’t working. Raising the water change is the exact wrong thing to do with marine ich, it just speeds up the life cycle. It does work with freshwater ich, but has been misapplied with marine ich. The number of trophonts on the tang tells me that you are at a very serious juncture; when these all drop off and form an even larger number of theronts, the fish is going to be overwhelmed.
I know you don’t want to hear this, but your only good chance to save these fish is to move them to a solid QT and dose copper, but you may already be past the point where you can keep additional fish from dying even if you do that - sorry!
Jay

 

[rubertoe93]

I don’t know how big is your tank but did you observe any aggression between the two? Both are Zebrasoma so they can be likely to go at it with each other, the stress weakens their immune systems and gives disease a chance.

If you can’t QT, UV, diet and water parameters and hope for the best.

There was nothing between them, when I added them they were both with each other none stop

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

How is the breathing rate? Usually that is a good indication that velvet is present. If still swimming normal and eating normal then it would be just Ich present and just a relapse at a much more severe case of Ich. I would wait to make any judgement call until @Jay Hemdal gets his eye on it.

Hi, I agree, based on the OP’s comments, I think this is Cryptocaryon....
Jay

 

[Zionas]

OK have you added anything else recently that came down with ich?

 

[rubertoe93]

This isn’t velvet, it is a severe case of Cryptocaryon, ich. The polyp lab isn’t working. Raising the water change is the exact wrong thing to do with marine ich, it just speeds up the life cycle. It does work with freshwater ich, but has been misapplied with marine ich. The number of trophonts on the tang tells me that you are at a very serious juncture; when these all drop off and form an even larger number of theronts, the fish is going to be overwhelmed.
I know you don’t want to hear this, but your only good chance to save these fish is to move them to a solid QT and dose copper, but you may already be past the point where you can keep additional fish from dying even if you do that - sorry!

OK have you added anything else recently that came down with ich?

Nothing since the tangs last week, noticed the ich the day after adding them

 

[Zionas]

Bummer. Where did you get the fish? What is the condition of the other fish at the place you got them from?

They might have been fighting when you weren’t looking.

 

[IKD]

Nothing since the tangs last week, noticed the ich the day after adding them

Sounds like they went right into the display without quarantine so likely infected from the store. If you want, you should let the store you bought it from know as they may want to know (if they didn’t know already).

 

[rubertoe93]

Bummer. Where did you get the fish? What is the condition of the other fish at the place you got them from?

They might have been fighting when you weren’t looking.

I buy all my fish from them, there always in good condition, and medicate there systems, I have spoken to him previously and told him it’s died 3 days after adding it, and he replied saying ich is a symbiotic Relationship that works with the fish until one outways the other, as it lives with in the fish it’s extremely hard to rid your system 100%

 

[rubertoe93]

Sounds like they went right into the display without quarantine so likely infected from the store. If you want, you should let the store you bought it from know as they may want to know (if they didn’t know already).

Yeah I spoke with them as soon as my yellow tang had died

 

[Zionas]

Bummer, might just be an isolated case.... unlucky.

 

[kenchilada]

I buy all my fish from them, there always in good condition, and medicate there systems, I have spoken to him previously and told him it’s died 3 days after adding it, and he replied saying ich is a symbiotic Relationship that works with the fish until one outways the other, as it lives with in the fish it’s extremely hard to rid your system 100%

Symbiotic? What’s the fish getting out of it?

 

[Redfoxtang]

I buy all my fish from them, there always in good condition, and medicate there systems, I have spoken to him previously and told him it’s died 3 days after adding it, and he replied saying ich is a symbiotic Relationship that works with the fish until one outways the other, as it lives with in the fish it’s extremely hard to rid your system 100%

I’m sorry but that is not true. You can rid your system of Ich 100%. Taking different precautions of how fish enter your system and quarantine fish is a good start.

 

[Arabyps]

Yeah I don’t think I’m going to be able to set it up and get it sorted and cycled by the time it completes its life cycle,
When people add garlic and vitamin c to there food, can I buy that from the local supermarket?

There have been many comments and suggestions already. My goal here is to give you my opinion going forward. If you will not quarantine (recommend Hybrid TTM), at the very least purchase livestock from a vendor who does quarantine (i.e. TSM Aquatics among others). Diver's Den does a partial quarantine and delivers very healthy livestock. You also might consider using Safety Stop before adding to your DT (I do this with Diver's Den but not TSM since TSM performs a full quarantine and prophylactic medication). See links below:

TSM Aquatics Inc

Largest Quarantined Saltwater Fish Facility. All fish go through a minimum 30 Day Quarantine. We carry Captive Bred & Wild Livestock. Angelfish, Anthias, Basslets, Butterflyfish, Blennies, Clownfish, Filefish, Gobies, Rabbitfish & Foxface, Mandarins, Triggerfish, Tangs, Wrasses. SPS & LPS...

tsmaquatics.com

Hybrid TTM to treat all parasites!

Important: Tank Transfer Method is most effective when water temperature and salinity are kept within this range... Temp: 24C/76F - 28C/82F Salinity: 27ppt / 1.020 SG - 35ppt / 1.026 SG Tank Transfer Method is an effective (non-chemical) treatment for Marine Ich. However, it's weakness has...

humble.fish

 

[Zionas]

I still suspect the OP’s Yellow and Purple were fighting without him looking.

 

[IKD]

I buy all my fish from them, there always in good condition, and medicate there systems, I have spoken to him previously and told him it’s died 3 days after adding it, and he replied saying ich is a symbiotic Relationship that works with the fish until one outways the other, as it lives with in the fish it’s extremely hard to rid your system 100%

I wouldn’t really call it a symbiotic relationship since the fish gets nothing from it. It’s really a parasitic relationship with the fish as the host. Treatment is to use copper or go fishless for 76+ days. It’s only extremely hard if you can’t remove the fish easily and place in a separate treatment tank. Best of luck!!

 

[Arabyps]

I buy all my fish from them, there always in good condition, and medicate there systems, I have spoken to him previously and told him it’s died 3 days after adding it, and he replied saying ich is a symbiotic Relationship that works with the fish until one outways the other, as it lives with in the fish it’s extremely hard to rid your system 100%

Time to find a new LFS.

 

[Zionas]

What do you think of the idea that his Yellow and Purple were fighting when he wasn’t noticing, considering they’re both Zebrasoma, and that both had their immune systems compromised by stress?

 

[Ribo15]

Could have lead to the ich outbreak for sure but is not “responsible” for the ich. My tank has ich and I do the management route. My yellow and sailfin have little tiffs from time to time and at the start my blue regal would get stressed and spots would appear now they are all used to the situation and I rarely see any spots. Good quality food, lots of rock work for hiding and a quality UV. That’s my route. Can’t be bothered to QT.
Although I do agree ich at that stage does not look promising.

 

[Arabyps]

What do you think of the idea that his Yellow and Purple were fighting when he wasn’t noticing, considering they’re both Zebrasoma, and that both had their immune systems compromised by stress?

Doubtful. Fighting doesn't cause ich. It is already there and the stress may overwhelm the fish's immune response. The fish had ich or the tank has ich (may even be velvet). The tank needs to go fallow for 76+ days to eliminate the parasites. In future they need to QT or purchase QT'd fish to keep the parasites out of the tank. No one said reefing is easy.