Raised White Spikes?

Jay Hemdal · Nov 7, 2020

The Cryptocaryon (ich) trophonts are roughly globe shaped and rise from the fish's epidermis to some degree. What makes it confusing is that the fish's immune response produces mucus. This can rise out as cones as we discussed. It can also lay flatter. It is much more obvious on dark colored fish. Then, bacteria can grow, and it is often light in color. You then get a mix of three whiteish things on the fish's body!

As far as the other fish - if the ich diagnosis is correct (and without a microscope, we can never be 100% positive) they will likely begin showing spots and will need to also be treated. If the diagnosis is incorrect, then they probably won't show any symptoms.

Jay

Variant · Nov 7, 2020

Jay Hemdal said:
The Cryptocaryon (ich) trophonts are roughly globe shaped and rise from the fish's epidermis to some degree. What makes it confusing is that the fish's immune response produces mucus. This can rise out as cones as we discussed. It can also lay flatter. It is much more obvious on dark colored fish. Then, bacteria can grow, and it is often light in color. You then get a mix of three whiteish things on the fish's body!

As far as the other fish - if the ich diagnosis is correct (and without a microscope, we can never be 100% positive) they will likely begin showing spots and will need to also be treated. If the diagnosis is incorrect, then they probably won't show any symptoms.

Jay

Since my tang, wrasse and 2 clowns came from the temporary rubbermaid bin tank shared over the past 8 months, would I be able to more confidently diagnose if this is ich by putting the tang and wrasse in the DT (where the clowns are in currently)?

My idea is that if the other fish especially the tang also develop white spots then it is more likely ich and if not then the clowns likely have something else?

Jay Hemdal · Nov 7, 2020

Not sure I understand - but using your tang and wrasse as bioassay animals seems risky to me - what about just treating the clowns and if it goes away, it’s all good?

jay

Variant · Nov 7, 2020

Jay Hemdal said:
Not sure I understand - but using your tang and wrasse as bioassay animals seems risky to me - what about just treating the clowns and if it goes away, it’s all good?

jay

I'm on my computer now so hopefully I can articulate my idea better

So the clownfish in question have been living with my tang and wrasse for many months in a bin (temporary until my upgraded DT was ready). Since all the fish were in a bin, I couldn't really observe them other than top down.

Now that I moved the clowns in the DT and they appear to have these white spots that could be ich. If it truly is ich, then all the other fish that shared the temporary bin likely have ich as well. In that case, I figured treating them all together would be effective and less stressful for me.

Now with that said, I figured that if this was ich, I would be able to tell by moving the tang into the DT with the clowns. If it is ich, then the tang will likely show signs of it. At that point, I'd treat all the fish together in a QT. But if the tang doesn't show any signs of ich while the clownfish continue to have these white markings, then perhaps I need to remove only the clowns and treat it for something else.

Doing this might also give me a chance to properly assess whether all the fish in the temporary bin need treatment and if so, what kind.

Does that make sense?

Jay Hemdal · Nov 7, 2020

Yes, thanks - that makes sense. I wish I could give you a more definitive diagnosis, but bundling all of the fish together and treating them does make sense.

Jay

Variant · Nov 7, 2020

Jay Hemdal said:
Yes, thanks - that makes sense. I wish I could give you a more definitive diagnosis, but bundling all of the fish together and treating them does make sense.

Jay

Thank you for your input so far.

I caught the kole tang from the bin and put em in an acclimation box with the clowns. From the looks if it no signa of ich but the tang definitely has a few scars from being caught from the bin.

Variant · Nov 7, 2020

Did more research as I wait for new salt water to mix in my QT just in case....

Went to humble.fish where there was a link to an extensive list of diseases with pictures.

Based on a picture there on Lympho, looks like a pretty close match? The noisy almost pyramid like shape of the white part.

Here is the link to the resource from humble.fish and a picture of lympho on a cowfish.