Scale on Purple Tang?

[Coral Hygiene]

Found this translucent/ white scale on my purple tang’s on his scalpel. It looks
like it is shedding something. I doubt that it is ich as he has been in cupramine for several weeks

it is shedding or something

 

[Big G]

Could be a bacterial infection as a result of the copper treatment depressing the fish's immune system.

 

[Coral Hygiene]

Could be a bacterial infection as a result of the copper treatment depressing the fish's immune system.

Hoping its not a bacterial infection, if it is how would I treat it?

 

[Coral Hygiene]

Almost looks like it is flaking off

 

[Big G]

Let's get some help @Humblefish

 

[Maritimer]

Any possibility that he stabbed another fish in the tank, and is now carrying one of that guy's scales as a trophy?

~Bruce

 

[Coral Hygiene]

Any possibility that he stabbed another fish in the tank, and is now carrying one of that guy's scales as a trophy?

~Bruce

He’s only with a flame angel, and the angel has no battle scars from what I can see. And this “scale” is about 1 cm or so. But something is on its scalpel... Can bacterial or fungal infections cause tang scalpels to turn white and have a scale-like outgrowth?

 

[4FordFamily]

He’s only with a flame angel, and the angel has no battle scars from what I can see. And this “scale” is about 1 cm or so. But something is on its scalpel... Can bacterial or fungal infections cause tang scalpels to turn white and have a scale-like outgrowth?

No, it sounds more like a spine that’s just stuck outward, or recently used. I wouldn’t worry about it, personally. Unless the condition worsens, leave the fish be.

If it worsens, an acriflavin dip followed by kanaplex, metroplex, and furan 2 would be my recommendation.

 

[Coral Hygiene]

No, it sounds more like a spine that’s just stuck outward, or recently used. I wouldn’t worry about it, personally. Unless the condition worsens, leave the fish be.

If it worsens, an acriflavin dip followed by kanaplex, metroplex, and furan 2 would be my recommendation.

Alright, thanks. How much longer should I keep him in quarantine? He was supposed go in the DT today but his scalpel freaked me out. I have been feeding him metroplex + focus preventatively with his food for the past 3 weeks if that means anything

 

[4FordFamily]

Alright, thanks. How much longer should I keep him in quarantine? He was supposed go in the DT today but his scalpel freaked me out. I have been feeding him metroplex + focus preventatively with his food for the past 3 weeks if that means anything

I’d observe for another few days. If it doesn’t worsen or improves, move it over

 

[purp]

Did this ever resolve ?

 

[purp]

Did this ever resolve ?

 

[socalfishy]

IMO, what you are seeing is the infantile stages of HLLE. - head lateral line erosion. The face is chipping away in the second photo and the tail portion is like the end point of the lateral line. That is what it looks like to me.

Mix selcon or fish vitamins in food to help fight the erosion process. again this is my opinion, im not a vet. Google image HLLE purple tang and you will see what im talking about.

 

[purp]

This is specific to what looks like a scale impaled on the tangs “scalpel” and

 

[socalfishy]

This is specific to what looks like a scale impaled on the tangs “scalpel” and

to me that looks like the skin around the scalpel is chipping away and we see flesh in a round shape looks like a scale.