Scratching PBT

[RusticsReef]

Newly purchased PBT is scratching around his gill/mouth area. He's eating well and looks great. He was too big to quarantine in my 20 gallon so I put him in my newly set up 150. Problem is I can't catch him to do a dip or move him. There's no corals in the tank yet but there's a small yellow tang, and 2 clowns. Is my only option to treat the entire tank with PraziPro? Please help.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Pics would help a lot
#fishmedic

 

[RusticsReef]

There's nothing to see. He looks perfect.

 

[Jekyl]

There's nothing to see. He looks perfect.

Not giving us anything to go on here. White light pics and a short video are needed. Depending on the issue found a hospital tank may be the only option. Draining some water, a fish trap, or attempting to net at night are some options for capture.

 

[pecan2phat]

PBTs are notorious for ick infection, quarantine is the way to go but at this point, maybe give him a good diet and throw a UV sterilizer on the tank if you have one laying around.

 

[RusticsReef]

 

[RusticsReef]

guess my other issue is I can't upload videos properly!

 

[threebuoys]

As others have indicated, PBT s are super sensitive to crypto/(ich), The scratching could be a early indicator of crypto, of flukes, or something entirely different. Sometimes different people see different things in photos. White light is very important when you take the picture because highly saturated blue light can mask symptoms.

You can treat prazi in a new tank if you wish, but please follow the instructions concerning increased aeration and water changes.

A QT really works better for treatment of crypto. However, if you have crypto or flukes or some other parasite, you will need to treat all of the fish.

If you are not familiar with recommended QT procedures, go here:

Current Quarantine Protocol

2024 Quarantine Procedures Jay Hemdal David Scarborough Protozoans (Cryptocaryon/ich, Amyloodinium/velvet) and Metazoan trematodes/flukes are by far the most common parasites found on newly acquired fish. A carefully managed, proactive quarantine process can effectively eliminate these...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[nereefpat]

I agree that it's always worth mentioning possible ich when it comes to powder blue tangs. You can put Prazi in a display. It might be worth doing that now, depending on symptoms.

As for ich at this point, I would just observe for now, since you don't see spots.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Newly purchased PBT is scratching around his gill/mouth area. He's eating well and looks great. He was too big to quarantine in my 20 gallon so I put him in my newly set up 150. Problem is I can't catch him to do a dip or move him. There's no corals in the tank yet but there's a small yellow tang, and 2 clowns. Is my only option to treat the entire tank with PraziPro? Please help.

Scratching around gill area suggests flukes. In addition with flukes, you may see rapid breathing, fish sort of yawning, twitching and shaking head side to side.
To confirm and give fish temporary relief, in a clean pail or bucket , fill with tap water the same temperature as display tank and add a pinch of baking soda if you have and drop fish in for up to 5 minutes. It may become agitated. Return fish to display tank and see if you can see what looks like sesame seed r fish scales on bottom of container. Those would be flukes

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Newly purchased PBT is scratching around his gill/mouth area. He's eating well and looks great. He was too big to quarantine in my 20 gallon so I put him in my newly set up 150. Problem is I can't catch him to do a dip or move him. There's no corals in the tank yet but there's a small yellow tang, and 2 clowns. Is my only option to treat the entire tank with PraziPro? Please help.

In the absence of any discrete white spots, I would also suspect flukes. Prazipro, with good aeration dosed twice, nine days apart would be one way to go.
As mentioned though - watch for ich with this species!
Jay

 

[RusticsReef]

thank and you for the replies and the knowledge I lack. I will update.

 

[RusticsReef]

I so appreciate the knowledge and the willingness to help others on this site.

 

[RusticsReef]

In the absence of any discrete white spots, I would also suspect flukes. Prazipro, with good aeration dosed twice, nine days apart would be one way to go.
As mentioned though - watch for ich with this species!
Jay

so this morning there's three white dots near his eye. Also noticed one white short string looking thing as well which has since fallen off. So I'm guessing its ick and not fluke?

 

[RusticsReef]

white dots behind the eye...

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

white dots behind the eye...

So - ich is round and these seem elongated a bit. I've had issues with camera shake causing round ich to become elongated in the picture. You'll have to make the determination if these are round or not. If not, they are likely just mucus.

Still, PBT so often get ich (along with powder browns, achilles, etc.) that they often end up needing to be treated with copper for it.....

Jay

 

[RusticsReef]

So - ich is round and these seem elongated a bit. I've had issues with camera shake causing round ich to become elongated in the picture. You'll have to make the determination if these are round or not. If not, they are likely just mucus.

Still, PBT so often get ich (along with powder browns, achilles, etc.) that they often end up needing to be treated with copper for it.....

Jay

I would say they are more elongated than round. Kinda pin like. and as I said one came to the surface and fell off. that looked like a tiny white string

 

[Sharkbait19]

Definitely sounds like a parasitic infection of some sorts that you’ll want to treat before it gets even worse. Possibly flukes or a worm of some sort?

Have you performed any freshwater dips so far? That might allow for the parasites to drop off and then you can get a closer look at what they may be.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I would say they are more elongated than round. Kinda pin like. and as I said one came to the surface and fell off. that looked like a tiny white string

Mucus plugs will do that. Here is an article about that:

Mucus - The Slime That Binds

Mucus: The Slime that Binds Jay Hemdal C. 2020 This article examines the various causes of excess mucus coatings on fish, as well as fecal mucus issues. ------------------- The mucus produced by the fish’s epidermal cells gives them their...

www.reef2reef.com

(its the PDF link on the right side).

Jay

 

[RusticsReef]

Definitely sounds like a parasitic infection of some sorts that you’ll want to treat before it gets even worse. Possibly flukes or a worm of some sort?

Have you performed any freshwater dips so far? That might allow for the parasites to drop off and then you can get a closer look at what they may be.

tried getting him out but too quick.