Sick PBT

Mathew0 · Sep 12, 2023

We noticed what appeared to be ich on the powder blue Monday morning. I immediately put it in QT and got some Fritz copper safe. I added it around 10:30 am. By the afternoon I saw white spots on the purple and put it in QT as well. This morning it looked like it was working. Just now I checked and there seems to be more white spots, but more distressing, it appears that the skin on its nose is disintegrating. This looks almost the same as the puffer that died recently. Here are some photos

Mathew0 · Sep 12, 2023

#fishmedics

Jay Hemdal · Sep 12, 2023

Mathew0 said:
We noticed what appeared to be ich on the powder blue Monday morning. I immediately put it in QT and got some Fritz copper safe. I added it around 10:30 am. By the afternoon I saw white spots on the purple and put it in QT as well. This morning it looked like it was working. Just now I checked and there seems to be more white spots, but more distressing, it appears that the skin on its nose is disintegrating. This looks almost the same as the puffer that died recently. Here are some photos

The larger, more protruding white things are mucus plugs. Those are a reaction to some irritant - ich, flukes and even copper can cause them.
The mouth issue is an injury, maybe from the move or becoming frightened in the QT and running into something. Is the fish still eating?
Jay

Joj · Sep 12, 2023

Looks like ich + lympho on the PBT. Could also use kanaplex (antibiotic) if the nose infection gets worst and not better.

Mathew0 · Sep 12, 2023

@Jay Hemdal neither of the tangs in qt had been very interested in eating since I put them in there

Mathew0 · Sep 12, 2023

I was looking for nitrofurazone as an anti microbial, but I didn’t see anywhere that sells it

Mathew0 · Sep 12, 2023

I just gave them their nighttime feeding and the purple is eating, the powder blue isnt

Mathew0 · Sep 13, 2023

@Jay Hemdal Should I also be adding antibiotics to the QT?
I'm actaully getting worried about the purple now, if the PBT has a secondary infection. I don't want him to get it too.

Jay Hemdal · Sep 13, 2023

Mathew0 said:
@Jay Hemdal Should I also be adding antibiotics to the QT?
I'm actaully getting worried about the purple now, if the PBT has a secondary infection. I don't want him to get it too.

Is the mouth lesion getting larger?
What is the ammonia level in the QT?

You could go with a broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic - Neoplex is one option.

Jay

Mathew0 · Sep 13, 2023

It hasn't really changed since last night.
I have an ammonia badge that is still in the yellow.
I keep the tank running all the time with some biopellets and piece of rock and feed when there's no fish to keep the nitrifying bacteria alive. Then when I need it, I do a 100% water change and put the fish in. That way there's a way to keep the ammonia in check.
After a qt, I put the rock and bag of pellets in a bucket of fresh salt water, then I drain, dry, and sanitize the tank (and HOB filter) with peroxide before refilling and putting the rock and pellets back in.

Jay Hemdal · Sep 13, 2023

Mathew0 said:
It hasn't really changed since last night.
I have an ammonia badge that is still in the yellow.
I keep the tank running all the time with some biopellets and piece of rock and feed when there's no fish to keep the nitrifying bacteria alive. Then when I need it, I do a 100% water change and put the fish in. That way there's a way to keep the ammonia in check.
After a qt, I put the rock and bag of pellets in a bucket of fresh salt water, then I drain, dry, and sanitize the tank (and HOB filter) with peroxide before refilling and putting the rock and pellets back in.

Since it isn't eating, its condition is not stable. I would start antibiotics for that mouth lesion (the most likely cause for it not eating).

Jay

Mathew0 · Sep 13, 2023

OK, I'll pick that up and start that this afternoon.
Should I leave the Purple Tang in there with the Powder Blue?
@Jay Hemdal

Jay Hemdal · Sep 13, 2023

Mathew0 said:
OK, I'll pick that up and start that this afternoon.
Should I leave the Purple Tang in there with the Powder Blue?
@Jay Hemdal

I would treat them both, since they were both exposed.

Jay

Mathew0 · Sep 14, 2023

@Jay Hemdal
I reduced the temp to 74 based on your hypo salinity article, but I’ve read elsewhere to increase the temperature to speed up ich life cycle.
Which should I be doing?

Jay Hemdal · Sep 15, 2023

Mathew0 said:
@Jay Hemdal
I reduced the temp to 74 based on your hypo salinity article, but I’ve read elsewhere to increase the temperature to speed up ich life cycle.
Which should I be doing?

Well, there is some confusion. I didn't mention 74 degrees, but I did mention 75 degrees - but that was in reference to measuring specific gravity (temperature affects that). Later on in the article it says this: "Don't raise the water temperature beyond normal. That is a treatment for freshwater ich, not marine ich. 79 degree F. is a good target temperature."

You'll read to "raise the water temperature to treat ich" - that is all wrong for marine ich. Like many things on the Internet, bad information gets spread around. 84 degrees is the "sweet spot" from marine ich, so raising the water temperature just makes the parasite population stronger, while lowering the dissolved oxygen levels. Freshwater ich is a different parasite and is actually killed by warmer temperatures.

Jay

Mathew0 · Sep 15, 2023

Awesome! Thanks. I'll bring it back up a bit over the next couple of days.
Good news is that there are no white spots on either fish. The PBT has a couple of slightly darker blemishes on one side that I'll keep an eye on. If it was a person, I'd say it looks like a bruise. I don't know if fish bruise, tho. She also has some fin loss on the tail and the dorsal, but I think that's most likely from scratching and some minor aggression between the 2 tangs. They are now both eating again, too.