Treating ich, possible black ich?

[xeqtologist]

I’ve been treating my mini blue hippo tang for ich with copper for about a week now. I noticed today there’s some black spots but they’re not raised. I got prazi pro so that I can treat if needed but I’m not sure if it’s even necessary. She’s only about an inch and a half long and she’s doing okay.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Awwww poor, sweet baby. Hoping she recovers soon!

 

[AetherealKnight]

I can’t really see black ich on him. I suggest you still treat prazi pro to prevent gill flukes.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’ve been treating my mini blue hippo tang for ich with copper for about a week now. I noticed today there’s some black spots but they’re not raised. I got prazi pro so that I can treat if needed but I’m not sure if it’s even necessary. She’s only about an inch and a half long and she’s doing okay.

need a closer/clearer pic as this fish may be suffering from skin irritations with possible mucus cones which its susceptible to. Fish is also quite thin for a hepatus tang.

 

[xeqtologist]

need a closer/clearer pic as this fish may be suffering from skin irritations with possible mucus cones which its susceptible to. Fish is also quite thin for a hepatus tang.

I’m not going back to the LFS I got it from. Pretty ticked at his condition seeing as he’s only about a week old. He was thinner when I got him. What look like big spots are simply just water spots on the tank. This is a better pic of him out of water

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’m not going back to the LFS I got it from. Pretty ticked at his condition seeing as he’s only about a week old. He was thinner when I got him. What look like big spots are simply just water spots on the tank. This is a better pic of him out of water

I can sort of see some black spots, it could be the turbellarian worm that causes "black ich", but that isn't super common on blue tangs.

Despite what you'll read, praziquantel is not very effective against this parasite. Luckily, in many cases, the disease just goes away on it sown. Formalin works better, but I wouldn't try that on such a small tang.

With hepatus this small, be sure to feed it LOTS of small plankton items (diced krill, live baby brine shrimp, etc.) Feed it multiple times a day 4x or so.

 

[xeqtologist]

I can sort of see some black spots, it could be the turbellarian worm that causes "black ich", but that isn't super common on blue tangs.

Despite what you'll read, praziquantel is not very effective against this parasite. Luckily, in many cases, the disease just goes away on it sown. Formalin works better, but I wouldn't try that on such a small tang.

With hepatus this small, be sure to feed it LOTS of small plankton items (diced krill, live baby brine shrimp, etc.) Feed it multiple times a day 4x or so.

makes sense as to why shes not getting bigger faster. shes growing but im only feeding her about a cube of the frozen red phytoplankton twice a day at most. i will up feeding to 3 times a day and see if she starts growing quicker

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

makes sense as to why shes not getting bigger faster. shes growing but im only feeding her about a cube of the frozen red phytoplankton twice a day at most. i will up feeding to 3 times a day and see if she starts growing quicker

Just let the fish tell you how much to feed it: slowly add food to the tank, if the tang eats all that is presented (assuming other fish aren't stealing it) add some more, and some more, until it just stops eating, or starts spitting the food out. Do that 3x / day for now, then as it grows, you can cut back to 2x