Velvet or Brook on Hippo Tang?

[Capitol Reef Corals]

Hi All,

This white spot has been on my Blue Hippo Tang for a few days now. Initially, it was small and pretty faint, after a few days, it has gotten bigger and more white and apparent. I see my Hippo rubbing on the rocks every couple of minutes now. The Hippo and all fish are eating fine, I have been feeding more and giving more algae sheets to keep the energy and health up.

Is it Velvet or Brook? None of my other fish (Vlamingi, yello tang, copperband, 6 clowns, swallowtail angel) show any issues or parasites.

Thinking it is Brook. I've dealt with velvet before and it has wiped out my entire tank in a couple of days.

I have Cuppermine and Furen-2 on hand, would that be ok to treat whatever this is? If not, I can do a FW dip.

Thanks!
Stephen

 

[hdsoftail1065]

@Big G @HotRocks

 

[Big G]

Looks more like a bacterial infection that may be spreading. Important to keep in mind that bacterial infections are usually a secondary actor with something else causing it to present. Tangs often wedge into the rocks to sleep and in doing so repeatedly scratch their skin trying to wedge in night after night, sometimes fighting a bit of current, or difficult location.

Here's a thread with descriptions and pictures to compare:

Bacterial Infections

Why fish get bacterial infections What You Need To Know: * Infections can be caused by either Gram‐positive or Gram-negative bacteria. Gram-negative infections are typically more virulent, and more common in marine fish. * Bacterial infections are often "secondary" to a preexisting parasitic...

www.reef2reef.com

Here's a detailed thread with antibiotic treatments to consider:

Antibiotics

Antibiotic treatment What It Treats – Bacterial infections, which are oftentimes “secondary” to preexisting parasitic (and worm) infestations. How To Treat – Follow the directions on the label of whatever product you are using. Always use a broad spectrum antibiotic medication i.e. one that...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Capitol Reef Corals]

Looks more like a bacterial infection that may be spreading. Important to keep in mind that bacterial infections are usually a secondary actor with something else causing it to present. Tangs often wedge into the rocks to sleep and in doing so repeatedly scratch their skin trying to wedge in night after night, sometimes fighting a bit of current, or difficult location.

Here's a thread with descriptions and pictures to compare:

Bacterial Infections

Why fish get bacterial infections What You Need To Know: * Infections can be caused by either Gram‐positive or Gram-negative bacteria. Gram-negative infections are typically more virulent, and more common in marine fish. * Bacterial infections are often "secondary" to a preexisting parasitic...

www.reef2reef.com

Here's a detailed thread with antibiotic treatments to consider:

Antibiotics

Antibiotic treatment What It Treats – Bacterial infections, which are oftentimes “secondary” to preexisting parasitic (and worm) infestations. How To Treat – Follow the directions on the label of whatever product you are using. Always use a broad spectrum antibiotic medication i.e. one that...

www.reef2reef.com

Thanks! I’ll check it out. Yea at first I thought it was a scratch. Then started to get worse.

 

[Capitol Reef Corals]

Just wanted to follow up here. Since this post, I performed a 7 minute freshwater dip on the Hippo and QT'd him in copper. He is looking almost as good as new. I think the FW dip really did the trick. Going to continue copper for another week just to complete the treatment. I am really not sure what it was, but I am happy he is doing a lot better. Thanks for everyone's advice!