What’s wrong with this Blue Hippo Tang?

[Alex C]

So I currently have a new blue hippo tang in my quarantine tank, she has been in there for about 4 weeks now with three of those weeks in therapeutic copper levels using copper power at 1.75ppm. The copper treatment was to overcome marine ich.

Recently this last week I’ve noticed some grey fuzzy spots on her... any idea what it is and how I can treat it?

 

[Leadfooted]

mine did that when my PH was jacked up and had spikes

 

[LAReefer4Life]

It could also be a skin irritation to the copper. This is happened with my angelfish.

 

[Alex C]

mine did that when my PH was jacked up and had spikes

That’s an interesting thought, I’m doing 50% water changes weekly so I would be surprised if the PH was off too much but I have not tested for it.

 

[Alex C]

It could also be a skin irritation to the copper. This is happened with my angelfish.

I have heard of copper causing issues with Hippo Tangs. Hopefully that’s all it is and once the copper treatment is complete it will resolve itself.

 

[crusso1993]

I'm suspecting irritation.

Welcome to R2R! You might want to introduce yourself in the thread below and receive a formal welcome.

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/meet-greet-forum.129/

 

[rkpetersen]

If they're not raised and instead look like the fish's skin has been eroded at those points, it's probably HLLE, head and lateral line erosion.
Common in tangs especially, many alleged causes. Does sometimes appear during QT.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hlle-head-lateral-line-erosion.259916/

 

[Alex C]

If they're not raised and instead look like the fish's skin has been eroded at those points, it's probably HLLE, head and lateral line erosion.
Common in tangs especially, many alleged causes. Does sometimes appear during QT.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hlle-head-lateral-line-erosion.259916/

Hmm I’ve read about that and in my super inexperienced opinion I would say it doesn’t look like HLLE. It doesn’t seem to be eroded.

 

[Crabs McJones]

If they're not raised and instead look like the fish's skin has been eroded at those points, it's probably HLLE, head and lateral line erosion.
Common in tangs especially, many alleged causes. Does sometimes appear during QT.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hlle-head-lateral-line-erosion.259916/

Agree, the fact that its following the fish's lateral line leads me to think HLLE.
What has it been eating?

 

[Alex C]

Agree, the fact that its following the fish's lateral line leads me to think HLLE.
What has it been eating?

I constantly keep the algae strips on a magnetic clip and feed frozen mysis and LRS reef frenzy.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I constantly keep the algae strips on a magnetic clip and feed frozen mysis and LRS reef frenzy.

That looks good. Only other thing would be possibly bacterial infection. @Big G @HotRocks @ngoodermuth @4FordFamily what do you think?

 

[Big G]

You posted that it was "grey fuzzy". Is the area cottony textured? Or is it grey/white-ish and filmy and flat.

 

[4FordFamily]

It does appear to be issues around the lateral line. Poor nutrition, poor water quality, and copper are things that may cause this. Soak foods in zoecon or zoe and perhaps selcon.

Clearer, closer photos would be helpful in determining if infection is present as well.

 

[sscg]

i'm having the same problem they just look pale. no signs of ich, brook, velvet, flukes. I don't know what to do I posted about this the other day but I didn't get an answer