White stuff on purple tang

[fragmiester]

Hi does anyone know what this might be on my purple tang? I just got him 2 weeks ago and he's been in a quarantine tank since. He didn't have it before and just developed this. It's right near his eye.

I made a video because it was hard to see the white patch with the light.


He also looks like he's starting to develop ich. Anyone here let their fish fight it off themselves or should I copper treat it? Better to wait or do it right away?

 

[Humblefish]

Near the eye could be the onset of HLLE: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hlle-head-lateral-line-erosion.259916/

However, if he has ich then you have a more serious problem than HLLE: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ich-cryptocaryon-irritans.191226/

IME; PTs don't manage ich well, but nevertheless here is an article I wrote on the subject: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ich-eradication-vs-ich-management.188775/

There is also this active discussion on immunity: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/a-discussion-on-immunity.209701/

 

[fragmiester]

Thanks for the quick reply. Does look like to peeling so possible HLLE. There's only 2 white spots that I've noticed right now on its body. I'll keep monitoring to see if it develops more.

 

[melypr1985]

Near the eye could be the onset of HLLE:

My first thought as well.

 

[MCooper]

Wanted to ask about my own purple tang with faint white cloudy spots on body for 1 week. No other signs in tank and eating and acting normal ??? Can white Ish spots ever be benign?

 

[melypr1985]

Wanted to ask about my own purple tang with faint white cloudy spots on body for 1 week. No other signs in tank and eating and acting normal ??? Can white Ish spots ever be benign?

Benign? I want to say no simply because an Ich spot is simply the result of the fish's slime coat attacking the ich parasite. Cloudy spots for a week would probably be something else. Can you post a picture?

 

[MCooper]

 

[MCooper]

2 weeks actually

 

[melypr1985]

2 weeks actually

And they haven't come and gone? Appeared to move around every few days?

 

[MCooper]

Nope, they are just static and hazy.

 

[melypr1985]

Nope, they are just static and hazy.

Didn't you have a problem where you had to treat all your fish before? I dont think it was that long ago..... this could be an infection setting in at the insertion points where the parasites were. I'm kinda guessing since I cant' remember how long ago all that happened.

 

[Humblefish]

Looks more like an infection or coral/nem sting to me.

 

[MCooper]

That was a few months ago and since then all have been okay so I certainly my hope and pray you are wrong ( haha sorry) will see how it goes and try to pay more attention to exact location of spots and intensity of lesions! Thanks as always.

 

[Humblefish]

That was a few months ago and since then all have been okay so I certainly my hope and pray you are wrong ( haha sorry) will see how it goes and try to pay more attention to exact location of spots and intensity of lesions! Thanks as always.

If it was an infection, then the fish's natural immune system probably handled it. The odds are in the fish's favor so long as 1) The fish is otherwise healthy 2) The offending bacteria is a gram positive strain.

Gram negative causes all the havoc.