White tail kole Tang has something - please help

[DocPalmer]

Good morning - i have noticed my tang accumulating chalky white spotover the past 48 hours.

I have a 105 gallon tank, had my water tested 9 days ago with the following parameters, and have since done a 30% water change:

1.025 salinity
0-5 nitrate
425 calc
9.9 KH
1300 mag

The ONLY addition to my tank in the past 2 months has been 10 nassarius snails which I bought when I had my water tested. I have gone through a proper quarantine of all fish prior to coming into the tank so I can only assume these snails carried some ich eggs. PLEASE let me know if you think this appears to be ich or something else.

I have had ich in the past when I first started the hobby and did a full 90 day fallow period to eradicate the parasite.

I am running a UV sterilizer, Red Sea skimmer 300, refugium, filter floss and filter socks.

 

[fishguy242]

#fishmedic

 

[threebuoys]

Good morning - i have noticed my tang accumulating chalky white spotover the past 48 hours.

I have a 105 gallon tank, had my water tested 9 days ago with the following parameters, and have since done a 30% water change:

1.025 salinity
0-5 nitrate
425 calc
9.9 KH
1300 mag

The ONLY addition to my tank in the past 2 months has been 10 nassarius snails which I bought when I had my water tested. I have gone through a proper quarantine of all fish prior to coming into the tank so I can only assume these snails carried some ich eggs. PLEASE let me know if you think this appears to be ich or something else.

I have had ich in the past when I first started the hobby and did a full 90 day fallow period to eradicate the parasite.

I am running a UV sterilizer, Red Sea skimmer 300, refugium, filter floss and filter socks.

The tang appears to have spots on the body and pectoral fin to me. Is that what you see? If so, it certainly looks like crypto. Its difficult for me to see how extensive the spots are on the tang. I assume what I see on the pectoral fin are spots and not frayed edges which could occur for reasons other than crypto.

Your best approach will be to move all fish into a QT, treat with copper, and allow the tank to remain fallow for 45 to 75 days following the quarantine protocol in the stickies.

 

[DocPalmer]

That is what I see yes thank you for the prompt reply. Is crypto the full name of this disease/parasite? The tang has no frayed fins, so anything abnormal you can see are what appear to be white spots/specs etc.

 

[DocPalmer]

If by crypto, you mean ich, then I will absolutely act accordingly. I’m just very frustrated because those snails are seemingly the only avenue that could have introduced ich. I quarantined all fish with copper prior to adding to tank.

 

[threebuoys]

If by crypto, you mean ich, then I will absolutely act accordingly. I’m just very frustrated because those snails are seemingly the only avenue that could have introduced ich. I quarantined all fish with copper prior to adding to tank.

Yeah, crptocaryon is the correct name for the salt water version of what is called ich in fresh water aquariums. I usually reference crypto/(ich) to avoid confusion, but I got in too big a hurry this time.

Infected snails is frustrating for sure. They must have been in a tank with infected fish. The only way to effectively QT snails that may have been exposed is to keep them in a heated (so eggs will hatch quickly) fallow tank for about 30 days (my opinion based on crypto life cycle) prior to adding to DT. That will give the eggs time to hatch and the resulting free swimmers to die before introducing the snails to the DT.

 

[rmorris_14]

can you circle or point to the spots you are seeing on the picture? I see a lot but it hard tell which ones are just in the water.

 

[DocPalmer]

can you circle or point to the spots you are seeing on the picture? I see a lot but it hard tell which ones are just in the water.

Everything in the red is on the fish and not the water column.

 

[DocPalmer]

Yeah, crptocaryon is the correct name for the salt water version of what is called ich in fresh water aquariums. I usually reference crypto/(ich) to avoid confusion, but I got in too big a hurry this time.

Infected snails is frustrating for sure. They must have been in a tank with infected fish. The only way to effectively QT snails that may have been exposed is to keep them in a heated (so eggs will hatch quickly) fallow tank for about 30 days (my opinion based on crypto life cycle) prior to adding to DT. That will give the eggs time to hatch and the resulting free swimmers to die before introducing the snails to the DT.

No kidding. I’m going to have to start quarantining CUC now. Thankfully the tang has a nice belly and is still grazing on the algae as I type this so I think there is hope.
The question now is can I fit him, a yellow wrasse, 3 chromis, 2 clowns, lawnmower blenny and royal gramma in a 40g breeder or do I need to fire up my spare 80g?

 

[DocPalmer]

Tank for reference:

 

[threebuoys]

No kidding. I’m going to have to start quarantining CUC now. Thankfully the tang has a nice belly and is still grazing on the algae as I type this so I think there is hope.
The question now is can I fit him, a yellow wrasse, 3 chromis, 2 clowns, lawnmower blenny and royal gramma in a 40g breeder or do I need to fire up my spare 80g?

You should be able to make the 40 work. Just keep a very close eye on ammonia, and a lid to prevent the wrasse from jumping out!

 

[DocPalmer]

You should be able to make the 40 work. Just keep a very close eye on ammonia, and a lid to prevent the wrasse from jumping out!

Thanks I’ll go grab one today and a HOB filter. Hopefully will be fine with just a ton of filter pads or floss

 

[threebuoys]

If you have any filter media in your sump that doesn't contain calcareous material, you might be able to avoid using a bacteria in a bottle product to get to a "cycled" state quickly. Otherwise something like biospira or bacstartxlm might be required.

I keep filter foam in my sump just in case I need it for qt.


In any case, watch the ammonia closely.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Set up the 40g and assure some method of filtration and added aeration utilizing coppersafe-although the dots are quite large and could be lymphocystis which is viral
Should it be, contributors are poor water quality and/or diet
What is your current ammonia-ph-nitrate levels and what test kits are you using?
Do any other fish have dots?
How is fishes breathing rate and is it eating?

 

[DocPalmer]

Set up the 40g and assure some method of filtration and added aeration utilizing coppersafe-although the dots are quite large and could be lymphocystis which is viral
Should it be, contributors are poor water quality and/or diet
What is your current ammonia-ph-nitrate levels and what test kits are you using?
Do any other fish have dots?
How is fishes breathing rate and is it eating?

Ammonia 0, nitrate 0-5 and ph is normal. I had the water tested at my LFS and they used Salifert. I did a massive water change and started the skimmer last night so if it is lymph there’s a hope here that this was water quality negligence on my part and it is cleared up in the next 24 hours.- having said that though, my water quality came back very good when they tested it…
I don’t notice dots on my other fish. The tang has been grazing all morning which is very assuring and breathing rate appears normal. Part of me wants to monitor for another day but majority of me wants to get a 40g breeder set up to be safe than sorry. I’d be devastated if I lost my tang

 

[DocPalmer]

Ammonia 0, nitrate 0-5 and ph is normal. I had the water tested at my LFS and they used Salifert. I did a massive water change and started the skimmer last night so if it is lymph there’s a hope here that this was water quality negligence on my part and it is cleared up in the next 24 hours.- having said that though, my water quality came back very good when they tested it…
I don’t notice dots on my other fish. The tang has been grazing all morning which is very assuring and breathing rate appears normal. Part of me wants to monitor for another day but majority of me wants to get a 40g breeder set up to be safe than sorry. I’d be devastated if I lost my tang

I also feed a frozen cube of formula one, formula two, and nori every day.

 

[rmorris_14]

not trying to cast doubt on the fact that it could very well be ich. But, have the spots moved in location? Sometimes lymphocystis can look very similar.

Edit: Also, the fish is gorgeous

 

[DocPalmer]

not trying to cast doubt on the fact that it could very well be ich. But, have the spots moved in location? Sometimes lymphocystis can look very similar.

Edit: Also, the fish is gorgeous

Thank you - Stanley is definitely the showpiece in the tank!!
I am just now reading and learning about lympho and understand it could be that and is commonly mistaken for ich. Given the circumstances, the ich would have had to come on those snails I got a week ago which while not impossible, isn’t very likely (very trusted LFS). If this is lympho - I’m I correct in understanding it will resolve itself assuming pristine water quality? Like I said I just added the skimmer so that should make a substantial difference

 

[threebuoys]

Also, look closely on the fins for spots. My understanding is Lympho does not appear on the fins, hence my earlier question about the state of the fins being either frayed or having spots.

 

[rmorris_14]

Thank you - Stanley is definitely the showpiece in the tank!!
I am just now reading and learning about lympho and understand it could be that and is commonly mistaken for ich. Given the circumstances, the ich would have had to come on those snails I got a week ago which while not impossible, isn’t very likely (very trusted LFS). If this is lympho - I’m I correct in understanding it will resolve itself assuming pristine water quality? Like I said I just added the skimmer so that should make a substantial difference

Yes if it is lympho, maintaining prestine water quality is important, and it should resolve on its own. It could also help to up the feeding schedule/quality and maybe add some vitamins.

Lympho can absolutely appear on the fins. in fact this states it usually starts there

Lymphocystis

Lymphocystis What You Need To Know: * This is a virus that many fish carry for life. The white nodules (cauliflower-like growths) can grow both externally and internally; so symptoms are not always visible. * There is no known cure for Lympho. However, feeding vitamin-enriched foods and...

www.reef2reef.com

Again, I don't want to insist it isnt ich. But given your set of circumstances, it would be worth considering. The lymph spots wont change location.