Wrasse has a large brown spot on skin

[Tbg299]

I've noticed for about a week now that my Melenarus wrasse has had a large dark brown spot on his skin. It does not look like a growth. It doesnt protrude from the surface of the skin; more like a discoloration. It looks to big to be black ich to me and it has not grown at all or spread. Ive been observing him and today he was flashing a lot against the rock and in the sand. I have a rock boring urchin in my tank with with long spines. Could it be a puncture wound from one of the spines?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I've noticed for about a week now that my Melenarus wrasse has had a large dark brown spot on his skin. It does not look like a growth. It doesnt protrude from the surface of the skin; more like a discoloration. It looks to big to be black ich to me and it has not grown at all or spread. Ive been observing him and today he was flashing a lot against the rock and in the sand. I have a rock boring urchin in my tank with with long spines. Could it be a puncture wound from one of the spines?

Is it behind the pectoral fin or does it involve the fin base itself?
How long have you had this fish?
What part of its body was it scratching?

Jay

 

[Tbg299]

Is it behind the pectoral fin or does it involve the fin base itself?
How long have you had this fish?
What part of its body was it scratching?

Jay

It is behind the pectoral fin. Isolated on the body. Seems to be scratching the side with the spot. Have had him for 9 months

 

[Tbg299]

Should also mention that his appetite and activity is normal. He's had lymphocytes flare up several times since I've had him so I don't know if this could be related. I will try to get a better pic tomorrow.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

It is behind the pectoral fin. Isolated on the body. Seems to be scratching the side with the spot. Have had him for 9 months

Urchin spines usually cause smaller, round punctures. Even if they become infected and grew larger, I would still expect them to be round.

Parasites large enough to cause this, like isopods, would be large enough to see.

I don’t see a clear treatment in this case…..it is probably fungal or bacterial, but those would require a treatment tank.

Jay

 

[Tbg299]

Urchin spines usually cause smaller, round punctures. Even if they become infected and grew larger, I would still expect them to be round.

Parasites large enough to cause this, like isopods, would be large enough to see.

I don’t see a clear treatment in this case…..it is probably fungal or bacterial, but those would require a treatment tank.

Jay

Would standard copper power protocol treat it? When I first got him he was treated @ 2.0 ppm copper and I slowly raised it 0.5 ppm at a time since I know wrasses tend to be sensitive to copper.

 

[Tbg299]

Setting up the QT now and will put him in tomorrow with some sand in a Pyrex bowl I plan on doing a freshwater dip and chemical bath with ruby rally pro as well just to be safe.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Would standard copper power protocol treat it? When I first got him he was treated @ 2.0 ppm copper and I slowly raised it 0.5 ppm at a time since I know wrasses tend to be sensitive to copper.

Probably not copper, it does not look like a parasite. A broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic would be a better guess. However - either need to be done in a treatment tank and that is really hard on a wrasse like this.
Jay

 

[Tbg299]

Probably not copper, it does not look like a parasite. A broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic would be a better guess. However - either need to be done in a treatment tank and that is really hard on a wrasse like this.
Jay

In that case I would rather feed some good quality foods with supplements that will help recovery. I have lipo-garlic I have been adding to the mysis shrimp and I ordered some live blackworms.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

In that case I would rather feed some good quality foods with supplements that will help recovery. I have lipo-garlic I have been adding to the mysis shrimp and I ordered some live blackworms.

In some cases, the fish can recover from minor bacterial infections by just giving it a good environment. This is especially true if the lesion isn’t growing larger.
Jay