Yellow tang possibly ich?

Pamn · Jun 15, 2020

Hey there, I brought my yellow tang home today and he appeared totally fine.. we inspected for spots. But did not quarantine.. I know, I know
Within about 3-4 hours I noticed spots on him. I’ll attach a pic. Immediately got him out and quarantine tank up and running. However, now that he is in the quarantine, I can not see a single bump or spot on him? Wondering if it was possible that my lights were playing tricks or if this is even possible. Any ideas? Do I treat him?or the other fish in the display
Also.. lesson learned. Quarantine every time from now on.

Zionas · Jun 15, 2020

Sometimes fish do show a couple of spots when they’ve been moved and are stressed, I believe. I’d say maybe monitor but hopefully he’ll be fine. Good luck! I love these fish. Just feed him well and keep up with good water quality and his immune system should be back up.

Teemingtank · Jun 15, 2020

Zionas said:
Sometimes fish do show a couple of spots when they’ve been moved and are stressed, I believe. I’d say maybe monitor but hopefully he’ll be fine. Good luck! I love these fish. Just feed him well and keep up with good water quality and his immune system should be back up.

One up on this advice!

Zionas · Jun 15, 2020

Amen brother! Hope your Yellow Tang recovers soon!

Big G · Jun 15, 2020

I can see lots of spots in those two pictures.

A few spots probably Ich
Too many to count probably velvet

Zionas · Jun 15, 2020

I think ich is more likely than velvet, but again I’m not sure. I still suspect stress from the LFS to OP’s tank may have caused it. Hopefully it’ll go away soon.

Halal Hotdog · Jun 15, 2020

My rule of thumb has always been, 'if I can count individual spots then it is ich'. Looks like a bad case of ich to me, would start treating right away. Personally I am not a fan of waiting and praying.

Zionas · Jun 15, 2020

What were the other fish in the LFS’s tank, OP? Did you see any sick fish? Does your LFS mix water between systems? Anything new added to the tank in the last 30 days?

Mjhatley · Jun 15, 2020

Based on what you’re telling me I think that there was probably ich in your main tank already. A lot of times there are trace amounts of ICH in people’s display tanks but doesn’t infest because all the fish are healthy and have thick slime coats. However, if you add a new fish and it is stressed, it’s slime coat is way thinner than the other fish and the ich in your display tank then attach onto the new fish and multiply rapidly. I could be wrong but I’ve seen it happen multiple times to perfectly quarinted fish that are then put into display tanks that have been running for a while.

Zionas · Jun 15, 2020

Don’t mean to hijack but generally which fish have very thick slime coats? Which fish are not very well protected?

As far as I know: Wrasses, Gobies, Clownfish, Rabbitfish have very thick mucous coats.

Pamn · Jun 15, 2020

Zionas said:
What were the other fish in the LFS’s tank, OP? Did you see any sick fish? Does your LFS mix water between systems? Anything new added to the tank in the last 30 days?

I have 2 clowns, 2 blue green chromis, a lawnmower blenny, a banggai cardinalfish, bta, Halloween urchin, hermit and Cleaner shrimp and some coral. I haven’t noticed anything on the others. Last added was bta a couple weeks ago, otherwise nothing within last 30 days. All have been doing great.
Do you think I will need to treat the other fish?If it wasn’t in the tank before the tang, will it have contaminated it in the few hours he was in there?
I’m sure he has it as I can now see spots in the daylight. He’s not easy to get a clear picture of!