Tang with spots

[luvnsalt]

I, too am battling a little something with my Hippo...one minute I swear it is ICH (although I have never seen it in person) the next minute I swear it is not ICH. I have been reading and reading on different fish ailments and I am still not sure of what is wrong. I have a yellow tang, clown, coral beauty, and an eyelash blenny in with the Hippo and all of them are fine. The Hippo is eating great, and acts normal...just kinda ugly.

 

[ronj]

tell us what it looks like!!!!! how long does it stay visible?? how big are the spots???? how many...a bunch.. a few????

 

[luvnsalt]

Well, It is hard to describe. The Hippo is more discolored than little "spots". I will come home from work and find a splotch or two of white (not a dot) and his skin is kind of ugly. (not the pretty blue) But, when I wake up in the morning the splotches are gone. The skin still kind of discolored. Am I making any sense here? He is the only fish in the tank that looks this way. Everyone else is pretty.

 

[jetaero]

Could be Marine velvet...

-Josh-

 

[luvnsalt]

Thanks. I will look that up next!! I am on my way after work to my friend's house to pick up yet another book! This one focuses on marine disease, etc...

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Here is a link to a very extensive article. Like anything else, sort out the facts from observation and opinion. (such as apparent immunity and copper usage)

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-07/sp/feature/index.php

 

[luvnsalt]

Thanks. I printed it off and I will read it over. I appreciate it.

 

[ronj]

can you describe the splotches??color??? normally it is the opposite..the skin will be discolored in the mornings right when the lights come on.this is normal...i am not sure in your case though...what are your water parameters??? try doing a 3-4 water changes in the next week or 2 weeks .20% water changes...see if the spots clear up any

 

[steve-s]

try doing a 3-4 water changes in the next week or 2 weeks .20% water changes...see if the spots clear up any

When in doubt this can often be an excellent starting point.

How long have you had the tang?
What do you feed on a regular basis?
What are your water quality and chemistry numbers?

From this statement....

Hippo is more discolored than little "spots". I will come home from work and find a splotch or two of white (not a dot) and his skin is kind of ugly. (not the pretty blue) But, when I wake up in the morning the splotches are gone. The skin still kind of discolored.

I'm not convinced this is C. irritans or A. ocellatum.

Cheers
Steve

 

[luvnsalt]

Only a couple of weeks- don't scream at me....I did not quarantine!!! I know I know I know!!! I actually purchased him and my yellow unexpectedly and did not have my QT set up. Although, I probably should have one set up ALWAYS. I know better. :-( For feeding I tend to mix it up a little. I will feed frozen shrimp with spirulina, New Life Spectrum small pellets, a few flakes, and Nori.

 

[ronj]

i would cut back on the frozen shrimp, the pellets, and flakes..it is ok to continue these every now and then for diversity, but you should stick with the nori mostly and other herbivorous foods...you should also supplement with vitamins and HUFA's..Zoe and Zoecon are what i use.....also, where are these spots of discoloration???? i am wondering if it is possible HLLE..are they at the top of the fish along the lateral line??? this could start out as discoloration patches along the line..just a thought!!! it could be a bacterial infection, but you can start trying to rule things out

 

[luvnsalt]

What about my other fish? I also have a clown, blenny, and coral beauty. Can I get Zoe and Zoecon at my LFS? Or do I need to order? The spots are typically around the tail and more on the body I think. But, I will check again tonight. I am planning on doing a 20% water change tomorrow- so I am hoping that will help, too. Oh, and Ron- thanks for not screaming at me.

 

[Brenden]

Zoe and zoecon should be readily available at the LFS. I like selcon better than zoecon personally.

 

[steve-s]

i would cut back on the frozen shrimp, the pellets, and flakes..it is ok to continue these every now and then for diversity, but you should stick with the nori mostly and other herbivorous foods...you should also supplement with vitamins and HUFA's..Zoe and Zoecon are what i use.....also, where are these spots of discoloration???? i am wondering if it is possible HLLE..are they at the top of the fish along the lateral line??? this could start out as discoloration patches along the line..just a thought!!! it could be a bacterial infection, but you can start trying to rule things out

Excellent!!

Zoe and zoecon should be readily available at the LFS. I like selcon better than zoecon personally.

Agreed on both parts.

What about my other fish? I also have a clown, blenny, and coral beauty

If this isn't a parasite (which I doubt) they should be fine as long as you get to the bottom of this before it becomes a larger issue.

I am planning on doing a 20% water change tomorrow- so I am hoping that will help

At the very least the water change won't hurt so it's the best place to start otherwise. Sometimes doing nothing is better than guessing/the gunshot approach which has more often than not caused more problems than it solves.

The spots are typically around the tail and more on the body I think. But, I will check again tonight.

Make note of the color and what it reminds you of. Since you cannot post a picture (?) we need to get a mental picture of what's going on here as well so the better you describe it the less guess work on our part....

What are your water quality and chemistry numbers?

What about this:?: :?:

Cheers
Steve

 

[luvnsalt]

I will test water again tonite. Thanks for all your imput. I will try to get a pix. I just have to figure out how to do it on my computer!

 

[Brenden]

You have a digital camera or are you trying to scan?

 

[ronj]

i like the scanning method!!! just make sure the temp in the room is the same as the tank!!!

 

[luvnsalt]

I have a digital. Also, I came home last night and I do see some bumps now that look like Ich (from what I am told). On his eyes? Do they get Ich on their eyes? I did a water change last night and will do another one tomorrow. ( I am making more water)

Steve- what all parameters do you want as far as water goes? Salinity? Ph? ammonia? Let me know and I will get them all for you.

 

[james734]

Steve's looking for all water Params.

Salnity, PH, Ammonia, Nirite, Nitrate and what ever else you can test for. But these would be the 5 primary items..

 

[ronj]

yes, they do get "ich" on their eyes.....you really need to get him in qt immediately!!!!! do you have one set up already?? if not, you need to get one up and cycled quick!! just because the other fish don't show any signs, they still need to be treated in the qt tank.. are there alot of "spots" or " bumps" on the regal ??? watch it closely after the water changes and see if there is any change in the spots...if it is ich, they will disappear only to return in higher numbers most likely