My Fish is Sick, Isn't She?

[shanepike]

Apologies in advance for the number of pictures and</em> for posting before I've looked for the answer. I just wanted to get this out there as quickly as possible, and I wasn't at all sure that I'd even find an answer I was sure of.

I saw my blue tang sweeping against the rocks and something rang in my brain that I read at some point on this forum that they do that when something's wrong and they're trying to get it off. Sure enough, I looked and she has all sorts of white things all over her that definitely have not been there before. It looks kind of like mold; definitely not like bugs or anything raised (though I didn't study that</em> closely, as I was more concerned about getting pictures).

And obviously it's hard to get good pictures of a fish moving that fast, but here's what I've got:

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Off to research...

 

[cbj25]

ich. QT her or keep her fed with lots of greens soaked in metronitozol.

Something is stressing the fish out, you should try to identify the stressor and eliminate it

FWIW, this type of tang is especially susceptible to ich

 

[kzoo]

Looks like ick, not good.
You can hope for the best and feed well or take it out and do hypo treatment .

 

[glxtrix]

is this fish a new addition? If not, how ling has it been in the tank?

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

Hate to throw the flag, but at first look, I'd suspect ich. Looking at this with my phone, so the pics aren't that clear for me. I'm sure Jenn will reply soon, and I'd take her word over mine anyday...

How long have you had the fish? Is it in QT or your DT? Tankmates? Water parameters?

Best of Luck!!!

 

[shanepike]

Haven't added a fish in 3 or 4 weeks at least. This one we've had since June 25 of last year. Can't think of anything that would have stressed any of them lately.

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

Hmmmm. What was the last fish you added? Any aggression?

How are the other fish acting? It could be something not so obvious. Could be stray voltage from some equipment. Have you added or changed any equipment lately? This will definetely cause stress...

Oh yeah... Get him out immediately, and into QT. Tankmates probably need to go with him unless you can treat your DT for ich. Any coral or inverts? If you choose not to go this route, some say you can feed heavily and healthily, and the fish can fight it off themselves.

 

[jef4y]

Yeah ich. It sucks. I'm of the school that believes every tank has ich, it's just some that have fish that display it. Tangs are very susceptible to ich, for no reason in particular. IMHO if you are going to keep tangs, a proper uv is a requirement. Yeah, I know that can be argued but again, just my opinion.

If you can get the fish out and treat it that will be your best chance at keeping it alive. But putting it back in will most likely yield the same result.


iPad, Tapatalk, Tpyos

 

[k3nnyp]

Sorry to hear that Shane.

I have some Seachem Para Guard solution if you decide to catch and dip her. You are more than welcome to it if you need it. I'll pm my number.

As for whether to dip or not others are probably more informed than I. From what I've heard dipping is the best solution provided you can catch her without stressing her out too much.

 

[jamescook]

This time of year, it could be a bad heater and temp fluctuations could be enough stress.

 

[tbryan]

I had to treat a blue tang with hyposalinity before worked good took a while though.

 

[rdnelson]

The life cycle of ich is about 6 weeks. So it is possible (but not definite) that the latest fish brought it in and they just recently hatched. But it could also have been on the tang for a very long time. If so, as long as the fish's immune system was strong it could have been fighting it off. If it gets stressed, it's immune system weakens and it flares up.

Here is what I do. I have three tangs. They show signs now an then. I have learned not to panic. Get metro, focus and some garlic. Mix it with a good mix of multiple food types. You will want to feed 3 or 4 times a day until the signs have been gone for a couple days. Make enough to last a while. You can freeze the mix but when you thaw it don't do it in water. You want the medicine to stay in the food

When feeding, make sure you give enough but not so much they can't eat it all in a few minutes. Feeding often raises the immune system helping them fight it off. Be prepared for another flare up in 6-8 weeks so make sure to keep metro and focus on hand.

All fish have been exposed at this point so unless you want to try a non reef safe treatment, moving them to QT will only stress them more and make it worse.

 

[rjrgroup]

rdnelson99;840630 wrote: I have learned not to panic. Get metro, focus and some garlic.

All fish have been exposed at this point so unless you want to try a non reef safe treatment, moving them to QT will only stress them more and make it worse.

+10000000000000000000000 or so.
Also reduce your lighting if possible and plan on more water changes when the fish are sleeping or preoccupied by feeding.

 

[smoothie]

It's in your system now so I wouldn't take the fish out and dip it at all. That will add ALOT more stress to the fish. Feed a little alot as stated and up your water changes to compensate for it. Keep the lights off for the next day and slowly ramp them back up. This will help calm the fish. Your coral will be fine.
Treat it just like a sick/grumpy kid. Few bites all day long, good calm soothing environment and rest.

 

[silver surfer]

What other fish do you have in the tank?

What size tank do you have?

Do you have uv? If so, what wattage?

If you are going to use metro, use focus with metro. Also, I have found pellets work the best with metro.

In addition to everything you will be doing. Once the "spots" have fallen off the fish vacuum your sand.

Welcome to ich.

 

[sinbad]

I have a really good cleaner shrimp - I got him when I first got my tangs, he does a great job of taking care of them.

 

[silver surfer]

Cleaner shrimp won't eat ich

 

[jef4y]

Silver Surfer;840721 wrote: Cleaner shrimp won't eat ich

Correct. They just provide some relief from the itching of it. Think of it as a bad case of poison ivy. Drives you NUTS.

 

[jennm]

I agree it's ich.

Tangs get it because their thin skin is an easy place to bite, versus other fish with thicker skin/scales.

I too, believe that it's in just about every system, despite theories to the contrary. I've seen it appear where it shouldn't - due to protocols etc.

Customer of ours just had an outbreak where no fish had been added for a few months. We're at a loss to figure out "why" - despite presence of UV (UV isn't a fix, it's a 'help')...

You've received good advice on several treatment options.

Jenn

 

[kirkwood]

rdnelson99;840630 wrote: The life cycle of ich is about 6 weeks. So it is possible (but not definite) that the latest fish brought it in and they just recently hatched. But it could also have been on the tang for a very long time. If so, as long as the fish's immune system was strong it could have been fighting it off. If it gets stressed, it's immune system weakens and it flares up.

Here is what I do. I have three tangs. They show signs now an then. I have learned not to panic. Get metro, focus and some garlic. Mix it with a good mix of multiple food types. You will want to feed 3 or 4 times a day until the signs have been gone for a couple days. Make enough to last a while. You can freeze the mix but when you thaw it don't do it in water. You want the medicine to stay in the food

When feeding, make sure you give enough but not so much they can't eat it all in a few minutes. Feeding often raises the immune system helping them fight it off. Be prepared for another flare up in 6-8 weeks so make sure to keep metro and focus on hand.

All fish have been exposed at this point so unless you want to try a non reef safe treatment, moving them to QT will only stress them more and make it worse.

+1 Metro/Focus/Garlic Guard... The recipe I've been given is thaw 3 cubes of mysis in 5ml of garlic guard... refrigerate... then add 5 scoops focus and 1 scoop metro... stir... refrigerate... after a few hours to let the medication soak in I administer my first medicated feeding and then I freeze the remainder.. I've also read recommendations to turn off carbon while medicating...