Black patch into translucent, tang, post mortum

[RamsReef]

Well this was a new one.

I was out of town so I only have what was relayed to me by my son. Of course it happened on a prize fish :/

Gem Tang, 20gal long, only fish, 1.025 salt, 2.25 copper hanna, air stone, ammonia badge no indication.

Tang developed large black patch, next day dead. Son states black patch turned white.

Asked him to freeze it for me, got home and took some photos. Never seen this before. Im thinking maybe heater burn turned into bacterial infection.

Time to go work some more overtime... ;(

Let me know what you think!

Ram

 

[RamsReef]

It was day 24 of copper and fish was eating pellets and frozen just fine. I was about to start prazi and metro when I got home, hadnt started yet.

No indications of brook, ich, velvit, or poopy parasites.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Well this was a new one.

I was out of town so I only have what was relayed to me by my son. Of course it happened on a prize fish :/

Gem Tang, 20gal long, only fish, 1.025 salt, 2.25 copper hanna, air stone, ammonia badge no indication.

Tang developed large black patch, next day dead. Son states black patch turned white.

Asked him to freeze it for me, got home and took some photos. Never seen this before. Im thinking maybe heater burn turned into bacterial infection.

Time to go work some more overtime... ;(

Let me know what you think!

Ram

Hard to fully determine cause but if there was no physical damage from aggression, may have been bacterial which Gem tangs often acquire. Did he notice heavy breathing or loss of appetite as well as hazy eyes prior to this?

 

[MnFish1]

Agree with Trauma - followed by bacterial infection. I assume the other fish are fine? Was your son checking copper levels daily?

 

[RamsReef]

Hard to fully determine cause but if there was no physical damage from aggression, may have been bacterial which Gem tangs often acquire. Did he notice heavy breathing or loss of appetite as well as hazy eyes prior to this?

No hes 12 he just feeds for now.

 

[RamsReef]

Agree with Trauma - followed by bacterial infection. I assume the other fish are fine? Was your son checking copper levels daily?

Was the only fish in there. No once I get it to 2.2 I stop checking. Tank has an ato and it usually stays where I leave it.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Was the only fish in there. No once I get it to 2.2 I stop checking. Tank has an ato and it usually stays where I leave it.

I agree - likely trauma and then a bacterial disease.

I can rule out a heater burn - heaters are sometimes implicated in that, but that never happens. The water draws the heat off too fast to burn a fish’s skin.

 

[MnFish1]

Was the only fish in there. No once I get it to 2.2 I stop checking. Tank has an ato and it usually stays where I leave it.

You need to check daily - for copper - I'm not saying that is the cause - but - I would not rely on 1 test. even if its the most likely that its not a problem - sorry about the loss of your fish - my main concern would be any others exposed to that one (I know you said it was the only one in there). Seems likely a bacterial infection from transit/etc