Blue tang scratching all the time???

[rob7777]

I just bought a blue tang and it's always scratching only on one side is that early warning signs that it is getting ich ??

 

[NanaReefer]

More then likely yes.

 

[rob7777]

What do I do my water parameters are all normal and I do weekly water changes will it settle down or do I expect the worse?

 

[tyler1503]

It may be an early sign of ich, but from my experience most blues will do this. I've never seen a blue tang that doesn't scratch along the rock work or sand.
A good diet with lots of algae is a good start (assuming it is ich and not natural behaviour) and perhaps a quarantine for a month or 2.

 

[rob7777]

He seems happy and feeding well I'm just a bit paranoid as I only have the one tank
I was picky when choosing him I went for the best looking condition of fish

 

[tyler1503]

Because you can't QT, I suggest keep him very well fed. Lots and lots of nori, they can eat ALOT more than you think.

 

[rob7777]

Yeah I see that I have a foxface as well between the two of em I go thru the food otherwise he starts knocking off my zoas

 

[reeffirstaid]

I wouldn't get too hyped up about ich, just yet. It could be a sign of ich, as the parasite burrows into the flesh causing it to itch. Although, often fish glaze off rocks or sand, for the same reason people use back scratchers.

 

[rob7777]

Thanks ay

 

[Reefing Madness]

I wouldn't touch him. Leave him be. He's eating, and if he dosen't show signs, you don't want to stress him out again so soon, that will definitely bug him out. And besides, doing a QT on him now would be a mute point, he's already in the DT, and if it is Ich, its already in there with him. If he remains active and eats, you've got nothing to worry about.

 

[rob7777]

Cheers I had my tank crash a couple of months ago and just paranoid I guess lol

 

[rob7777]

Is there anything I can does the tank wit that won't kill off my soft corals??

 

[rob7777]

Just in case it is ich

 

[NanaReefer]

Not really. Although some have tried "reef safe" products to treat Ich.
Just keep an eye on him/her. If you start to see the white grains on him/her then you'll know for sure. Again just keep him/her well fed & stress levels down.

 

[rob7777]

Do u mean white spot

 

[NanaReefer]

Do u mean white spot

Yes. Those are Ich cysts (eggs) The only time Ich is actually visible to the human eye. These will drop off the fish and eventually hatch. Where they will float around the water column in search of a host (fish).

 

[rob7777]

My foxface had this ages ago and got rid of it so does that mean my tank hosts it???

 

[rob7777]

I never ever really had a problem wit saltwater and white spot when I was breeding freshwater species got it a few times but I've had a good run on fish in saltwater coral on the other hand not so good but getting there

 

[evolved]

My foxface had this ages ago and got rid of it so does that mean my tank hosts it???

In the course of its life cycle, it requires a fish to host it for a period. It can't purely reside by itself in the tank.