Bristletooth Tang spots

[WahooTJ]

Can someone please help identify? I got a beautiful whitetail bristletooth from Dr. Reef on May 21st. He’s grazing and eating frozen no problem. Noticed the patches in the last few days. He does like to chase my Tomini into his hiding spot so hoping just some abrasions from cutting through rock work etc.

 

[WahooTJ]

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like little bite marks
What other fish in with it?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Can someone please help identify? I got a beautiful whitetail bristletooth from Dr. Reef on May 21st. He’s grazing and eating frozen no problem. Noticed the patches in the last few days. He does like to chase my Tomini into his hiding spot so hoping just some abrasions from cutting through rock work etc.

I agree - these look like bite marks to me also......

 

[WahooTJ]

Tomini Tang
Cryptic Wrasse
Black Storm Clown
Fancy white Clown
Lawnmower Blenny
Royal Gramma
Tailspot Blenny
Blue Green Chromis - 3
Fiji Ghost Sleeper Goby

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Tomini Tang
Cryptic Wrasse
Black Storm Clown
Fancy white Clown
Lawnmower Blenny
Royal Gramma
Tailspot Blenny
Blue Green Chromis - 3
Fiji Ghost Sleeper Goby

Clowns or maybe the lawnmower?

One trick is to set up your phone to video the tank and then leave the room. Review the video. You may NOT see any "direct hits", but watch for the tang staying away from certain fish.....

 

[WahooTJ]

I just noticed similar spots on my clowns and gramma as well. Any recommendations?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I just noticed similar spots on my clowns and gramma as well. Any recommendations?

That may change things here - can you post videos of them? This could also be injuries from flukes. Are you seeing any fish scratching?

 

[WahooTJ]

 

[WahooTJ]

The two chromis, both clowns, and gramma seem to be staying on this left side.

 

[56longroof]

Im guessing its aggression from the Tomini. The one in my tank is not very nice at all to other tangs.

 

[WahooTJ]

I’m going to try and catch the tomini as he seems to be the culprit and pray it’s not velvet …

 

[W31Olds]

Normally I would agree with Jay and Vette and some of this definitely looks like aggression. Tomini, Lawnmower and a Whitetail is not a good combination. My Whitetail harasses my Lawnmower without mercy, however, leaves everyone else alone. They all compete for the same food source, Algae, so as you can imagine, squabbles will happen.
The concern I have is with your Pics and Videos of your Whitetail. mainly the eye. It looks like something in addition to aggression is going on. Ich or Flukes is likely, Velvet, not likely.

 

[WahooTJ]

I attempted to catch the tomini. Silly me. I have a 20 long setup for QT. Currently just trying to observe. I added some food just to see response and the chromis went after it immediately. The clowns aren’t as interested. Everyone ate handsomely this morning on frozen/pellet mix. I have noticed the WTB pooping ALOT tonight. Also sorry I didn’t mention before but current parameters as follows:


Tank: 200 IM setup in March
Salinity: 1.026
Temperature: 78
Nitrate: 4.2 ppm
Phosphate: 0.09 ppm
pH: Apex probe reading ~7.7-7.9 (probe needs calibration, located in return chamber) I generally get higher readings from the API kit.

 

[WahooTJ]

I just noticed similar spots on my clowns and gramma as well. Any recommendations?

That may change things here - can you post videos of them? This could also be injuries from flukes. Are you seeing any fish scratching?

Sorry I wasn’t replying directly I was just posting below.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

In this video, I can see general cloudiness of the skin on the gramma and clownfish, and the smaller clownfish is swimming in a stilted fashion - I think there is a protozoan disease issue here, not from fighting.

In many cases, a visual ID isn't sufficient however. My best guess is Brooklynella. It could be velvet, but for that, the symptoms would be very rapid breathing and not eating.

Treatment for Brooklynella is difficult. Formalin is the best treatment, but it isn't safe to use in homes and is difficult to source. You could consider Ruby Reef Rally Pro. It doesn't always work, but it is reef safe.

 

[WahooTJ]

In this video, I can see general cloudiness of the skin on the gramma and clownfish, and the smaller clownfish is swimming in a stilted fashion - I think there is a protozoan disease issue here, not from fighting.

In many cases, a visual ID isn't sufficient however. My best guess is Brooklynella. It could be velvet, but for that, the symptoms would be very rapid breathing and not eating.

Treatment for Brooklynella is difficult. Formalin is the best treatment, but it isn't safe to use in homes and is difficult to source. You could consider Ruby Reef Rally Pro. It doesn't always work, but it is reef safe.

I appreciate the input. I’m going to try and get better visuals today with whiter lights. The tomini looks unaffected is out grazing like normal. The lawnmower blenny and goby seem to be fine with no noticeable spots or dusting. The WTB is always tucked away in his cave in the morning. I haven’t seen the gramma yet but it looked pretty bad last night.

The biggest concern is the fancy white clown. She is lying down near the sand bed with labored breathing. I have a friend this is letting me borrow a trap to try and catch the fish and also has the Ruby medication. Should I medicate in QT or run it in the display?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I appreciate the input. I’m going to try and get better visuals today with whiter lights. The tomini looks unaffected is out grazing like normal. The lawnmower blenny and goby seem to be fine with no noticeable spots or dusting. The WTB is always tucked away in his cave in the morning. I haven’t seen the gramma yet but it looked pretty bad last night.

The biggest concern is the fancy white clown. She is lying down near the sand bed with labored breathing. I have a friend this is letting me borrow a trap to try and catch the fish and also has the Ruby medication. Should I medicate in QT or run it in the display?

I'd medicate in a QT if you can - you might need to add Rally Pro to the tank AND use it as a 3x concentration dip for 90 minutes each day.

 

[WahooTJ]

I appreciate the input. I’m going to try and get better visuals today with whiter lights. The tomini looks unaffected is out grazing like normal. The lawnmower blenny and goby seem to be fine with no noticeable spots or dusting. The WTB is always tucked away in his cave in the morning. I haven’t seen the gramma yet but it looked pretty bad last night.

The biggest concern is the fancy white clown. She is lying down near the sand bed with labored breathing. I have a friend this is letting me borrow a trap to try and catch the fish and also has the Ruby medication. Should I medicate in QT or run it in the display?

I'd medicate in a QT if you can - you might need to add Rally Pro to the tank AND use it as a 3x concentration dip for 90 minutes each day.

Just fed and everyone ate so that seems promising. Even the clown that was in question is out and about now.

 

[WahooTJ]

In this video, I can see general cloudiness of the skin on the gramma and clownfish, and the smaller clownfish is swimming in a stilted fashion - I think there is a protozoan disease issue here, not from fighting.

In many cases, a visual ID isn't sufficient however. My best guess is Brooklynella. It could be velvet, but for that, the symptoms would be very rapid breathing and not eating.

Treatment for Brooklynella is difficult. Formalin is the best treatment, but it isn't safe to use in homes and is difficult to source. You could consider Ruby Reef Rally Pro. It doesn't always work, but it is reef safe.

Was able to get white light video