Filefish disease and sore-ich?

[Maria A]

My filefish has this sore that I noticed today on his back. He also seems to have sores on sides. I’ve had him about 3 weeks. Has been eating and swimming well, still doing fine. I’ve now put him in another compartment with air stone. Treat for ich or something else?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Fin looks like a bite or injury
fish itself appears to have velvet. I would recommend copper based treatment for velvet but the sore can develop into a bacterial issue. Although it works slower, I’m thinking ruby rally pro in a quarantine setting which will address both velvet and bacterial issues with added aeration during treatment

 

[Maria A]

Fin looks like a bite or injury
fish itself appears to have velvet. I would recommend copper based treatment for velvet but the sore can develop into a bacterial issue. Although it works slower, I’m thinking ruby rally pro in a quarantine setting which will address both velvet and bacterial issues with added aeration during treatment

Treat the other fish also?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Treat the other fish also?

Yes- I would assume they do have dots all over them
This will have to be in a quarantine setting and display tank fishless for 45-60 days

 

[Maria A]

None others are showing spots. They’re in QT tank now.

 

[vetteguy53081]

None others are showing spots. They’re in QT tank now.

Monitor ammonia levels and increase oxygen during treatment with addition of air stone

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

My filefish has this sore that I noticed today on his back. He also seems to have sores on sides. I’ve had him about 3 weeks. Has been eating and swimming well, still doing fine. I’ve now put him in another compartment with air stone. Treat for ich or something else?

I agree, that does look like a parasite. Since the fish is still eating, I would say ich. However, some species of filefish have all sorts of skin tags an spots on them, so it isn't clear how severe the issue actually is (yet).

You may need to pull all of the fish and treat them with copper or low salinity. At least pull the filefish, maybe you'll get lucky and the disease won't spread (unlikely if it is ich though).

Jay