Gem Tang

[ayoorachael]

So I had this baby Gem tang for about 2 and a half weeks now, I have been feeding it medicated food and regular food and monitoring it in my quarantine tank. Just today I saw that it has 2 spots on each side. Should I dose my tank with copper or what could this be?

 

[winxp_man]

What do you mean medicated food? Post the type of food, or are you medicating food yourself?

And my recommendation if the fish swims well, and eats well to dose copper power or copper safe at 2.25ppm min right away. Why wait? If it’s a carrier of anything why not be on top of it. I know some where will say why even QT. Simple answer. Do you know for sure if it’s a carrier of let’s say velvet? And is it far fetched for marine fish to come installed with velvet? Answer is not at all. UNLESS….. you have a trusted source for your fish. And even then, still never know, but it’s less likely.

Either way, fish these modern days seem so loaded with about everything. I just don’t trust anyone anymore unless you’re buying QT’ed fish, and I don’t have the time and energy any longer to chase fish in a tank to QT them, or run the management method for at least ich. I get you can manage ich, BUT I stand by what I wrote above…. What happens if it’s velvet that makes it on the fish? How you manage this model of disgusting disease? Answer…. You can’t. So back to my statement, I don’t have time and energy to deal with a DT that ended up getting hit by disease.

My new tank thread, you can see my fish bunch all healthy and not a single disease spot on them! And never will there be anything that goes into that tank without being ran fallow or QT’ed.

So if the fish is doing good, my recommendation is to get copper in that QT tank. Why wait? I can’t find a single good reason.

 

[winxp_man]

Could finally play the video. Are you talking about the big spots on what looks to be both sides of the dorsal fin?

 

[sgdnycct]

I don’t see spot except for an area above its head where it’s maybe lost pigmentation. Is this what you are referring to?

Fish looks very stressed. This will affect their immune system. After 2.5 weeks I’d expect to see it calmer. Gem tangs are touchy and tangs in general are susceptible to disease (ich in particular). Copper can also affect them negatively so of you don’t typically do medicated QT id make sure the issues is identified properly prior to medication.

What do you mean by medicated food? And, is it eating aggressively? What size tank is the QT? They need space and after 2.5 weeks of it too small it will start to affect them negatively. Water conditions good?

Hopefully one of the fish medics will see this.

 

[winxp_man]

I don’t see spot except for an area above its head where it’s maybe lost pigmentation. Is this what you are referring to?

Fish looks very stressed. This will affect their immune system. After 2.5 weeks I’d expect to see it calmer. Gem tangs are touchy and tangs in general are susceptible to disease (ich in particular). Copper can also affect them negatively so of you don’t typically do medicated QT id make sure the issues is identified properly prior to medication.

What do you mean by medicated food? And, is it eating aggressively? What size tank is the QT? They need space and after 2.5 weeks of it too small it will start to affect them negatively. Water conditions good?

Hopefully one of the fish medics will see this.

If cupramine is used I can see that being an issue. Copper power/ safe I have yet to have a tang with issues. My Gem wa about 3.5” when I fit him/her. It was in QT for a long time with a bunch of other tangs. I was using a 60 breeder. It did just fine along side the others. It’s now about 4-4.25” and healthy as an ox! It was in copper for 45 days. Put in two fish so reset the QT. A fish that is sick with internal issues that it might be affected by chelated copper. Hell unless it was internal uronema I have not lost even angle fish. Which are even more pron to issues with copper. But it’s ionic copper that is the problem. Not saying copper is not toxic, but way way less in chelated form.

My experience and even medics here state the same. It’s why cupramine is not a recommended copper power / safe can be sourced.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I had this baby Gem tang for about 2 and a half weeks now, I have been feeding it medicated food and regular food and monitoring it in my quarantine tank. Just today I saw that it has 2 spots on each side. Should I dose my tank with copper or what could this be?

You can use cupramine but at recommended level .45. I dont think this is the issue but need clearer image with Brighter white light as your pics show room reflection. Medicated foods are fine but not a cure but rather preventative and feed foods such as brie shrimp, plankton, LRS fish frenzy. If you are adding medication to foods, do not but if medicated flakes as example, that is fineThese tangs quarantine well, Be sure to monitor copper levels with a reliable copper test kit such as Hanna brand
These fish do not get uronema which is not the case here likely. You tube video will be of help

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So I had this baby Gem tang for about 2 and a half weeks now, I have been feeding it medicated food and regular food and monitoring it in my quarantine tank. Just today I saw that it has 2 spots on each side. Should I dose my tank with copper or what could this be?

Gem tangs develop really strange stress marks on their sides - this appears to be that.

What are the basic water quality parameters?

You mention that you are feeding "medicated food". Most of those should not be fed longer than 5 to 7 days. Did you make your own? In most cases, people don't get the medication dose correct.

I would give this fish a standard quarantine process:

Current Quarantine Protocol

2024 Quarantine Procedures Jay Hemdal David Scarborough Protozoans (Cryptocaryon/ich, Amyloodinium/velvet) and Metazoan trematodes/flukes are by far the most common parasites found on newly acquired fish. A carefully managed, proactive quarantine process can effectively eliminate these...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[MnFish1]

1. Agree it looks like Stress Marks
2. Agree it makes sense to put the fish through a usual medicated quarantine
3. Though there are studies out there that 'stress'increases certain immunity hormones, I don't think this is clinically significant. Fish have huge stress living in the ocean with predators, etc.

 

[ayoorachael]

Could finally play the video. Are you talking about the big spots on what looks to be both sides of the dorsal fin?

Yes the two spots on Both sides! I’ve been using metroplex. A lot are saying it’s stress? Is it best to just put him in my tank already? He has been eating quite well and I have been putting nori in the tank as well. I also do water changes every 5 days.

 

[ayoorachael]

1. Agree it looks like Stress Marks
2. Agree it makes sense to put the fish through a usual medicated quarantine
3. Though there are studies out there that 'stress'increases certain immunity hormones, I don't think this is clinically significant. Fish have huge stress living in the ocean with predators, etc.

He has been doing well! Eating and all. Would it be best to just put him in the tank already?

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Just throwing in my two cents here. both fish, medics, Jay Hemdal , and Vette Guy are recommending
Copper quarantine either with copper safe/copper power or Cupramine this is standard protocol that Most of us follow on this site . copper power/copper safe are tolerated extremely well. Follow their advice!

 

[larrysaltisfun]

MN FISH as well is recommending copper

 

[winxp_man]

He has been doing well! Eating and all. Would it be best to just put him in the tank already?

Your call to make as the owner. But as stated above do a copper treatment to be safe and you will know that there are no issues.

 

[MnFish1]

It's never (ok never say never) going to be a mistake to do a 30 day copper treatment / QT.