Help with my Powder Blue Tang

NeuroticAquatics · Nov 18, 2017

I’ve had this Tang for about 18 mo thd.It was pulled from my 240g due to an Ich outbreak when I introduced the juvenile Emp you see photobomb the video. They both went through four weeks of Cupramine in QT and were put into a new tank (new water, same rock and pvc as in QT) about three weeks ago. It ate and did fine through treatment, did fine the last 17 days in the new tank and then suddenly started acting strange a couple days ago. You can see something going on with it’s body in the pictures...It’s not Ich, pretty sure not Velvet. The Emperor looks fine, eats, etc. any ideas?

Humblefish · Nov 18, 2017

First thing I would do is give him a FW dip to see if any of those things dislodge: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/

If even some do, it's probably worms... not a parasite or virus.

LuckyPhil · Nov 19, 2017

I would definitely try a freshwater dip as humblefish suggested to check for flukes.
If little sesame seeds start dropping off treat your tank with prazi pro
Check out the video below

NeuroticAquatics · Nov 19, 2017

I did the dip and stuff started to come off almost immediately. Some small white but also larger stuff that looked like skin flaking off. I took a couple pics while in the dip and it almost looks like Ich bumps. I’ve never dealt with any kind of worms/flukes on the body, so what do the pros think?

While in QT, I checked Cupramine levels at least daily and they were always at 0.50. Never a speck. This started almost three weeks into a clean tank and the Emp looks fine so far. I’ve got my Foxface and another Tang in the QT now that we’re coming out to join my Emp and PBT. DT stays fallow through the holidays.

Humblefish · Nov 19, 2017

@NeuroticAquatics Is he mostly clean now following the FW dip? My next move would be to dose Prazipro in QT.

If that doesn't get the job done, I have two other things in mind but you will need formalin or metronidazole.

NeuroticAquatics · Nov 19, 2017

He looks a little better than in those pics but only a little bit better.

The good that I’ve noticed since the dip is that it is horizontal not vertical. Those first pics were him before, nose to the bottom of the tank. Now he is not swimming around much but at least is not in the corner like it had been.

I have Prazi but not the others. I’ve gotta figure out volume on my secondary tank. QT I have water levels marked off. The other is new and I was expecting to get stuff popping up after QT treatment.

NeuroticAquatics · Nov 20, 2017

Can Metroplex be used at the same time as Prazi it is it better to try one at a time?

I didn’t get a chance to get a good look at the Tang this morning. He was hiding in the pvc but it was not doing the “nose down” thing it had done for a couple days prior to the dip and Prazi.

coweyes298 · Nov 20, 2017

My Powder Blue did have spots like yours, but the dot volume is way less than yours and I was sure mine had ich at that time. I cured mine with TTM and copper in two different time frame. If copper didn't cure it then it maybe worm or other stuff. Prazi should be OK mixing with Metro if I am correct, but remember to provide well oxygenated water in QT.

Humblefish · Nov 20, 2017

NeuroticAquatics said:
Can Metroplex be used at the same time as Prazi it is it better to try one at a time?

It's not a good idea to mix liquid Prazipro with any other medication; although it's usually OK with copper.

If you're wanting to dose prazi + metro, I suggest using API General Cure which contains both medications in powder form.

NeuroticAquatics · Nov 20, 2017

Humblefish said:
It's not a good idea to mix liquid Prazipro with any other medication; although it's usually OK with copper.

If you're wanting to dose prazi + metro, I suggest using API General Cure which contains both medications in powder form.

I will probably just wait and see how the Prazi works and then try metro then. I’ve heard that Prazi does it’s thing pretty quickly, so should I expect a fairly spot-free Tang when I get home tonight (or at least a big improvement in overall appearance)? When would the decision to switch to Metro be made?

Humblefish · Nov 20, 2017

Prazi should clear the fish pretty quickly if it's going to work.

Treating with metro would be useful if this happened to be brook or a bacterial infection, but on second thought I would also add Kanaplex to the mix if you go the metro route.

Mfreddy · Nov 20, 2017

Humblefish said:
@NeuroticAquatics Is he mostly clean now following the FW dip? My next move would be to dose Prazipro in QT.

If that doesn't get the job done, I have two other things in mind but you will need formalin or metronidazole.

Can a formalin dip be done with paraguard, or would something else be better?

Humblefish · Nov 21, 2017

Mfreddy said:
Can a formalin dip be done with paraguard, or would something else be better?

I've experimented some with Paraguard, but in no way do I consider it to be formalin's equal.

Formalin can be harsh, is a carcinogen, but it also clears surface parasites/worms off a fish like nobody's business. Unfortunately, using formalin feels like you may be sacrificing the fish's long-term health just to get it through a rough patch. But it's still better than a dead fish if all other treatment options have been exhausted.

Smo · Nov 21, 2017

There is also hypo-salinity as a treatment option for Prazi resistant worms as we recently observed with another poster.

aquariumreefers · Nov 21, 2017

This might help out with external parasite works well in our fish QT
Hikari USA Inc. Prazipro - Safest Parasite Treatment

NeuroticAquatics · Nov 21, 2017

I could not get a good look at it yet because it is hiding in the pvc, but he did pop out quickly to go after food this morning and it appears much better. Eating is a good sign after a couple days of not. I will have more time tonight and plan to pull the pvc out to get a look if necessary.

Even though it never showed signs, I’m guessing this came in with the Emperor Angel and just took a long time to rear it’s ugly head.

NeuroticAquatics · Nov 23, 2017

Okay...the Powder Blue Tang looks cleared up but now my juvenile Emperor that was in the same tank is looking weird. Almost looks like flesh color patches where blue would have been before. Any ideas???