Hippo tang "splotch"

[JayM]

I’m not terribly concerned at the moment, but I noticed this “splotch” on the right side of my tang about an hour ago. It wasn’t there last night. Fish is 100% normal otherwise. My first guess is some sort of mechanical injury, but perhaps not. I wasn’t able to get a decent pic, so I pulled a screenshot from the videos, but even in those he’s pretty active so it’s hard to get a good look, but there are a couple of moments where it’s visible. Just about dead center of his body. I know the pic is fairly blue, but it was the best I could do as I was headed back to work and really didn’t have time to get the images that I did. Will post white light pics this evening if needed.

Thanks in advance for advice and/or suggestions.

#fishmedic#fishmedic

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I’m not terribly concerned at the moment, but I noticed this “splotch” on the right side of my tang about an hour ago. It wasn’t there last night. Fish is 100% normal otherwise. My first guess is some sort of mechanical injury, but perhaps not. I wasn’t able to get a decent pic, so I pulled a screenshot from the videos, but even in those he’s pretty active so it’s hard to get a good look, but there are a couple of moments where it’s visible. Just about dead center of his body. I know the pic is fairly blue, but it was the best I could do as I was headed back to work and really didn’t have time to get the images that I did. Will post white light pics this evening if needed.

Thanks in advance for advice and/or suggestions.

#fishmedic#fishmedic

In the absence or more widespread symptoms (rapid breathing, lethargy, not eating well) I'd say this is some sort of minor injury. Could it be a sting from a LPS coral?

 

[JayM]

In the absence or more widespread symptoms (rapid breathing, lethargy, not eating well) I'd say this is some sort of minor injury. Could it be a sting from a LPS coral?

I could be I suppose. Or the anemone. They’ve all been in the tank together for quite some time, but I guess it’s possible he just got taught a lesson.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’m not terribly concerned at the moment, but I noticed this “splotch” on the right side of my tang about an hour ago. It wasn’t there last night. Fish is 100% normal otherwise. My first guess is some sort of mechanical injury, but perhaps not. I wasn’t able to get a decent pic, so I pulled a screenshot from the videos, but even in those he’s pretty active so it’s hard to get a good look, but there are a couple of moments where it’s visible. Just about dead center of his body. I know the pic is fairly blue, but it was the best I could do as I was headed back to work and really didn’t have time to get the images that I did. Will post white light pics this evening if needed.

Thanks in advance for advice and/or suggestions.

#fishmedic#fishmedic

Please now and in the future apply pics under bright white light intensity, no blue for clear assessment

 

[MnFish1]

PS @JayM. No comment on the splotch but very nice tank

 

[JayM]

PS @JayM. No comment on the splotch but very nice tank

Thanks!

 

[JayM]

Here’s a few more screenshots under white light. It’s odd that the patch only appears white when the light hits it just right. Otherwise it appears as his natural colors, but translucent for lack of a better word.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Here’s a few more screenshots under white light. It’s odd that the patch only appears white when the light hits it just right. Otherwise it appears as his natural colors, but translucent for lack of a better word.

Has it gotten a bit larger? Seems to have. That can indicate a bacterial infection.....

 

[JayM]

Has it gotten a bit larger? Seems to have. That can indicate a bacterial infection.....

I don't think so, but I'll definitely take a close look after the lights ramp up enough to see. When comparing the pic in the first post to the rest, it does appear larger, but I think it's just the photo/lighting. It appeared the same size when the pics were taken about 5 hours apart.

Would a bacterial infection typically spread to other livestock?

Would it be something treatable in the DT, or even necessary to treat?

 

[MnFish1]

I don't think so, but I'll definitely take a close look after the lights ramp up enough to see. When comparing the pic in the first post to the rest, it does appear larger, but I think it's just the photo/lighting. It appeared the same size when the pics were taken about 5 hours apart.

Would a bacterial infection typically spread to other livestock?

No

Would it be something treatable in the DT, or even necessary to treat?

If it is getting bigger, I would treat in a separate tank with kanamycin or neomycin. To me it looks like an injury or sting - and the issue is as others have said - is it the same or worse

 

[JayM]

No

If it is getting bigger, I would treat in a separate tank with kanamycin or neomycin. To me it looks like an injury or sting - and the issue is as others have said - is it the same or worse

I'm heavily leaning toward a scrape. He sleeps in a spot that's so tight I'd have bet money that he wouldn't even fit. It's so secluded that I panicked a bit when I couldn't find him one night. Took me almost a week of searching after lights out to figure out where he was going.

Crossing my fingers that it's not something that needs treatment. I QT'd him long ago in a 10 gallon tank which was sufficiently sized at the time. He's definitely too big for treatment in something that small now.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I don't think so, but I'll definitely take a close look after the lights ramp up enough to see. When comparing the pic in the first post to the rest, it does appear larger, but I think it's just the photo/lighting. It appeared the same size when the pics were taken about 5 hours apart.

Would a bacterial infection typically spread to other livestock?

Would it be something treatable in the DT, or even necessary to treat?

Bacterial skin lesions are not typically contagious to other fish. Sometimes, the original fish can heal themselves, especially with more superficial lesions like this one (that doesn’t go through the skin to the muscle tissue).
Any antibiotic treatment would really need to be done in a treatment tank with a broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic like neomycin or kanamycin.

 

[JayM]

I noticed on Sunday that the spot has turned from translucent/white-ish to black. It also appears smaller, but it may just be that part of the spot is on the naturally black markings. It still appears to be only a discoloration. It is neither raised or depressed significantly enough to tell. All behaviour is still normal otherwise.

I'm hoping that means it was likely an injury of some sort rather than something more nefarious..

 

[winxp_man]

If you can get the fish to eat seachem kanaplex or neoplex, the most common meds with kanamycin or neomycin in them, in food it will work. Not easy to do. Any damage bad enough can get an infection. I see it with my fish when they bonk on something in the tank. Of the meds listed I feel kanaplex works a tad bit better. Maybe just me.

As stated above by the other guys to be treated properly with meds in water, a QT tank would be good. And even if used in food a QT helps single out the fish for easier access to it.

One other thing to note. Selcon and vitachem are good products to help fish stay healthy. Use it in food. One of my preferred methods is froze dry mysis shrimp with these booster supplements.

 

[MnFish1]

If you can get the fish to eat seachem kanaplex or neoplex, the most common meds with kanamycin or neomycin in them, in food it will work. Not easy to do. Any damage bad enough can get an infection. I see it with my fish when they bonk on something in the tank. Of the meds listed I feel kanaplex works a tad bit better. Maybe just me.

As stated above by the other guys to be treated properly with meds in water, a QT tank would be good. And even if used in food a QT helps single out the fish for easier access to it.

One other thing to note. Selcon and vitachem are good products to help fish stay healthy. Use it in food. One of my preferred methods is froze dry mysis shrimp with these booster supplements.

Although it might work - these can be very very toxic is not dosed correctly - and since the fish 'drink' water - for these it is safer to (as you said) - put the fish in a proper QT tank. I tend to agree kanaplex does seem to have an advantage - I can't remember what @Jay Hemdal or @vetteguy53081 feel about one or the other.

 

[vetteguy53081]

If you can get the fish to eat seachem kanaplex or neoplex, the most common meds with kanamycin or neomycin in them, in food it will work. Not easy to do. Any damage bad enough can get an infection. I see it with my fish when they bonk on something in the tank. Of the meds listed I feel kanaplex works a tad bit better. Maybe just me.

As stated above by the other guys to be treated properly with meds in water, a QT tank would be good. And even if used in food a QT helps single out the fish for easier access to it.

One other thing to note. Selcon and vitachem are good products to help fish stay healthy. Use it in food. One of my preferred methods is froze dry mysis shrimp with these booster supplements.

I do not recommend feeding/adding these to food as the portion is uncontrolled and can have adverse effect. Kanaplex is easily absorbed by a fish and no need to add to food and changes taste of food. Selcon is an immunity booster and contributes to stamina. I see MnFish1 also chimed in and best left to the fish medics as we've seen the effect on giving meds unnecessarily to fish especially metroplex which too has to be precise.

 

[winxp_man]

I do not recommend feeding/adding these to food as the portion is uncontrolled and can have adverse effect. Kanaplex is easily absorbed by a fish and no need to add to food and changes taste of food. Selcon is an immunity booster and contributes to stamina. I see MnFish1 also chimed in and best left to the fish medics as we've seen the effect on giving meds unnecessarily to fish especially metroplex which too has to be precise.

I have had instances where I used kanaplex and didn’t achieve good results vs feeding. I use my micro scale to measure it out. I wish I would have documented it with my maroon pair and what it did for them. In feeding kana vs in the water. But I digress and will say it’s not for the novice for sure. And it’s why I said water is easier to administer the seachem plex meds.

 

[JayM]

The mystery mark is now gone completely. I noticed Sunday afternoon after being out of town for a few days. Thankfully it was apparently nothing to be concerned about.