Ich or flukes or something else entirely?

[NamelyShark]

Im thinking my purple tang may have flukes, currently the only fish in the tank with this appearance and has been in my tank for some time now. Just want to be sure what the issue is before I move it to the hospital tank as that will obviously determine whether Im going copper or prazipro

 

[vetteguy53081]

Im thinking my purple tang may have flukes, currently the only fish in the tank with this appearance and has been in my tank for some time now. Just want to be sure what the issue is before I move it to the hospital tank as that will obviously determine whether Im going copper or prazipro

These are mucus cones often from a skin irritation and at times are mixed in with ich and Often you will notice other occupants show no signs but recommended is to remove all fish and treat them as well using coppersafe or copper power for a full 30 days at 2.25ppm which they respond to well and add an air stone and monitor copper level with a reliable Copper Test kit such as Hanna Brand- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone.

 

[NamelyShark]

These are mucus cones often from a skin irritation and at times are mixed in with ich and Often you will notice other occupants show no signs but recommended is to remove all fish and treat them as well using coppersafe or copper power for a full 30 days at 2.25ppm which they respond to well and add an air stone and monitor copper level with a reliable Copper Test kit such as Hanna Brand- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone.

Could it be anything else? It was fine this morning and I came back from a round of golf and noticed them. It is still ruling the tank and eatting pretty greedily

 

[vetteguy53081]

Could it be anything else? It was fine this morning and I came back from a round of golf and noticed them. It is still ruling the tank and eatting pretty greedily

Im positive on mucus cones and affects many tangs including purple, hepatus, yellow and powder blue

 

[NamelyShark]

Im positive on mucus cones and affects many tangs including purple, hepatus, yellow and powder blue

Okay so copper and hyposalinity?

 

[W31Olds]

Can you provide more background on your Purple's behavior? Is he scratching or Flashing? Has anything been added to your Tank recently including inverts?

 

[NamelyShark]

Can you provide more background on your Purple's behavior? Is he scratching or Flashing? Has anything been added to your Tank recently including inverts?

No scratching or flashing
Eating just as greedily as normal
Running the tank as it usually does
I added some turbo snails yesterday evening but they were quarantined separately

 

[NamelyShark]

No scratching or flashing
Eating just as greedily as normal
Running the tank as it usually does
I added some turbo snails yesterday evening but they were quarantined separately

Its a very brave fish, it'll even come up to glass when I walk up and posture at me so its behaving as normal, very flashy

 

[vetteguy53081]

Okay so copper and hyposalinity?

One or the other, not both

 

[NamelyShark]

One or the other, not both

Tracking, I have the the copper ready to go

 

[W31Olds]

Its a very brave fish, it'll even come up to glass when I walk up and posture at me so its behaving as normal, very flashy

My Purple does the same thing. He gets ticked when I get close and yes, he can be a real Jerk to his Tankmates.

 

[NamelyShark]

My Purple does the same thing. He gets ticked when I get close and yes, he can be a real Jerk to his Tankmates.

Mine is a jerk too but still probably my favorite fish

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Mine is a jerk too but still probably my favorite fish

Sometimes, these mucus plugs are caused by unknown stress issues, even a scrape on the skin. Ich can cause them also. These spots are localized towards the back portion of the fish, while ich is usually more evenly distributed. If no other fish are showing symptoms, you might want to hold off on any treatment. If it is ich, ALL fish will need to be treated.