Icky Ick?

[starpilot77]

Hi there reefers,
I am fairly new here, now have two small tanks 120L and 160l and have been loving the hobby.

I went away for the first time for 5 days and my nephew stayed at my place to look after my animals. He did a good job but I just got back and notice my blue tang has a bunch of white bumps/spots so am wondering if this is ICK?

I did my normal weekly water changes the night before I left and I’m positive he wasn’t showing any at all. Now he looks bad!! . This 160L tank was only obtained 5 weeks ago with the fish so I am unsure of the history but they have all been in good health since I’ve had it.

It’s hard to not feel awful as I obviously don’t want them all to die.

I assume if it’s ick I need to quarantine all the fish and start a copper treatment but can I start with the BT on his own and see how I go? None of the others seem affected yet. Or should I just bite the bullet knowing that it’s in my tank?

Any advice you have would be appreciated.
Photos attached of my lovely big boy.

Thanks!

 

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

I would guess that if he has it the coral beauty will start to show it as well. Ich can be a problem before it shows so treating all is a good idea. Plus if you don’t go fallow the tang will probably get reinfected when you put him back in.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi there reefers,
I am fairly new here, now have two small tanks 120L and 160l and have been loving the hobby.

I went away for the first time for 5 days and my nephew stayed at my place to look after my animals. He did a good job but I just got back and notice my blue tang has a bunch of white bumps/spots so am wondering if this is ICK?

I did my normal weekly water changes the night before I left and I’m positive he wasn’t showing any at all. Now he looks bad!! . This 160L tank was only obtained 5 weeks ago with the fish so I am unsure of the history but they have all been in good health since I’ve had it.

It’s hard to not feel awful as I obviously don’t want them all to die.

I assume if it’s ick I need to quarantine all the fish and start a copper treatment but can I start with the BT on his own and see how I go? None of the others seem affected yet. Or should I just bite the bullet knowing that it’s in my tank?

Any advice you have would be appreciated.
Photos attached of my lovely big boy.

Thanks!

This is cryptocaryon which is marine ich.
You will need to place fish in Quarantine tank and treat with Coppersafe or Copper Power at therapeutic level 2.25-2.5 For a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored by 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.
The display tank will have to be kept fishless (FALLOW) for 6-8 weeks to assure the existing parasites go through their life cycle without a host fish and die off
A quarantine tank can be as simple as a starter kit from Walmart which most of the needed essentials.

 

[Tamberav]

I just want to add that I would rehome the blue tang after you QT it. A 40g is no is no place for a tang that size. I know it came with your tank but disease can end up a re-occurring issue when fish this large are in small tanks. It is stressful for them.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Agreed this looks like ich. Unsure why the other fish haven’t begun to show some spots yet.
Jay

 

[Dom]

This is cryptocaryon which is marine ich.
You will need to place fish in Quarantine tank and treat with Coppersafe or Copper Power at therapeutic level 2.25-2.5 For a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored by 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.
The display tank will have to be kept fishless (FALLOW) for 6-8 weeks to assure the existing parasites go through their life cycle without a host fish and die off
A quarantine tank can be as simple as a starter kit from Walmart which most of the needed essentials.

Or even a 5 gallon bucket with heater and bubble filter.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Or even a 5 gallon bucket with heater and bubble filter.

A bucket will stress fish out and limited to provide hiding tubes and while ok for a dip- Unsuitable for 30 days treatment