Is this black ich or something else?

[christinna77]

I've been looking through pictures and footage of different tilefish, and with this particular species, Malacanthus plumieri, I often notice dark spots on them. I just saw a Facebook post identifying the spots as black ich, but they seem a bit larger than what I'd expect. Could these just be stress marks or is it actually some kind of parasite or disease that this species commonly gets?

Some other ones with the same markings:

 

[vetteguy53081]

I've been looking through pictures and footage of different tilefish, and with this particular species, Malacanthus plumieri, I often notice dark spots on them. I just saw a Facebook post identifying the spots as black ich, but they seem a bit larger than what I'd expect. Could these just be stress marks or is it actually some kind of parasite or disease that this species commonly gets?

Some other ones with the same markings:

Looks to be Black spot disease know as Diplopstomiasis often caused from trematode flatworms that cause black cysts in the skin often raised and treatable using praziPro at 80% of recommended dosage

 

[christinna77]

I've been looking through pictures and footage of different tilefish, and with this particular species, Malacanthus plumieri, I often notice dark spots on them. I just saw a Facebook post identifying the spots as black ich, but they seem a bit larger than what I'd expect. Could these just be stress marks or is it actually some kind of parasite or disease that this species commonly gets?

Some other ones with the same markings:

Looks to be Black spot disease know as Diplopstomiasis often caused from trematode flatworms that cause black cysts in the skin often raised and treatable using praziPro at 80% of recommended dosage

I don't think I have enough Prazi to dose the ocean, but thank you! Interesting to see they're quite susceptible to it in the wild.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I don't think I have enough Prazi to dose the ocean, but thank you! Interesting to see they're quite susceptible to it in the wild.

I can help you with that quantity. . LOL

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I've been looking through pictures and footage of different tilefish, and with this particular species, Malacanthus plumieri, I often notice dark spots on them. I just saw a Facebook post identifying the spots as black ich, but they seem a bit larger than what I'd expect. Could these just be stress marks or is it actually some kind of parasite or disease that this species commonly gets?

Some other ones with the same markings:

I've been looking through pictures and footage of different tilefish, and with this particular species, Malacanthus plumieri, I often notice dark spots on them. I just saw a Facebook post identifying the spots as black ich, but they seem a bit larger than what I'd expect. Could these just be stress marks or is it actually some kind of parasite or disease that this species commonly gets?

Some other ones with the same markings:

That’s Scaphanocephalus expansus, a worm parasite seen in some fish in the Caribbean. I’ve not seen it in tilefish before, but that isn’t surprising, it seems to be spreading and expanding its population. It uses three hosts in its life cycle - snail, fish and bird (osprey) so it won’t reproduce in captivity if fish happen to come in with it. Most digeneans are deeply attached and prazi doesn’t work on them.

 

[christinna77]

That’s Scaphanocephalus expansus, a worm parasite seen in some fish in the Caribbean. I’ve not seen it in tilefish before, but that isn’t surprising, it seems to be spreading and expanding its population. It uses three hosts in its life cycle - snail, fish and bird (osprey) so it won’t reproduce in captivity if fish happen to come in with it. Most digeneans are deeply attached and prazi doesn’t work on them.

Very interesting. Thanks, Jay, as always!