Is this Lymphocystis?

[BlakeH]

I have 2 female Wattanabei Angels going through quarantine currently. One of the angels came with a small lump on its tail which I attributed to being Lymphocystis. The angel with the lump has done fantastic until last Sunday. It appeared that another lump showed up on the fishes head, and the fish stopped eating. I performed 2x 5 gal water changes to try and improve the water quality. At this point, I don’t think the fish will make it and has stopped eating or swimming throughout the tank.

two questions:
-is this Lymphocystis?
-is there anything I can do at this point?

current tank:
-29 Gal quarantine
-32 Salinity
-2.3 parts copper power using a Hanna copper checker.

 

[moz71]

My opinion is I would stop the copper (unless you see or confirm parasites). It is basically poison and they probably not handling that high level. I never go over 2ppm. Give them best water condition possible so that means take out medicine (poison)

 

[BlakeH]

Better lighting

 

[moz71]

That looks bacterial to me with maybe some lymphoma. Stop copper and get antibiotics in there. Call #reefsquad @ReefSquad

 

[Jay Hemdal]

That isn't Lymphocystis. Most likely, it is an aggressive bacterial infection that has become systemic. It becomes very difficult to treat once that happens. My suggestion would be to use a broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic such as Kanaplex, or even Maracyn 2.

You said you've done water changes to "improve water quality". What is your ammonia level at?

These lesions have nothing to do with the copper treatment. While Copper Power should be dosed at 2.0 ppm, 2.3 is still below the 2.5 level where it becomes more toxic. I would drop it to 2.0 through water changes and hold it there. Many more people lose fish by stopping copper too soon than from copper toxicity itself. With a Hanna Checker, you are in a great position to do a copper treatment correctly.

Jay

 

[BlakeH]

I have an ammonia badge that’s reading yellow. It had developed a green tint to it, but was never fully at the alert level of .05.
The fish has been in quarantine since Jan 3rd. I started a prophylactic copper treatment on Jan 5th. Do to noticing the growth on the fishes tail, I’ve done 2 rounds of antibiotics. The first round was to clear up the initial growth on the tail—which it did somewhat. I started a 2 round when I noticed growth on the forehead. That’s was the beginning of last week.

I’ve used Metro-plex, Furan-2, and kanaplex both times. This fish is beginning to list back and forth so not thinking the chances are not good that it makes it through.

The curious thing about this, is that I put 3 fish into quarantine at the same time: a black cap basslet, and 2x female Wattanabei angels. Both the basslet and the other angel are doing great.

 

[BlakeH]

Update:
Shortly after that last post, I found the fish motionless so I euthanized it.
Upon closer inspection, what was affecting the fish was actually eating away flesh. The spot on the tail actually ate through the streamer, and it had fallen off completely. I’ve never seen anything like it— I’ve been in the hobby almost 20 years.
Obvious next question, are the two other fish in the quarantine tank at risk, and what additional protocols should I do well before considering moving them to the main display?

It’s so frustrating how much more difficult it is to successfully bring new fish into our aquariums.