Orchid Dottyback Parasite?

[Joe Tony]

Hey guys, I bought this orchid dottyback a few days ago from my local Petco. The following morning I noticed this subtle white patch on it, and I'm not sure what it is. Did the dottyback scrape itself against some rock while trying to hide? It doesn't seem to have the salty look of ick, and I know it's not velvet. Could it be lymphocitis? Whatever it is, it hasn't grown in the past day or so. The dottyback is otherwise acting healthy, swimming around a lot, eating, not acting like it has an itch.

I will confess I did not quarantine this fish (I know) and I have a clownfish pair and banggai cardinal which I also got from the Petco and didn't exhibit any parasites. I grilled the Petco guy and he said they haven't had any issues in the past with parasites.

Can you guys help me diagnose this and see what I should do? I am afraid for the possibility that it might have a disease and I won't be able to catch it because dottybacks are slippery as heck!

 

[KrisReef]

Possibly got bumped from netting or scraping around in the new tank. If it's not getting worse then it will likely survive.

Shame on you for not QT'ing this fish. (I don't qt either, but don't tell anyone.)

 

[Joe Tony]

Possibly got bumped from netting or scraping around in the new tank. If it's not getting worse then it will likely survive.

Shame on you for not QT'ing this fish. (I don't qt either, but don't tell anyone.)

I honestly feel bad, because I have a spare 10 gallon tank that I could've used.

It's just the previous 3 fish acclimated just fine and didn't have any issues. And believe it or not, this local Petco is actually pretty legit. I spoke to a lot of the folks who work there and they seem to really care for the animals they work with.

This will also be my last fish for my 45 gallon, as I don't wanna overstock. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Joe Tony]

Possibly got bumped from netting or scraping around in the new tank. If it's not getting worse then it will likely survive.

Shame on you for not QT'ing this fish. (I don't qt either, but don't tell anyone.)

So now I noted after stirring the sand bed my dottyback started scratching itself on the rock and it has 1 more tiny white dot on the other side.

 

[Joe Tony]

So now I noted after stirring the sand bed my dottyback started scratching itself on the rock and it has 1 more tiny white dot on the other side.

Bumping this for another update.

That white dot turned into a subtler whitish-blue stripe, which matches the one on its other side. He isn't scratching himself anymore, so I may just chalk that up to some sediment that got on him from stirring the sand yesterday.

Still eating fine, staying in the rock, swimming around a lot with the other fish, etc.

I have my QT tank set up and I put a bottle trap in the display tank (which he's not going for). Everyone else in the tank appears healthy and active.