Possible Ich, Brook, lymphocytes or some other parasite?

[Zymotic]

I was wondering if anyone could help me identify what this might be so I can treat properly. I received these fish from an online retailer on 10/22 and after 6-7 days in my care I began noticing the development of a small little white spot near head of one fish. Upon closer examination I saw it had another similar spot near the back portion of its body that was hidden by the white coloring of the fish in that area. I took the first three photos I am posting here last Sunday (11/3) and the remaining photos yesterday (11/9). The spots are increasing so I am no longer so sure this is merely a bacterial issue as I first suspected.

Both the fish seem relatively happy and I have not noticed their behavior change at all. They both feed well, although the slightly more dominant fish does get aggressive during feeding time, or anytime I get really close to the tank to observe them. I have read this normal clown behavior. I feed both fish TDO Chroma Boost x-small and frozen brine shrimp as a treat. I also have a few zoanthids in the tank that I think may have a bacterial issue, which is why I initially thought it might be bacerial. I am hoping for the sake of the fish that this is the case, but you all would know better than I would.

I should also note that I am new to keeping Marine fish. I have had freshwater fish for decades and I do use the same python gravel cleaner on all the tanks. Although my freshwater fish are fine now, a few did without a doubt have some sort of bacterial issue around the gills that they eventually healed from after a few weeks' time and more frequent water changes.

Any help in identify what this might be or what I should try would be appreciated.

Tank parameters as of last night:
Salinity - 1.025
PH - 7.7 to 7.9
Alkalinity - 8.4
Phosphate - 0
Nitrate - 10
Nitrite - 0
Amonia - 0

 

[vetteguy53081]

I was wondering if anyone could help me identify what this might be so I can treat properly. I received these fish from an online retailer on 10/22 and after 6-7 days in my care I began noticing the development of a small little white spot near head of one fish. Upon closer examination I saw it had another similar spot near the back portion of its body that was hidden by the white coloring of the fish in that area. I took the first three photos I am posting here last Sunday (11/3) and the remaining photos yesterday (11/9). The spots are increasing so I am no longer so sure this is merely a bacterial issue as I first suspected.

Both the fish seem relatively happy and I have not noticed their behavior change at all. They both feed well, although the slightly more dominant fish does get aggressive during feeding time, or anytime I get really close to the tank to observe them. I have read this normal clown behavior. I feed both fish TDO Chroma Boost x-small and frozen brine shrimp as a treat. I also have a few zoanthids in the tank that I think may have a bacterial issue, which is why I initially thought it might be bacerial. I am hoping for the sake of the fish that this is the case, but you all would know better than I would.

I should also note that I am new to keeping Marine fish. I have had freshwater fish for decades and I do use the same python gravel cleaner on all the tanks. Although my freshwater fish are fine now, a few did without a doubt have some sort of bacterial issue around the gills that they eventually healed from after a few weeks' time and more frequent water changes.

Any help in identify what this might be or what I should try would be appreciated.

Tank parameters as of last night:
Salinity - 1.025
PH - 7.7 to 7.9
Alkalinity - 8.4
Phosphate - 0
Nitrate - 10
Nitrite - 0
Amonia - 0

Looks like beginning of ich and Should be treated in separate tank using coppersafe at treatment level 2.25 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 and with occupants exposed, they too should go into quarantine
A quarantine tank can be as simple as a tank from a second hand store or a starter kit from Walmart which most of the needed essentials.

 

[Zymotic]

Thanks for the reply. I only have a few more questions if you don't mind.

1.) I have a Seachem Ammonia alert tag, would that suffice to watch ammonia levels, or should I get something more reliable?

2.) I have Ich-X already and understand it has formaldehyde, which is not the same as cooper, even though it's for treatment of Ich. Would this be safe to use instead or should I just get a proper copper treatment like Copper Power?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I was wondering if anyone could help me identify what this might be so I can treat properly. I received these fish from an online retailer on 10/22 and after 6-7 days in my care I began noticing the development of a small little white spot near head of one fish. Upon closer examination I saw it had another similar spot near the back portion of its body that was hidden by the white coloring of the fish in that area. I took the first three photos I am posting here last Sunday (11/3) and the remaining photos yesterday (11/9). The spots are increasing so I am no longer so sure this is merely a bacterial issue as I first suspected.

Both the fish seem relatively happy and I have not noticed their behavior change at all. They both feed well, although the slightly more dominant fish does get aggressive during feeding time, or anytime I get really close to the tank to observe them. I have read this normal clown behavior. I feed both fish TDO Chroma Boost x-small and frozen brine shrimp as a treat. I also have a few zoanthids in the tank that I think may have a bacterial issue, which is why I initially thought it might be bacerial. I am hoping for the sake of the fish that this is the case, but you all would know better than I would.

I should also note that I am new to keeping Marine fish. I have had freshwater fish for decades and I do use the same python gravel cleaner on all the tanks. Although my freshwater fish are fine now, a few did without a doubt have some sort of bacterial issue around the gills that they eventually healed from after a few weeks' time and more frequent water changes.

Any help in identify what this might be or what I should try would be appreciated.

Tank parameters as of last night:
Salinity - 1.025
PH - 7.7 to 7.9
Alkalinity - 8.4
Phosphate - 0
Nitrate - 10
Nitrite - 0
Amonia - 0

I’m not convinced this is ich - the spots look a bit too large.

In any event, don’t use ich-x, it just doesn’t work on marine ich.

 

[Zymotic]

I’m not convinced this is ich - the spots look a bit too large.

In any event, don’t use ich-x, it just doesn’t work on marine ich.

Gotcha, I won't use Ich-X.

Here are a few more pictures I took just now. I noticed the dots sometimes appear in streaks around the scales. Then after a day or so one or several will grow, and the others will appear to heal or possibly fall off. I also noticed they seem to be more prominent on one side at a time.

Should I just go ahead and do a copper treatment in quarantine?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Gotcha, I won't use Ich-X.

Here are a few more pictures I took just now. I noticed the dots sometimes appear in streaks around the scales. Then after a day or so one or several will grow, and the others will appear to heal or possibly fall off. I also noticed they seem to be more prominent on one side at a time.

Should I just go ahead and do a copper treatment in quarantine?

See how there are four spots in a row in the orange area? Ich doesn't usually grow like that, the spots are more spread out and random (and smaller). I think you should prepare to treat them for ich, but keep an eye on the spots - ich spots will come and go and change location every few days, but generally will increase in number over time. Mucus plugs from fighting will stay in the same location longer.

 

[Zymotic]

See how there are four spots in a row in the orange area? Ich doesn't usually grow like that, the spots are more spread out and random (and smaller). I think you should prepare to treat them for ich, but keep an eye on the spots - ich spots will come and go and change location every few days, but generally will increase in number over time. Mucus plugs from fighting will stay in the same location longer.

Thanks again for your help. I took Vetteguy53081's advice and setup a 10-gallon quarantine tank. I also have Hanna's copper checker and Copper Power coming in the mail soon. The fish are still doing well. Either way I will start cycling the 10-gallon with bacteria and ghost feeding just in case.

 

[Zymotic]

Fish are doing much better now. I did buy a Hanna checker and Copper Power but decided to ride it out since the fish were showing no obvious signs of distress. I was already dosing Dr. Tim's First Defense as I had read it can help fish acclimate to a new tank environment. I also began a half and then full dose of Dr. Tim's Eco-Balance as recommended in the directions.

I'm not sure any of this contributed to the reduction of spots on the fish but they do seem to be healing now.

 

[Andreas' Reef]

It looks like ich. Ich starts off as relativley large white spots that are visible what you look at the fish head on

 

[vetteguy53081]

After several days, im convinced not ich but rather a skin irritation and Good water quality and diet alone will help with this. You can safely add Ruby rally pro to water with coral to keep this in check. Copper power not a waste as these fish besides brook also susceptible to ich parasite