Powder Brown Tang with raised white spots

NerdCage · Mar 13, 2018

Morning guys,

I've had a Powder Brown Tang in QT for 4+ weeks. He started out with some funny spots on his fin and eye, so I did two rounds of PraziPro. They eye cleared up quickly, the fin looked a bit better, but not completely healed.

I followed that up with 5 days of Metro+Focus+Garlic and it was looking better. Last night of that treatment was Monday and it had cleared up. I noticed however 3 or 4 small white specks on his sides. Something more to keep an eye on...

When I checked on him last night the specks were gone, but I saw the large white spot you can see in the picture. It's raised and fleshy looking. There's a similar, smaller spot on the opposite side, but it runs more vertically.

His behavior is totally normal, eating great. In fact, last night he had more of an appetite than he's had the whole 4 weeks prior.

Thanks,
Steve

HotRocks · Mar 13, 2018

It looks like a cyst. May just have to wait for it to pop, if and when it does, keep an eye out for a secondary bacterial infection. I would keep metroplex+kanaplex+furan-2 (the trifecta) on deck just in case. Could be lympho, but it if that were the case time and a healthy diet would allow it to cure itself. Lets get some other opinions for you.

@4FordFamily @Humblefish @Big G

lucyretz · Mar 13, 2018

That looks like an isopod

4FordFamily · Mar 13, 2018

It actually already looks infected, based on the redness around the affected area and the overall appearance of this fish, I would bet that it is. Feeding antibiotics aren’t very effective for these types of injuries (or most, for that matter).

I’d dose antibiotics now, and keep them dosed per instructions for 10-14 days in total. Kanaplex, metroplex, and furan 2 would be the trifecta I would use.

Note that kanaplex and metroplex need dosed every other day, furan 2 every day.

NerdCage · Mar 13, 2018

4FordFamily said:
It actually already looks infected, based on the redness around the affected area and the overall appearance of this fish, I would bet that it is. Feeding antibiotics aren’t very effective for these types of injuries (or most, for that matter).

I’d dose antibiotics now, and keep them dosed per instructions for 10-14 days in total. Kanaplex, metroplex, and furan 2 would be the trifecta I would use.

Note that kanaplex and metroplex need dosed every other day, furan 2 every day.

I like your suggestion, since I have all those medications on hand. I'll just note, in person the ring around the affected area looks more purple than red. Though that could be the lighting.

What do you mean about the overall appearance? I struggle knowing when new (to me) species look "normal" so I'd really appreciate the insight into what about him looks off.

Humblefish · Mar 13, 2018

Just to be sure it is NOT a parasitic isopod... It is remaining stationary on the fish, correct??

NerdCage · Mar 13, 2018

Humblefish said:
Just to be sure it is NOT a parasitic isopod... It is remaining stationary on the fish, correct??

I was just looking at it and wondered... Did it move?

TinyChocobo · Mar 13, 2018

If that’s an isopod it’s huge!

Following.

NerdCage · Mar 13, 2018

Yes. Just got a chance to compare it to the picture from last night. It is smaller and has definitely moved.

The one on the other side is gone.

NerdCage · Mar 13, 2018

He was not cooperating at all for a picture tonight.

Hopefully you can see, the spot was at the top of his back last night, now it's about halfway down. And smaller.

4FordFamily · Mar 13, 2018

Interesting — if it’s an isopod that’s some sinister stuff!

Regarding the appearance of a fish with infection — redness of course but also discoloration, fins that are “laying down” and overall posture and behavior lead me down that way.

I’d be pretty upset about an isopod, too!

Humblefish · Mar 13, 2018

Does it look anything like this? From the top?

NerdCage · Mar 13, 2018

I don't see any detail like that. It just looks like a fleshy spot.

He ate great again tonight. Behavior is a little off. He keeps swimming sideways, like he's trying to rub the spot on the bottom of the tank.

Is it worth trying to catch him to get a better look at the spot? I hesitate to stress him any further.

Humblefish · Mar 13, 2018

NerdCage said:
Is it worth trying to catch him to get a better look at the spot? I hesitate to stress him any further.

A clear, closeup photo of the affected area would be extremely useful.

Maritimer · Mar 13, 2018

Has he been through any copper treatment? Copper should be toxic to isopods . . .

If you do decide to catch him up, you may be able to simply pull the isopod (if that's what it is) with a pair of tweezers.

~Bruce

NerdCage · Mar 14, 2018

I grabbed him and got some pictures. Wish I could capture better ones with my phone.

The spot is almost completely gone. Definitely not an isopod (unless the isopod let go and this is just the damage left behind?)

Tried to get a close-up, but it's not great.

The other side has two black spots they don't look like anything on the fish, just two black patches.

Overall he looked a bit pink. Now I've never seen him under anything but the LED reef lights, so maybe this appearance is normal, maybe not. I'm not sure.

At this point since it's looking better on its own I'm going to hold off on medication until you guys take a look at these pictures. I'll keep up with the Selcon, Seaweed, and Garlic.

Humblefish · Mar 14, 2018

The dark spots could be bite marks or possibly a bacterial infection: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bacterial-infections.191511/

I think I would dose a mild antibiotic, such as Kanaplex; but you might need to add Furan-2 + Metroplex to that if his condition worsens.

And keep your eye out for a rogue isopod running around the QT, just in case.