Purple tang white stress marks?

Coker · Jan 20, 2022

I have a purple tang who has gone through tank transfer qt and is now just under observation in a holding tank with a few other tangs. He has white spots that just seem to be a discoloration (not raised). Just wanted a second opinion he has had them for about 6 days. No other fish have spots and he is active an eating (shrimp/nori). I am assuming they are just stress spots? I dipped him in safety stop before the tt. I am at the 30 day mark of receiving him.

Jay Hemdal · Jan 21, 2022

Coker said:
I have a purple tang who has gone through tank transfer qt and is now just under observation in a holding tank with a few other tangs. He has white spots that just seem to be a discoloration (not raised). Just wanted a second opinion he has had them for about 6 days. No other fish have spots and he is active an eating (shrimp/nori). I am assuming they are just stress spots? I dipped him in safety stop before the tt. I am at the 30 day mark of receiving him.

Have you considered it might have flukes? Tank Transfer won't control flukes. Safety Stop isn't 100%, so the flukes and their sticky eggs can go through that process unharmed. Hyposalinity or praziquantel would be the preferred treatment. That said, I can't visually rule out a bacterial infection here, but that would be rarer, and the fish would be less inclined to be feeding normally.

Jay

Coker · Jan 21, 2022

Did a fresh water dip with no change to his condition. It was by far the best i have had a fish handle a fwd also. Did not even faze him. Not sure what my next step is…

Jay Hemdal · Jan 21, 2022

Coker said:
Did a fresh water dip with no change to his condition. It was by far the best i have had a fish handle a fwd also. Did not even faze him. Not sure what my next step is…

Good that it handled the dip well. Dips often won't show any improvement for 24 to 48 hours afterwards if it is a fluke issue.

Still can't rule out bacteria - and that would require an antibiotic treatment....

Jay