Sixline wrasse parasite

[20gallonreefer000]

About 10 days ago I purchased a six line wrasse from my LFS and I’ve noticed white dots on his fins. I have 3 fish in my tank - sixline wrasse, yellowtail damsel and a falco hawk fish. The six line is the only one with dots on him. He looks perfectly healthy and exhibits normal sixline behaviour, it seems like ich to me as I know it begins on the fins. Is it ick and how should I go about treating it?? (Sorry about picture quality)

Tank details:
20 gallon
78F
Salinity: 1.025
KH: 11.5
Calcium: 450
Magnesium: 1350
Nitrate: 15
Phosphate: 1
The tank has been running for 1 year 3 months

 

[20gallonreefer000]

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[TX_REEF]

Those dots are extremely tiny, usually ich is a bit more apparent and widespread. #fishmedics

 

[Sharkbait19]

Looks like it could just be injuries to the fins. These guys are always darting in and out of rocks (and getting into fights), so some damage is bound to happen.
Keep an eye on it to see how it progresses, but I think it should be fine.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

About 10 days ago I purchased a six line wrasse from my LFS and I’ve noticed white dots on his fins. I have 3 fish in my tank - sixline wrasse, yellowtail damsel and a falco hawk fish. The six line is the only one with dots on him. He looks perfectly healthy and exhibits normal sixline behaviour, it seems like ich to me as I know it begins on the fins. Is it ick and how should I go about treating it?? (Sorry about picture quality)

Tank details:
20 gallon
78F
Salinity: 1.025
KH: 11.5
Calcium: 450
Magnesium: 1350
Nitrate: 15
Phosphate: 1
The tank has been running for 1 year 3 months

Tough to say at this point - the key is to watch the spots over a few days: fin injuries will be in the same location in roughly the same numbers. Ich spots will change location and change in number day to day. Bacterial infections will stay in the same location, but grow larger each day.

 

[20gallonreefer000]

Tough to say at this point - the key is to watch the spots over a few days: fin injuries will be in the same location in roughly the same numbers. Ich spots will change location and change in number day to day. Bacterial infections will stay in the same location, but grow larger each day.

I appreciate the response, since this post was made the dots have completely disappeared and he's doing fine. Thanks :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I appreciate the response, since this post was made the dots have completely disappeared and he's doing fine. Thanks :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:.

Good to hear. However, remember one hallmark of ich is that the spots come and go at first, so watch the wrasse daily for any return!

 

[20gallonreefer000]

Looks like it could just be injuries to the fins. These guys are always darting in and out of rocks (and getting into fights), so some damage is bound to happen.
Keep an eye on it to see how it progresses, but I think it should be fine.

Good to hear. However, remember one hallmark of ich is that the spots come and go at first, so watch the wrasse daily for any return!

Bad news, he’s gone pale and has started flashing and yawning quite frequently. Do you think it’s time for a freshwater dip?

 

[Sharkbait19]

The video won’t play - could you add it as a YouTube link?

 

[20gallonreefer000]

The video won’t play - could you add it as a YouTube link?

 

[Sharkbait19]

Could you take it under whiter light? The fish itself looks physically fine in the video, though the behavior towards the end seems off. Is it constantly acting erratic like that?

 

[20gallonreefer000]

Could you take it under whiter light? The fish itself looks physically fine in the video, though the behavior towards the end seems off. Is it constantly acting erratic like that?

He looks fine besides being pale, similar to when a new fish is introduced and they lose their colour. He has no visible spots at the moment. He has been acting fairly twitchy and has been swimming near the surface more than usual. Also I can't take a video right now as the tank lights are off for the night and don't want to stress him more.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Have you noticed any aggression from others?
Pale colors can be indicative of stress, and aggressive fish can pressure others into hanging out near the top of the tank.

 

[20gallonreefer000]

Have you noticed any aggression from others?
Pale colors can be indicative of stress, and aggressive fish can pressure others into hanging out near the top of the tank.

The only other fish I have in the tank at the moment is a small yellowtail damsel, he is very peaceful and shy. I haven't noticed any forms of aggression from him.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Bad news, he’s gone pale and has started flashing and yawning quite frequently. Do you think it’s time for a freshwater dip?

No - FW dips are really just a diagnostic tool (and you need a microscope). Putting the fish back into the same tank will just reinfect it.

The surface of the tank is too still, did you shut off all the pumps for the video? Adding aeration is a really good idea, I won't run a tank without air. That very well could be the cause of the fish rushing the surface like that.

Finally, this could be flukes. That can be treated in the tank with prazipro. You remove any carbon, run your skimmer but don't collect the skimmate, add good aeration and then dose the tank at 85% of the tank's rated volume (to offset water displacement from the rocks). Then, after 8 days, do a 25% water change and redose.

 

[20gallonreefer000]

No - FW dips are really just a diagnostic tool (and you need a microscope). Putting the fish back into the same tank will just reinfect it.

The surface of the tank is too still, did you shut off all the pumps for the video? Adding aeration is a really good idea, I won't run a tank without air. That very well could be the cause of the fish rushing the surface like that.

Finally, this could be flukes. That can be treated in the tank with prazipro. You remove any carbon, run your skimmer but don't collect the skimmate, add good aeration and then dose the tank at 85% of the tank's rated volume (to offset water displacement from the rocks). Then, after 8 days, do a 25% water change and redose.

Prazipro isn’t accessible in Canada. I think I’ll keep an eye on the six line and try to get a definitive diagnosis of what’s causing him his problems. Thank you for all the help you’ve provided so far.