Tang Fingerprint Disease

Humblefish · Nov 8, 2017

Wanted to start a thread on this, as a member of my local forum recently had a brush with this elusive condition/disease (photos below). I myself have had no experience with it, so everything I know comes from anecdotal evidence obtained online. Probably the best description of Tang Fingerprint Disease comes from this trusted source: http://chucksaddiction.thefishestate.net/disease.html

Tang Fingerprint Disease. Oval fingerprint-like areas of discoloration occur on the sides of tangs and surgeon fish. Fish feed well at first but deaths can occur. Given ideal conditions the disease appears to be self-limiting. Initially thought to be a result of traumatic damage, microscopic investigations failed to confirm this; it is believed to be viral although no viral particles have yet to be identified.

This Kole Tang had this discoloration (similar pattern) on both sides of his body. None of the other fish/tangs were affected, and it seems unlikely that a coral/nem sting would have caused similar looking markings on both sides of the body.

The next morning the fish appears perfectly fine. The discoloration is gone, like it was never there. No antibiotics or other meds were used.

Maritimer · Nov 8, 2017

Fascinating...

Am I reading the photo correctly, in that the kole's dorsal fin appears affected as well - or is that a trick of light and shadow?

~Bruce

jsker · Nov 8, 2017

Very interesting, thank you for new information.

Humblefish · Nov 8, 2017

Maritimer said:
Am I reading the photo correctly, in that the kole's dorsal fin appears affected as well - or is that a trick of light and shadow?

The discoloration was confined to the body only. What you're seeing is the light reflecting off his pectoral fin.

4FordFamily · Jan 24, 2018

This is interesting!

Neo Jeo · Jan 24, 2018

Maybe you prayed about it? "That seems to do the trick for me"

Big G · Jan 26, 2018

Seems like I've seen this or something very similar popping up on mostly blue colored tangs. Or is perhaps noticed more on blues because of the contrasting color shades. Probably wouldn't notice this as easily on the more common and numerous yellows.

NowGlazeIT · Jan 26, 2018

Weird how it vanished so suddenly. At first glance it looked like the start of a serious bacterial infection

NowGlazeIT · Jan 29, 2018

Saw this Kole tang yesterday

The spot is small but you can see it. In person it was more prominent on one side.
The other side I couldn’t get a good picture of. The fish had more scattered discoloration that I couldn’t pick up on the camera. They were tempature acclimating over 30 SW fish at the time so this could be stress but the place is to far to check on the tang today tho which is a real bummer

4FordFamily · Jan 29, 2018

I don’t think I’ve ever run in to this, but it’s interesting to say the least! I’ve been thinking back hard to my days of “leave it be and it’ll be fine”, nothing I can remember.

I wouldn’t have known what it was if not for this thread!

ScooterV · Jun 28, 2018

Wow, I just noticed this new addition. I got a kole from LA and during TTM what looked almost exactly like that appeared. I also thought it was bacterial and went right to the trifecta. No improvement the first day, but not worse. Second day it was gone. I was scratching my head and thinking "Wow, the trifecta works fast!", but seeing this it may have had nothing to do with it!

Neo Jeo · Jun 28, 2018

I picked up a yellow tang then the next day had white spots all over the front then the following day they were gone . Almost as if sand stuck to it slime coat possibly . Still don’t know lol best of luck

TangsRLife · Dec 6, 2018

Strange I thought this was just a bite.

TangsRLife · Dec 6, 2018

This happened to my yellow eye kole tang 4 times in the 4 years I had him. It went away overnight. My guess is that another tang bit him and that’s just the reaction they display.

Jase4224 · Mar 10, 2020

Sorry to dig up an old thread my I stumbled across it and I think my Majestic Angel has something like this.. I had my Majestic for a week or so when one morning I noticed it had these strange lighter coloured patches over its body. My heart sank of course because I thought it was velvet or something and the fish seemed stressed that morning. My wife had our sound system on and the subwoofer was quite loud so I figured it was spooked by that. The markings receded throughout the day and the next day were gone.

I’ve had my Majestic a few months now, he seems very happy, bold and is a pig at feeding time feeding on a variety of pellets, flake, frozen and nori.

Interestingly the markings pop up occasionally but can totally disappear within 15 minutes or so. I’m not sure if they are always in the same areas or not but I no longer worry and have accepted this odd behaviour. Seems to happen after feeding mostly. No other fish in the tank including a flame and coral beauty angels are affected.

sergifed91 · May 20, 2020

I have a kole tang and noticed a major spot on one side yesterday. I caught him and moved to QT and treated with Metroplex i believe. not sure off the top of my head. but noticed this morning white stringy stuff floating in the qt tank. moved it to a second qt tank and then tonight drained the other qt and threw it outside to dry and will clean with a vinegar solution and then do another t2t again tomorrow to make sure its well.