Thought I had Ich... Now I’m not sure.

[kswan]

About 3 weeks ago I noticed a few very small white spots on my Kole Tang. It was also flashing and scraping on the sand and rocks. Sometimes I can see very small spots and other times I can’t. Over the last week my royal gramma is now showing small white spots and flashing/scraping. The Gramma is also looking a little pale with rough fins. The tang looks occasionally pale and today was swimming into the powerhead. The spots are very small and do not look like the ich pictures I have seen. If it is velvet it sounds like they should have been dead 3 weeks ago. I’ll post a few pictures but they are very camera shy. I’m thinking I should quarantine and treat with copper but I would like to know what I am dealing with. This is my first time attempting to treat a disease outside of quarantine.

 

[kswan]

 

[Dsnakes]

They would indeed be dead if velvet. Sounds like Ich. You see the spots as the parasites fall off to start life cycle again.

 

[kswan]

Most of the white spots are particulate in the water. I’m not really seeing any spots today. I should also mention that all fish went through TTM but I haven’t quarantined inverts or corals. I traded someone local a few months ago which I believe must have been the carrier. Nothing else has changed since winter.

 

[KJ]

Pic of velvet.

 

[KJ]

Pic of Ich.

 

[HotRocks]

I have a Kole who very occasionally swims into a powerhead. For about 2 seconds. In an attempt to eat algae off of it.

I am more suspect of flukes here with your description. Likely not velvet if it's been going on for a few weeks.

How big is DT?

Can you trap your Kole and do a 5min FW dip? See if flukes come off?

 

[kswan]

The display is 90 gallons. I’ve never had to trap a fish in the display before but that sounds like a good first step. I feel like the spots don’t look like ich or velvet. I found the article with those images and it made me more confused.

 

[kswan]

You can see small white spots on the fins.

 

[HotRocks]

If you don't see flukes after a FW dip then it's likely ich IMO.

Given your description and the time frame. Anything is possible with the addition or corals etc that weren't QTd.

 

[HotRocks]

You can see small white spots on the fins.

This looks like flukes. To me.

 

[kswan]

Thanks @HotRocks. I’ll start with a freshwater dip and go from there.

 

[Humblefish]

This looks like flukes. To me.

^^ Agree; a 5 min FW dip will tell for sure: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/

 

[kswan]

Thanks for weighing in @Humblefish. When I get home later I will do the dip. Any tips on catching him?

 

[kswan]

Well I spent 2 hours and was unable to catch him. I knocked over several corals in the process too. I’ll give it another go tomorrow. I was able to catch one of my clowns and gave him a 5 min dip with no signs of flukes.

 

[HotRocks]

Well I spent 2 hours and was unable to catch him. I knocked over several corals in the process too. I’ll give it another go tomorrow. I was able to catch one of my clowns and gave him a 5 min dip with no signs of flukes.

Do you have a fish trap?

You can make one with eggcrate and zip ties. Then a piece of fishing line.

 

[kswan]

Working on it now.

 

[kswan]

 

[kswan]

Just need to track down some fishing line.

 

[kswan]

You can hardly notice it’s there...