What is wrong with my black tang?

[tangs123tangs]

Hello! I have a fully grown black tang, he is about 8 inches long. I had him in my 220 gallon tank and he was healthy. However, I just transferred him to my new 1000 G peninsula tank and a couple days after entering the tank he developed these white spots. See pictures attached. I will say that some of the tangs in this tang did go throuhg something similar (orange shoulder tang). This black tang has gone through and survived severe ich before in my 220. These white spots dont quite look like ich though. They are very well pronounced, almost seem to be protruding through his skin? Orange shoulder had it also about a month ago and looked very similar. He has now fully recovered.

Black seems to be ok, he is swimming around and eats, although perhaps he eats a bit less then nomral. He's had these white spots proably for 5 days now. Seems like the white spots are getting more and more prominent every day, wonder if they are about to fall off?

Any idea what this is?

I have over 80 anthias in my tank and numerous other tangs and none other are sick.

Thank you for looking. Happy to answer any questions.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello! I have a fully grown black tang, he is about 8 inches long. I had him in my 220 gallon tank and he was healthy. However, I just transferred him to my new 1000 G peninsula tank and a couple days after entering the tank he developed these white spots. See pictures attached. I will say that some of the tangs in this tang did go throuhg something similar (orange shoulder tang). This black tang has gone through and survived severe ich before in my 220. These white spots dont quite look like ich though. They are very well pronounced, almost seem to be protruding through his skin? Orange shoulder had it also about a month ago and looked very similar. He has now fully recovered.

Black seems to be ok, he is swimming around and eats, although perhaps he eats a bit less then nomral. He's had these white spots proably for 5 days now. Seems like the white spots are getting more and more prominent every day, wonder if they are about to fall off?

Any idea what this is?

I have over 80 anthias in my tank and numerous other tangs and none other are sick.

Thank you for looking. Happy to answer any questions.

This fish unfortunately has Ich and mucus cones mixed with Ich and will need to be treated in a separate tank using coppersafe at 2.25

 

[MnFish1]

Hello! I have a fully grown black tang, he is about 8 inches long. I had him in my 220 gallon tank and he was healthy. However, I just transferred him to my new 1000 G peninsula tank and a couple days after entering the tank he developed these white spots. See pictures attached. I will say that some of the tangs in this tang did go throuhg something similar (orange shoulder tang). This black tang has gone through and survived severe ich before in my 220. These white spots dont quite look like ich though. They are very well pronounced, almost seem to be protruding through his skin? Orange shoulder had it also about a month ago and looked very similar. He has now fully recovered.

Black seems to be ok, he is swimming around and eats, although perhaps he eats a bit less then nomral. He's had these white spots proably for 5 days now. Seems like the white spots are getting more and more prominent every day, wonder if they are about to fall off?

Any idea what this is?

I have over 80 anthias in my tank and numerous other tangs and none other are sick.

Thank you for looking. Happy to answer any questions.

Agree with Ich - and another suggestion would be that in reality all of your fish should probably be treated - which I know is not what you wanted to hear - while you leave your tank fallow. On the other hand - I don't see a lot of inverts (coral, etc) in your tank - which means you could use hypo salinity as well - if this is a FOWLR tank.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hello! I have a fully grown black tang, he is about 8 inches long. I had him in my 220 gallon tank and he was healthy. However, I just transferred him to my new 1000 G peninsula tank and a couple days after entering the tank he developed these white spots. See pictures attached. I will say that some of the tangs in this tang did go throuhg something similar (orange shoulder tang). This black tang has gone through and survived severe ich before in my 220. These white spots dont quite look like ich though. They are very well pronounced, almost seem to be protruding through his skin? Orange shoulder had it also about a month ago and looked very similar. He has now fully recovered.

Black seems to be ok, he is swimming around and eats, although perhaps he eats a bit less then nomral. He's had these white spots proably for 5 days now. Seems like the white spots are getting more and more prominent every day, wonder if they are about to fall off?

Any idea what this is?

I have over 80 anthias in my tank and numerous other tangs and none other are sick.

Thank you for looking. Happy to answer any questions.

Mucus plugs/cones versus ich can be very difficult to diagnose. Mucus plugs are caused by some stressor (like moving to a new tank, copper treatments) but can also be caused by a reaction to the ich trophonts.

In this case, at least some of the spots are too large to be ich. However, mucus plugs are less common on a fish's fins, and I can see spots on this guy's fins.

What is the history for ich in this larger tank? Had you been "managing" ich in there, or has it been completely ich-free?

80 anthias in the tank is going to make any regular ich treatment almost impossible.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello! I have a fully grown black tang, he is about 8 inches long. I had him in my 220 gallon tank and he was healthy. However, I just transferred him to my new 1000 G peninsula tank and a couple days after entering the tank he developed these white spots. See pictures attached. I will say that some of the tangs in this tang did go throuhg something similar (orange shoulder tang). This black tang has gone through and survived severe ich before in my 220. These white spots dont quite look like ich though. They are very well pronounced, almost seem to be protruding through his skin? Orange shoulder had it also about a month ago and looked very similar. He has now fully recovered.

Black seems to be ok, he is swimming around and eats, although perhaps he eats a bit less then nomral. He's had these white spots proably for 5 days now. Seems like the white spots are getting more and more prominent every day, wonder if they are about to fall off?

Any idea what this is?

I have over 80 anthias in my tank and numerous other tangs and none other are sick.

Thank you for looking. Happy to answer any questions.

This fish unfortunately has Ich and mucus cones mixed with Ich and will need to be treated in a separate tank using coppersafe at 2.25 for a full 30 days, not less and monitored by a reliable Copper Test kit such as Hanna Brand- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone.
The display tank will have to be kept fishless (FALLOW) for 6-8 weeks to assure the existing parasites go through their life cycle without a host fish and die off and with occupants exposed, they too should go into quarantine
Often you will notice with mucus plugs other fish show no signs but do keep an eye on them as theyve been exposed.

 

[tangs123tangs]

Thank you for the replies!!! This new tank has about 23 tangs in it. It is 12 feet long. 4 feet wide. I have 2 150 W UV sterilizers.

Majority of tangs have had white spots but less prominent (my gems, blue hippos, baby blacks), looked more like ich. But they have all fully recovered. Good news is he is eating more and more everyday and remains active. As I mentioend he had been through severe ich in my old tank and survived. Seems like to me black tang are prone to getting ich but also can survive it.

 

[MnFish1]

Thank you for the replies!!! This new tank has about 23 tangs in it. It is 12 feet long. 4 feet wide. I have 2 150 W UV sterilizers.

Majority of tangs have had white spots but less prominent (my gems, blue hippos, baby blacks), looked more like ich. But they have all fully recovered. Good news is he is eating more and more everyday and remains active. As I mentioend he had been through severe ich in my old tank and survived. Seems like to me black tang are prone to getting ich but also can survive it.

Tangs have an extremely long lifespan in the wild - so - hopefully - it will get through this infection. I might make sure your UV bulbs are clean at this point:). Please keep everyone updated!

 

[FishTruck]

Sounds like you are going to ride it out! This can work, IME, keep us updated and good luck!