I have a Yellow Stripped Maroon (Little Elvis) that seems to be a magnet for parasites. He looks to be very healthy otherwise, that is he eats like a pig, and eventhough he is the smallest of six other tank-mates he is no doubt the BOSS of the tank. He defends and protects his Frogspawn Condo with an iron fist, or fin, as it were. I’ve had him nearly 3 months and have noticed that he always has this one really big parasite, and it has recently gotten really big, maybe a 1/16†long. Sometimes he gets one or two in different spots, but this ONE is always in the same spot, (a little aft of mid-ships starboard side.) Once he had one on his head for about a week, but it either fell off or he knocked it off and I have seen them on his pectorals a few times up close to the body. Those come and go, but the one on his back-side is pretty constant and big enough to flop around when he swims.
Of course my first suspicion was Marine Ich. But after reading up and comparing pictures, I really don’t think this is Ich. I’ve checked it out closely with a big magnifying glass and it looks long and dangly, almost like a little remora, only white.
I have never seen this on any of the other six fish in the tank, not even the Coral Beauty or the Midas who were introduced all at the same time he was. The only thing I see that Little Elvis does differently from the other fish is wallow constantly in that big Frogspawn. I’m thinking that perhaps it is a wound, like a flap of skin or some irritation he is getting from the coral. The thing that drives me nuts is he never flashes rocks or tries to knock the thing off. Whatever it is, it doesn’t seem to bother him.
But it bothers me. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Of course my first suspicion was Marine Ich. But after reading up and comparing pictures, I really don’t think this is Ich. I’ve checked it out closely with a big magnifying glass and it looks long and dangly, almost like a little remora, only white.
I have never seen this on any of the other six fish in the tank, not even the Coral Beauty or the Midas who were introduced all at the same time he was. The only thing I see that Little Elvis does differently from the other fish is wallow constantly in that big Frogspawn. I’m thinking that perhaps it is a wound, like a flap of skin or some irritation he is getting from the coral. The thing that drives me nuts is he never flashes rocks or tries to knock the thing off. Whatever it is, it doesn’t seem to bother him.
But it bothers me. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
