Beginning of HLLE?

[EllisJuan]

I have a Kole Tang that is in QT right now. He was purchased from the Diver's Den and has been in QT for two weeks tomorrow. I noticed blotches under his eyes and right above his mouth a few days ago. At first I thought they were marking I had not noticed or some kind of color change, as they seem to be symmetrical on both sides of his face, or maybe they were scratches from nipping at PVC or something. But then I started reading about HLLE and began to get concerned. They look like they have gotten a little lighter/more noticeable since I first noticed them, or that could just be my paranoia. Do you think this is the beginning of HLLE? I have removed the GAC from the QT tank and am going to be soaking his Nori in selcon. I do 50% water changes twice a week. The only thing I have been using in the QT tank is Prime for ammonia/nitrite control. He has not been medicated with anything.

Please offer any insight you have on if this looks like HLLE, what I can do to reverse it, or any other advice. I am pretty concerned as this is an otherwise beautiful specimen.

 

[Rea17]

Yes, it is HLLE. You are already taking action against it, so not much else to do there. I have a kole tang that also developed it in QT, though I wasn't medicating and not running carbon. His diet was excellent. It got to a point where it stopped, and began to heal after he was moved to the DT. He still has scars in approximately the same areas as shown on yours, I hope they heal over time.

 

[EllisJuan]

Crap. This is a real bummer. Would you move him to the DT to hopefully stop the continuance? The DT is of course much more stable and has much more natural Fauna for him to graze on? He is otherwise very healthy and has shown no signs of any other type of disease.

 

[Rea17]

I medicate before anything goes into my DT (HLLE happened prior), but that's your choice. It may or may not help..

 

[EllisJuan]

I medicate before anything goes into my DT (HLLE happened prior), but that's your choice. It may or may not help..

Thanks for your thoughts/insight. I am really torn. I would really like to stop the damage and minimize the scarring. I know that DD fish are treated with praziquantel, antibiotics, and copper before they are offered for sale.

 

[EllisJuan]

He is in the DT. I wanted to get him in before my light cycle kicked off. Between DD treating him with praziquantel and copper before selling and me observing him over the last two weeks I felt comfortable enough to take the chance and hopefully reverse the HLLE and minimize scarring. Risk vs reward.

Ugh.