Blue Tang developed white excess on fin

[lolla]

Hi there, Ive recently started up the hobby with marine fish and gradually worked my tank up to put a pair of clowns in a couple of months ago I bought a blue tang about a week ago and a fire fish a couple of days ago from the same shop... however i noticed on the blue tang it has a white bit of excess on the tip of its fin?? There are no spots on its skin but it was scratching itself of the live rock.. i have a few pictures. I have moved the blue tang into another tank at the moment to protect the other fish. Any help would be much appreciated! :hmm2:

 

[ThRoewer]

Not clear to see in the picture, but from the description it is likely Lymphocystis.
Check on this page under viral diseases.

 

[lolla]

Thanks alot, I took her back to the shop today and he said it looks like cystis... the guy said he could just take it off with his nail?? So ive left the fish over night at the shop. Going back in tomorrow to see how she is.. not sure if i should take another blue tang in its place or just take her back..

Thanks alot for your reply! :spin1:

 

[rssjsb]

Lympho is not life-threatening and not infectious. Good water and food will resolve it. I wouldn't reject a healthy fish because of this.

 

[ThRoewer]

Lympho is not life-threatening...

That is only true for mild cases and when corrective action is taken. Lympocysists on the mouth can even in mild cases be life-threatening.

... and not infectious...

Not true. It's caused by a virus and infectious, especially if fish have open wounds from netting.
Though healthy fish will be able to contain and fight it off.

 

[lolla]

Thanks for your replys. Went into shop today and the guy never touched it and the white bit was away!? She was in the tank with a cleaner wrasse so he said the wrasse must have eaten it? Anyways took it back home today and is very happy and healthy!!... thanks everyone !!

 

[rssjsb]

That is only true for mild cases and when corrective action is taken. Lympocysists on the mouth can even in mild cases be life-threatening.


Not true. It's caused by a virus and infectious, especially if fish have open wounds from netting.
Though healthy fish will be able to contain and fight it off.

Ok, I stand corrected. I should have said "based on my experience" that lympho is *usually* not life threatening. Now that you've mentioned it, it's true I've only experienced as a minor issue on otherwise healthy new fish that always resolved itself in QT. So i guess I've never had to cause to observe it behave as a contagious disease.

I guess I should amend my statement to say that I would probably not pass on an otherwise healthy fish based on a mild case of lympho that presented itself on a fin. But that assumes QT, good water quality, etc. will resolve the condition.