Can you identify?

[TGSmitherman]

Hi. I just started this 36 gal tank and am kind of new to the business... I recently bought a sailfin tang and noticed these dots on it. I pulled him from the tank for quarantine, but I'm not sure if it is ich or just from stress?

(Note: It was nipped at a few times by a damsel that is, well, no longer in my tank)

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Have you done a FW dip on him? Looks to me like it may be flukes. Also the torn fins are symptomatic of flukes. If you have Prazi on hand go ahead and dose him with it. How is the fish acting, breathing, scratching, eating, etc? Also are the base of his fins red?
Btw 36 gal is way too small for a Sailfin.

 

[snorvich]

Have you done a FW dip on him? Looks to me like it may be flukes. Also the torn fins are symptomatic of flukes. If you have Prazi on hand go ahead and dose him with it. How is the fish acting, breathing, scratching, eating, etc? Also are the base of his fins red?
Btw 36 gal is way too small for a Sailfin.

I agree in both regards.

 

[TGSmitherman]

There is a definite red color at the base of its pectoral fins and a light ring near its tail. Its breathing seems labored and rapid. He definitely didn't have any signs when I bought it though. I have done a few FW dips with it the past few days. Can you tell me more about flukes?

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Read this: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2388423
When you did the dip did anything come off?

 

[TGSmitherman]

I didn't see anything that really stood out. But the poor guy died. Now I'm worried about a foxface that may have gotten it from him. He's showing white specs but he's extremely energetic and his coloration suggests that he isn't really stressed.

 

[TGSmitherman]

This is what the tang looked like after he died. Not sure if that helps?

 

[TGSmitherman]

And you can see the spots on the foxface here.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Did the tang have excess mucus coming off him?

 

[TGSmitherman]

He was pretty slimy. What would that indicate.
Also, I dipped the fox face and those spots came off.

 

[julie180]

PLEASE research what you are putting into your tank. Neither a sailfin or foxface should be in a 36 gallon tank.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

He was pretty slimy. What would that indicate.
Also, I dipped the fox face and those spots came off.

Based on the timeline from purchase to death and the excess slime you may be dealing with brook or velvet. Velvet is a faster killer than brook but who knows how long they had it before you brought them home. My suggestion would be formalin dips every other day for the foxface. This would also take care of the flukes. He will also have to be treated in a QT and leave the main tank fallow for 8 weeks.
As stated in the second and third post your tank is too small to maintain these animals. I would personally get him healthy again and take them back to the LFS.