Flame angel has flesh missing?

[homer1475]

I did post this in the disease section, but its deadsville over there, so thought I might get a few more eyes over here.

I noticed the last couple days my flame angel is developing what looks to be holes in his head. I only noticed them because they are turning brown/black almost like they are healing(not sure if fish get scabs or not?). His entire head is turning this blackish color and right above his eyes on both sides of his head have these gaping holes. My acclimation procedure is TTM, followed by 4 to 6 weeks of QT with 2 rounds of prazipro, and any other meds they may need. The electric neon dottyback that went through the process with him is absolutely fine. He does swim, eat, get along with his tankmates just fine, and they don't seem to be bothering him, just wondering if its something I need to be worried about or not. I did manage to get one pic where you can faintly see these "holes" in his head. Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I can't tell anything from that picture, do you have a head on shot?

 

[homer1475]

I'll try to get one, but not to hopeful. Hard to get pics of a swimming fish. lol

 

[theMatrix]

They do look like chew marks or chunks missing?

 

[homer1475]

They look like chunks missing. I did forget to mention that When I originally got him, these same markings were whitish in nature. I just figured they were wounds from bumping into the tank(LFS had him in a 10G). Only recently(last 2 days) have I noticed them turning brown and actually look like chunks missing. None of my other fish(Electric indigo dottyback, 2 clowns, clown goby) are aggressive so I don't think it's from fighting. Heres the best pics I could get, you can see the splotches right above his eye.



Still a bit blurry, but the best I can do.

 

[homer1475]

After doing some digging on the net, could it be HLLE?

 

[CStrickland]

After doing some digging on the net, could it be HLLE?

Yeah. We think of hlle as a tang disease but angels can get it too. I don't think it would hurt to make sure he's eating well and stop running carbon while you try to figure out what's going on with him.

 

[CStrickland]

After doing some digging on the net, could it be HLLE?

Yeah. We think of hlle as a tang disease but angels can get it too. I don't think it would hurt to make sure he's eating well and stop running carbon while you try to figure out what's going on with him.
How long have you had him?

 

[Sk8r]

Try soaking his food in Selcon.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I honestly think you answered this in the first post., it looks like it's healing. You also said it was whiteish when you got the fish. No I dont think this is HLLE I think he either got bitten by another fish or banged up when being collected who knows but that's my 2 cents

 

[homer1475]

Try soaking his food in Selcon.

So your saying it could be a nutrition deficiency? I know I read HLLE is sometimes brought on by nutritional deficiencies so maybe your on to something?

On that note, I feed seachem Nutridiet marine flakes, Frozen mysis, and frozen reef food from SF Bay brand(mostly for my NPS's but the fish get the leftover), NLS all purpose 1mm sinking pellet, Nori strips, and LRS reef frenzy that I broadcast to everyone, but mostly for the corals. Pretty sure he's getting a full spectrum of nutritional needs with all that?

 

[homer1475]

Yeah. We think of hlle as a tang disease but angels can get it too. I don't think it would hurt to make sure he's eating well and stop running carbon while you try to figure out what's going on with him.
How long have you had him?

Hmmm.......

2 weeks of TTM, 6 weeks QT, and I think 3 weeks in the DT. So maybe at the most 3 months. It only lost its whitish appearance and turned into these holes in the last couple days. Last night is when the top of his head turned brown in color(almost like scabs).

 

[jennfinn1986]

Hi i was wondering jow your fish eneded up. I have a flame angel that haf a brown looking spot looked like ad scab also and today mow theres a hole looking with scales missing. Im wondering whats wrong and thought your situation sounded similar.