My Flame Hawkfish has developed what looks like white patches on his body and fins (about half to a quarter the size of a pencil eraser). There are about 5 of them now. They don't appear raised like a growth. Any ideas? Doesn't seem to be bothering him....still eats fine...no scratching. Other fish appear fine as well. They are definitely multiplying though. The symptoms don't seem to match any of the common marine fish diseases.
Flame Hawkfish needs diagnosed
- Thread starter Waters40
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tylersarah
Member
A good picture's worth a thousand words.
Ok...here is a picture. Strange thing is that since I created the post, all the spots are gone with the exception of the one pictured on the left fin. It definitely doesn't look like anything "stuck" to him from the sand or live rock. It doesn't appear to be parasitic either? I am not sure what you mean by history......I have had the fish for about 6 months in a mixed reef with a few other peaceful fish. The first spot showed up about a week ago and progressed to about 6 spots (until tonight, when they all disappeared except one). He continues to eat and act normally.
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It appears from the picture to be Lymphocystis but pictures with the other "spots" would be useful. By history, I always mean when was the fish added, when was the last item that was wet added. Parasites almost always cause behavioral issues so if there are none, that is promising.
Thanks for the reply. Here are a couple more pictures (sorry for the poor quality). These spots seem to come and go as quickly as overnight. As you can see from the first pic that I posted, there are now an additional two spots on the tail fin and one on the dorsal fin. To answer your questions, the fish was added about 6 months ago. No other fish have been added since but I have added several coral and members of the CUC since.
The water conditions are good (no ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates have ever been detectable......0 phosphates, calcium 420, PH 8.2, SG 1.025). I also do weekly 10 gallon water changes. The tank is a 60 gallon mixed reef with a 20 gallon sump.
The water conditions are good (no ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates have ever been detectable......0 phosphates, calcium 420, PH 8.2, SG 1.025). I also do weekly 10 gallon water changes. The tank is a 60 gallon mixed reef with a 20 gallon sump.
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tylersarah
Member
^Those two white spots on his tail are what you're referring to? It's odd, keep looking for more clues (symptoms on others, fish fighting/chasing?, rubbing, swimming into powerheads, anorexia, hiding excessively etc). I wonder if it's a large form of flukes, but I'm unsure. The good news is if it is lympho you don't need to do anything except keep clean water/feed healthy foods. Keep us updated.
Yes, those are the spots I am referring to....you can actually see what they look like from the first picture that I posted earlier in the thread. He has had as many as 6 at a time on various parts of his body that seem to come and go. There definitely isn't any conflicts between fish....also no symptoms such as flashing or not eating. I also don't see anything like that on any of the other fish. I am glad to hear that there is nothing to do if it is lympho because I was dreading trying to catch him for a hospital tank....hopefully that is what it is. I guess the question would be why did he get it in the first place if the water conditions are already optimal?
tylersarah
Member
Let's not skip ahead to a Lymphocystis diagnosis. Are the spots opaque or white-ish? Are they more uniform and smooth in appearance or bumpy and irregular? Is this fish your only bottom dweller ie another goby, wrasse etc
The spots are white but they are definitely not raised like the picture of the angel. They are neither bumpy or irregular....they have very smooth edges. On the fins, it almost looks like a loss of color in a perfect semi-circle. They have appeared on the body though as well. They seem to come and go very quickly (although one has been in the same exact spot for over a week) which would point to some type of parasite I assume but whatever it is, it is only affecting the Hawkfish. I also have a leopard wrasse and a couple of Cardinalfish.
tylersarah
Member
I suspect some type of fluke, maybe you can only see them on the hawkfish, maybe he's the first to be infected because he spends the most time on the substrate.
If they were my fish I would freshwater dip (pH & temp match +aeration) for at least a few minutes to see if anything dislodges.
If they were my fish I would freshwater dip (pH & temp match +aeration) for at least a few minutes to see if anything dislodges.
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