grayish black spots all over sailfin tang. black ich?

[hotelbravo]

My sailfin has these black spots all over it. i have read these are flatworms. are there fish that can eat this like the neon cleaner gobies? if not can i treat within my main tank or will i have to tear my 180 gallon down to get this guy out of here.

 

[Deinonych]

Can you post a picture?

 

[bami82]

Six Line Wrasse or Dragonnets eat them according to some article on internet: http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/compldiagnodisease/a/aa041701.htm

 

[ThRoewer]

Sounds like "Black Ich". Tangs, and especially Zebrasoma species are the most commonly infected fish - though other species can get infected as well.

"Black Ich" is caused by turbellarian flatworms - so the cure would be PraziPro. While I would try to avoid treating the DT with it, it can be done.
Especially treating FOWLR systems shouldn't be a problem.

 

[hotelbravo]

I will have to post a picture when I get home. I did notice some on my powder brown last night when the lights were off I could see the bumps on him. Both tangs have been clean for 4 months and no other tangs were added. I think I'm going to treat the main tank since it's a FOWLR. I will have to remove the bubble tip and carpet but that's all that would be affected in the main tank.

 

[Dmorty217]

If you see black specks on the tang, it's black ich. Prazipro will cure the problem. It's typically caused by poor water quality (at least thats what my disease books say) I had a desjaradini tang with it years ago and PP cleared it right up

 

[ThRoewer]

Many authors like to put the blame on water quality, but that is hardly ever the case with parasitic fish infections.

To my knowledge, black ich is most common with fish from Hawai'i.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[Dmorty217]

When I dealt with it, water quality wasn't the issue either. I haven't written any books on marine fish diseases so I was just quoting some that have.

 

[hotelbravo]

Sorry I never posted and photos. My LFS gave me a new product they have just started carrying to see if it would work. I just finished my last dose out of the bottle and both tangs are spot free. I dosed 2 tablespoons every 12 hours in the main tank and they look completely better.

The product is http://m.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=32800
It isn't new but it is new to my LFS. I am picking up another bottle today to continue dosing even though I see no signs of anything. It says reef and invert safe

 

[hotelbravo]

Not sure if anyone is still following but they are both looking completely cleaned and healthy after using that product. No harm was done to any coral or inverts including anemones.

 

[ThRoewer]

After reading the ingredient list I'm not sure I would ever put that into any of my tanks.
If I want oily fish I go and get a can of sardines from the grocery store.

 

[hotelbravo]

Yea the ingredients are..strange...