Help with diagnosis, white spots, but not ich

[vapormd]

I have a juvenille dussumieri tang in quarantine that has developed some lesions I have't encountered before. I've had the tang for about 1.5 weeks, and is being been treated with cupramine and praziquantel, which is my current routine for all new arrivals. A few days after I got the tang, I noticed a white spot on it's head about the eye. It disappeared the next day, and I figured it was ich, since I was already treating with copper, I simply continued on. However, the spots have multiplied, but remain confined to the same area and also appear to be following along some lines. The spots are definitely raised (which doesn't show in the pictures), but not fuzzy. The fish has no other lesions, and is eating well. Water quality is good (it's a well established quarantine tank), with only a few ppm of nitrate showing up on tests. No trauma as far as I know to the fish, although it's been fairly nervous it's entire stay in the quarantine tank so far, and likes to dart around when I approach.

I'm thinking bacterial infection of some scratches (what antibiotic would be appropriate?) or lymphocystis, which I have only seen pictures of. Doesn't seem to be ich, which unfortunately I have plenty of experience with.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Chris27]

Looks like the beginnings of HLLE....finish your copper treatment and do a very large water change. If it's HLLE, pristine water will help the fish clear up in due time. Keep an eye on it though for follow on infection, anything is possible.

 

[vapormd]

Thanks for the response - hadn't though of HLLE, but makes sense. Maybe the raised spots are due to secondary infection, or can HLLE cause raised lesions as well?

 

[Chris27]

Thanks for the response - hadn't though of HLLE, but makes sense. Maybe the raised spots are due to secondary infection, or can HLLE cause raised lesions as well?

Figure it this way, when you get a cut on your hand, many times it is raised above the rest of your skin - especially when it's healing....could be the case...in all reality the flesh has to go somewhere.