Help with Powder Brown Tang

[flfireman1]

Hello,
Im hoping to get some help with a PBT Ive had for a little over a month now.
About a month ago I purchased this fish which showed a few specks of Ick when I first purchased him. I didnt QT since I usually dont QT my fish (Im not set up for it and lack the room and space). (Yes I know, I understand the importance of QT)

He looked great for about 3 weeks but then started to rub on the rocks and shake his head. I did some research and thought that what I was dealing with was flukes. Ive done a total of 3, 5 day treatments of Prazipro with 5 days in between, did a large water change in between the doses. But the PBT looks to be getting worse.

The good news is he hasnt lost his appetite and eats extremely well (Nori, PE Mysis, pellets)
Ive included some pics for you to see, these where taken today. Am I just dealing with a bad case of flukes or is this a bad case of Ick?

Thanks
Eric

 

[b0bab0ey]

My first thought was "Ich" but the closer I look I'm thinking some sort of external worm. Check out this thread for more info, including treatment options:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2154429

Edit: Could still be Ich. Maybe others will chime in. Those white spots just look a little too big to be Ich IMO. But maybe I'm just not used to seeing Ich that magnified.

 

[MrTuskfish]

My first thought was "Ich" but the closer I look I'm thinking some sort of external worm. Check out this thread for more info, including treatment options:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2154429

Edit: Could still be Ich. Maybe others will chime in. Those white spots just look a little too big to be Ich IMO. But maybe I'm just not used to seeing Ich that magnified.

Yeah, there may be more in the mix than ich; but I'd bet ich is a big factor. the fish's scratching and head shaking sure say "ich".

To the OP: Did you actually buy a fish that was showing ich and then put it in your DT? That's the way your post seems to read. I would never buy anything from a LFS that would sell a fish with visible ich. Your only option is to put all of your fish in a HT/QT, treat them, leave the DT fishles for 10-12 weeks, and then start using te QT with all new fish. I'd start by reading the ich stickies at the top of this forum section, get a HT/QT going ASAP, and keep us posted. you'll get a lot of help.

 

[b0bab0ey]

Yeah, there may be more in the mix than ich; but I'd bet ich is a big factor. the fish's scratching and head shaking sure say "ich".

You're probably right. This might be one of those few times when it's wise to use copper and Prazi together.

 

[flfireman1]

To the OP: Did you actually buy a fish that was showing ich and then put it in your DT? That's the way your post seems to read. I would never buy anything from a LFS that would sell a fish with visible ich. Your only option is to put all of your fish in a HT/QT, treat them, leave the DT fishles for 10-12 weeks, and then start using te QT with all new fish. I'd start by reading the ich stickies at the top of this forum section, get a HT/QT going ASAP, and keep us posted. you'll get a lot of help.

No, the ich showed up on the 2nd or 3rd day of putting him in the display.

 

[flfireman1]

Edit: Could still be Ich. Maybe others will chime in. Those white spots just look a little too big to be Ich IMO. But maybe I'm just not used to seeing Ich that magnified.

That's what I thought initially, it didnt look like your typical grain of sand Ich.

 

[MrTuskfish]

You're probably right. This might be one of those few times when it's wise to use copper and Prazi together.

I agree. This fish has that worm-like problem that has shown up a few times. But much of the fish is covered in ich, IMO. IMO, the suggestion to use both copper and PP makes sense; I sure don't have any other suggestion. A FW or Formalin dip on the way to the HT/QT may help with the the larger parasites, but not ich.I'd be prepared to treat all the fish, I'd expect some of them to show signs of ich soon. Any other fish scratching yet?

 

[flfireman1]

Any other fish scratching yet?

No, incredibly enough (knock on wood) everyone else is completely healthy and showing no signs of disease. The PBT still has a voracious appetite and is looking better. I lowered the salinity a bit to 1.021 to see is it helped any.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Lowering SG won't do anything with ich unless it goes down to 1,009. It won't bother other parasites at any level that fish can tolerate for any amount of time.