I think my poor copperband butterfly has ick... not sure.

[wetjet43]

I got out the 150mm macro and snapped these shots. This parasite is hanging off the tip of one of it's pectoral fins, and on the inside of the other pectoral fin near it's body. It also has some roughed up body area above it's right pectoral fin.. this could be caused by it trying to itch itself on the rocks. It obviously doesn't like this stuff on it. It's bouncing off my live rock like crazy trying to knock it off. I'm thinking of taking it back to my lfs and have them hold it in their med tank for a week or so. I don't want to treat this water due to the coral I have.

<a href="http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj151/wetjet43/?action=view&current=cband2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj151/wetjet43/cband2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br><br>

<a href="http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj151/wetjet43/?action=view&current=cband3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj151/wetjet43/cband3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br><br>

<a href="http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj151/wetjet43/?action=view&current=cband5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj151/wetjet43/cband5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[wetjet43]

Let me add, these are not small little white dots like grains of salt. they are much bigger. I could pull one off with tweezers, but I'm sure Mr. Copper would not like that.

 

[Recty]

If they are big, kind of fluffy looking things, it's a fishes version of warts, otherwise known as lymphocistis.

Nothing you can do to cure it but keep pristine water quality, it's a virus that the fish has to fight off on it's own.

 

[wetjet43]

Yeah, they're kind of fluffy. I'll make sure to keep the water clean. Thanks.

 

[Recty]

I would do some research on wetwebmedia about lymphocystis, there is plenty of reading to do there.

 

[limitdown]

Yeah, lymphocystis. Caused by a virus and there is no cure. Although lymph is not extremely contagious, you should still consider moving him to a QT. Keep up the water quality in the QT and feel well. Lymph is seldom fatal, but it's extremely annoying.