ich or not? a Noob Really needs help

[Bike2k]

I have been going crazy for the past 2 weeks. On December 22nd I noticed my Kole tank had a blemish on one of his pectoral fins. 5 days later I posted it in the new to hobby area. That it appeared he had 2 additional small white spots on his face and some thought it was ICH but the verdict was still out. I decided to wait and see if it got worse. The next day the 2 spots were gone (except for pectoral fin). So I figured it was just sand as he sleeps within my rock work. Then 5 days later I looked at him and he was covered with very small white specks so I figured OK it's ICH i will start treatment. Now today 3 days later almost all of the spots appear to again be gone. Is this how ich occurs? I have had freshwater fish for years and if they got ich it never went away the fish just got sicker and sometimes died. The fish shows no signs of being irritated or having trouble breathing and is eating nori like a pig. Also, no one else in the tank appears to have any white specs or other symptoms. I am tring to get another photo but he is not too cooperative. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance

 

[MrTuskfish]

FW & SW ich are entirely different critters.The spots coming and going is typical of SW ich. Scratching, (flashing), breathing problems, et al; usually don't appear right away. Assuming this is ich; the parasites are all not in the fish, but getting ready to emerge in much larger numbers. I'd read the ich stickies above (at least the first few posts) and Google "marine ich". You'll probably see mostly fish with tons of ich; but just compare individual spots. You have a few options if this is ich: tank-transfer (my 1st choice if you have the equipment, or can get it), copper, or hypo (I no longer trust it). There also seems to be a couple of quinine drugs that work well; but I haven't tried them yet. (Chloroquine Phosphate and Quinine Sulfate). Both seem effective; but are hard to find. From my limited knowledge, CP would be my 1st choice.) Don't let a LFS talk you into any "reef-safe' ich treatment. there is no such thing. Your DT will have to stay fishless for 10+ weeks while ALL of your fish are in a QT.

Was this the tang that was just in a QT for 3 weeks? If this is ich; you must treat them in a QT/HT. If you don't start using a good QT regimen after you get over this stuff; you will have the same problems and possibly end up leaving the hobby. The turnover rate in our hobby is very high and I expect that failure to use a QT may be the #1 reason.

 

[Bike2k]

Thanks again MrTuskfish. I've been doing a lot of reading and rereading, guess we were just hoping it wasn't the case. I was going to use copper but I am concerned with the testing and quantities and if I screw it up I have to begin all over. I am currently setting up to perform TT method. I have the tanks and will catch the fish tomorrow. I am working on a fish trap tonight to catch my clowns and YWG.

Thanks again. I am staying with this hobby and have learned.

 

[Bike2k]

Thanks again MrTuskfish. I've been doing a lot of reading and rereading, guess we were just hoping it wasn't the case. I was going to use copper but I am concerned with the testing and quantities and if I screw it up I have to begin all over. I am currently setting up to perform TT method. I have the tanks and will catch the fish tomorrow. I am working on a fish trap tonight to catch my clowns and YWG.

Thanks again. I am staying with this hobby and have learned.

 

[h2hiero]

It seems that the live fish stores love to hear you have problems and steer you in the wrong direction so you buy more from them. Do not listen to what they tell you +1.