Ich or not?

[zenom]

I have a Sargassum trigger that I have had for about a week. I don't believe this is Ich as it has not seemed to progress, but I want better eyes on this. The fish is eating like a pig (including possibly some peppermint shrimp haha). I do have a sugar sand type substrate in the tank, so thats what I am leaning towards.

Thanks.
- Andy

 

[Mrscribbled]

Not ich, most likely flukes. Prozi-pro usually works well. Could be a mild case of lymphocystis as well.

 

[spieszak]

Not ich, most likely flukes. Prozi-pro usually works well.

For benefit of understanding, can you explain your diagnosis? I don't see enough in the pic to proffer a guess (not that I'm in the slightest bit an expert by any means), but I'm just hoping to learn what it is you are seeing to help with my skill at identifying in the future....

 

[zenom]

Not ich, most likely flukes. Prozi-pro usually works well. Could be a mild case of lymphocystis as well.

Can that be dosed in a reef tank? I currently don't have a quarantine.

 

[spieszak]

prazi-pro is reef safe yes. I've seen a few reports of invert issues, but more that note those issue as a fallacy. Skimmer and carbon off while treating (which is the likely explanation of those few reported invert issues)

 

[Mrscribbled]

The specks on this fish are more of a clear nature rather than white. Nothing is visi on the darker areas of the tail, that's the dead give away.

 

[spieszak]

The specks on this fish are more of a clear nature rather than white. Nothing is visi on the darker areas of the tail, that's the dead give away.

Ahh, cool. I see that on the bottom fin, but I guess I question it a little on the top. The ones on the top look white to me. Good to know the thinking behind it.

 

[zenom]

Is it possible it is just sand. Some people say because of the trigger locking in to rock at night they see this. Just curious before I dose a bunch of stuff. Both up close look opaque on the fins in person. Just curious as I have never seen flukes.

 

[Mrscribbled]

Definitely not sand. A FW bath will confirm flukes. I like to take a 5 gallon pail, pour 1/3 full of ro water, place a heater in the pail, match temp, add a pinch of baking soda. Place the fish in for minimum of 5 minutes, max of 10.

 

[snorvich]

Good call Mrscribbled. While not adept at visual diagnosis (since my eyes are no longer sharp), what I can see confirms.

 

[snorvich]

To the OP, get a quarantine tank and develop a quarantine protocol. In the long run, you will be very happy you did.