Ich

[mike54784]

I have a bunch of white dots on my fish and I believe them to be ich. I have

* Stichodactyla haddoni
* 2 true percs
* 1 Pictichromis paccagnellae
* 1 Pseudochromis fridmani
* Euphyllia yaeyamaensis
* Ricordea florida
* Xenia sp.
* Condylactis gigantea


I've attached a picture of one of my Percs that have the white dots on it. It's hard for me to tell what it is because they are so small. I've had an issue before where I thought my fish had ich but it was small sand particles from sleeping on sand.

Salinity 1.025
Ammonia and Nitrite = 0 ppm
nitrate 0 - 5 ppm at at any given time, but usually 0
PH = 8.2
Tank is >1.5 years old
T5s
55 gallons

Would praziquantel harm any of the above, and would it be effective in treating this?

 

[HumbleFish]

I'm not 100% sure that's Ich. And even if it is, Prazi doesn't treat Ich.

Maybe what's throwing me off is the white dots look too big because the pic is magnified. Are the dots roughly the same size as sprinkles of sugar/salt or something bigger?

 

[Mrscribbled]

Looks like lymphocystis in a way, but also ich in a way.

 

[HumbleFish]

Looks like lymphocystis in a way, but also ich in a way.

I'm thinking possibly both. The little white specks are Ich; the larger white spots are Lympho.

 

[mike54784]

Thank you to both of you, it's hard to get a decent picture of them. I'm honistly thinking that the large ones are just sand that's stuck to them. It's hard to tell from the picture, but I only say that because that's the only one that has the larger white dots, and they have only been there today. The smaller dots on the same fish are also present on two of my others.

These smaller white dots have also only sprung up within the last 48 hours (or at least that's what I noticed). Lately my Percs have been doing the mating/dominance thing. They have been shaking, and the one does it down low by the sand. She's actually pushing the sand around while doing the whole seizure looking thing. That's why I believe that the bigger specs may just be sand. The small specs being on multiple fish all appearing noticeably within 28 hours is what worries me.

Any advice on what to do? QT and treatment? or is there something I could treat the whole tank with since it's likely that all of my fish have it?

 

[HumbleFish]

Thank you to both of you, it's hard to get a decent picture of them. I'm honistly thinking that the large ones are just sand that's stuck to them. It's hard to tell from the picture, but I only say that because that's the only one that has the larger white dots, and they have only been there today. The smaller dots on the same fish are also present on two of my others.

These smaller white dots have also only sprung up within the last 48 hours (or at least that's what I noticed). Lately my Percs have been doing the mating/dominance thing. They have been shaking, and the one does it down low by the sand. She's actually pushing the sand around while doing the whole seizure looking thing. That's why I believe that the bigger specs may just be sand. The small specs being on multiple fish all appearing noticeably within 28 hours is what worries me.

Any advice on what to do? QT and treatment? or is there something I could treat the whole tank with since it's likely that all of my fish have it?

It can be difficult to determine if your fish have Ich when housed with a sand tossing varmint. :wildone: What you have to do is keep track of exactly where you are seeing tiny white specks on your fish. If they are gone tomorrow, it's probably not Ich. If they remain in the same place for 2-3 days, it probably is Ich.

IF this does turn out to be Ich, your best option would be to QT and treat, and leave the DT fallow for 9-10 weeks. The fish you listed would be good candidates for Cupramine treatment; or being they are small, tank transfer would be another option (see link at bottom). All of your corals/inverts remain in the DT. Unfortunately, there is no in-tank treatment proven to work.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1996525

 

[mike54784]

Thanks again, Humble Fish. I will continue taking pictures of them so that I can blow them up to track if the white specs are moving. I will follow your advice accordingly. Thanks again.