Powder Blue Tang: Is this normal? (scars or disease?)

[spiderwine]

We recently purchased a powder blue tang and have noticed there are two patches of welts/abrasions on the bottom left side and upper right side of his skin. (pictures attached)

Does anyone know if this is a type of disease or could it just be large scars from before we got him?

He seems to be healthy - very active swimming, eating normally, no discoloration, no signs of ich. All chemical levels are normal, temperature is 80 degrees, salinity is 1.024, and he has 125 gallons to share with two clowns, cleaner shrimp, goby, and a sailfin.

 

[Rea17]

Picture number 1 is very concerning to me... Was he handled at the LFS or when you put him in the tank? Powder blues are very sensitive and soft-bodied, they bruise and welt easily. It could also be an infection, though I'm not sure what.

I really can't stress the importance of quarantine for powder blues, before they go into the DT. They are susceptible to disease and it's wise to treat as a preventative measure.

 

[Deinonych]

i really can't stress the importance of quarantine for powder blues, before they go into the dt. They are susceptible to disease and it's wise to treat as a preventative measure.

+1

 

[spiderwine]

He was never handled roughly to our (and our fish stores) knowledge. But we have noticed that he has started to ich up slightly over the course of the day. He is still eating and active and because he has been moved 3 times in the past 3 days (distribution store, fish shop, our tank) we are very afraid of isolating him into a quarantine tank (we acclimated him into our 125 before we noticed the scarring).

Are there any major signs (particular to powders) to look for that tell us we NEED to put him in isolation or he will get worse?

Would you suggest the quarantine tank even with the chance of stressing him from the move?

 

[dotcommer]

Powder blues along with other tangs need to be in Quarantine for a minimum of 6 wees before placing into your dispaly tank. The powder blue stresses very easily and is very susceptible to ICH. If he develops ICH, you will need to remove all of your fish from your display tank and put them into a QT tank and treat with copper or hyposalinity. Here is a great thread that talks about setting up a QT tank, however there is a lot of info and pictures of fish with ICH and how to treat them.

 

[Deinonych]

Powder blues along with other tangs need to be in Quarantine for a minimum of 6 wees before placing into your dispaly tank. The powder blue stresses very easily and is very susceptible to ICH. If he develops ICH, you will need to remove all of your fish from your display tank and put them into a QT tank and treat with copper or hyposalinity. Here is a great thread that talks about setting up a QT tank, however there is a lot of info and pictures of fish with ICH and how to treat them.

+1

I wouldn't put a tang (of any kind) in my DT without extensive quarantine and prophylactic treatment.

 

[Rea17]

I wouldn't put a tang (of any kind) in my DT without extensive quarantine and prophylactic treatment.

Any fish for that matter... Not only do you risk the new fish, but you may introduce pathogens to existing fish in the tank.

 

[scottwhitson]

It looks like this tang may already have ich. The left pectoral fin appears to have spots as well as a couple on his body.

 

[Rea17]

Are there any major signs (particular to powders) to look for that tell us we NEED to put him in isolation or he will get worse

If you are seeing ich, that is your major sign that he needs to be put into a bare hospital tank with medication. What other fish do you have in the 125? The right way to go about this is to remove all of the fish, treat them for ich, leave the display fishless for no less than 8 weeks, and reintroduce them.

Keep a close eye on those welts too, please post more pictures if you notice them getting worse.