Powder Brown Tang help please

[tranto1]

Hello,

I just picked up a powder brown tang today and he's currently in the QT tank. I notice something on the side of the body that I didn't see at the LFS. I observed him for a good 10 mins at the store but didn't see the mark until I got home. Can anyone identify what it is and should I treat for it? It looks like scratches/ ringworm.

What type of preventative treatment should I run in my QT for him? He's currently in a 20g long that is sections off into two side.

Here's the best photos i could get. It's on the body at the end of pectoral fin.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

It's hard to tell from the pics what that is. It could be just an abrasion. Hopefully Steve will chime in. As for preventative being that he is a tang I would do TT. I'm sure you've heard that half of a tang's body weight is ich. I would then treat with Prazi and observe for a month after the TT.

 

[tranto1]

It's hard to tell from the pics what that is. It could be just an abrasion. Hopefully Steve will chime in. As for preventative being that he is a tang I would do TT. I'm sure you've heard that half of a tang's body weight is ich. I would then treat with Prazi and observe for a month after the TT.

Thank you, He was at the LFS for three weeks in copper. I'm giving him a week rest with lots of feeding and then i'm going to start treating with Prazipro. I'm still reading and figuring out all the preventative treatments I should do. I plan on having him in QT for 4 to 6 weeks.

 

[snorvich]

What level of copper? I always get nervous if an LFS runs copper as it will mask a variety of fish parasites. Running tank transfer is always desirable unless a more virulent parasite exhibits definitive symptoms. Picture is not conclusive.

 

[tranto1]

What level of copper? I always get nervous if an LFS runs copper as it will mask a variety of fish parasites. Running tank transfer is always desirable unless a more virulent parasite exhibits definitive symptoms. Picture is not conclusive.

I'm not sure, but the spot is not gone. I think he's making a turn for the worst. He now has dark spots on his head, I'll attach photos. You can see it best in the last photo.

He's breathing very fast and is twitchy and nervous. I've been keeping him in my 20L QT tank - no medications for the past few days. I've done two water changes.

any advice would be greatly appreciated, i'm losing sleep over worrying about this guy.

 

[maroonman]

Give him something to hide in ( pvc pipe ) so he can feel safe inside it. Limit the stress.

 

[tranto1]

Give him something to hide in ( pvc pipe ) so he can feel safe inside it. Limit the stress.

I have pvc on the other side of the tank but he never goes into it, he's always in a corner.

 

[MitchSutherland]

Have you checked your ammonia levels?

 

[tranto1]

Have you checked your ammonia levels?

Yes i did this morning, it was a high at .25 so I did a 25% water change. Do you think that could be the issue? I don't know how it got that high, I've only had this fish for five days or so and i've done two water changes so far. RO/DI water and IO salt.

 

[MitchSutherland]

I am not sure, but i personally try to keep ammonia at zero. What about Nitrite? and are you aerating the water?

 

[tranto1]

I am not sure, but i personally try to keep ammonia at zero. What about Nitrite? and are you aerating the water?

I think I will try for a 10% water change everyday for the next few days to see if anything changes. Nitrite was at 0. Ph was at 7.8. I have a sponge filter in there hooked up with an bubbler. I also have one small powerhead and heater set to 74 degrees.

I have cupramine, do you recommend I run it? Should i buy prazipro?

 

[MitchSutherland]

I would buy prazi pro to put it in your arsenal anyway. I would put an air stone in and do the water changes. Is he eating? I would put more pvc in as well. And I would not treat unless you have a better idea what he has. I really can't tell, but he is def stressed.

 

[MitchSutherland]

Look similar to this?

 

[MitchSutherland]

Or this? This is brooklynella. No guarantees this is what he has, but it looked similar to me. You be he judge. I am just trying to give ideas.

 

[ca1ore]

Is this a cycled QT? Also, assume the fish is not eating? How did you a acclimate it to the QT? Maybe just stressed.

 

[tranto1]

Is this a cycled QT? Also, assume the fish is not eating? How did you a acclimate it to the QT? Maybe just stressed.

No, i don't believe it's a cycled QT, i had it set up 48 hours before the fish was put in and I've been doing a 10-20% water change every other day. He's eating a little bit, mostly the nori, but none of the live macros. I drip acclimated him in a bucket for 25 mins.

It doesn't look like brooklynella, it's just on his head - no where else. I've seen him hit his head against the glass a few times darting around the tank. I will get more pvc tomorrow and pick up the prazi pro in case. I also plan on picking up 3-4 different foods to see if he will pig out.

I've been out of this hobby for almost three years. i don't remember ever being this worked about a fish!

 

[MitchSutherland]

If I were you I would buy an instant bacteria bed. Pour in your tank over a sponge filter, add a bubbler/air pump and just see if you can get him eating strong. I would go a head and buy prazi as well because you will need it eventually. I think it might be stress/bad environment.

 

[tylersarah]

Yes, please establish some type of bacterial filtration for this fish, ammonia burns the gills. Amquel can be used in the meantime, add a piece of live rock (has to be taken out if you medicate with copper & Amquel + copper combination is deadly) or add BioSpira or another nitrifying bacteria. I keep a sponge filter in my sump for setting up quarantines asap.

Tape pieces of paper to areas of the glass so the fish won't see as much reflection and this will help with stress.

 

[tranto1]

If I were you I would buy an instant bacteria bed. Pour in your tank over a sponge filter, add a bubbler/air pump and just see if you can get him eating strong. I would go a head and buy prazi as well because you will need it eventually. I think it might be stress/bad environment.

I thought about the instant bacteria last night so i went out and picked up stability.

Thanks everyone for your help! I'll keep you updated!