Queen Angel - Parasites?

[ReefDoberman]

Hello all - I am looking for some help diagnosing a problem with my queen angel. It looks like she has some small white growths showing up in different areas of her fins. One on the tail fin, a few on the pectoral fins and a few in other places. The white bumps are larger than ich and each bump is a different size. I'm sorry I don't have a picture but any ideas what this could be and how I should treat it? Her body doesn't have any issues but she did stop eating last night.

 

[ReefDoberman]

After a bunch of google searches it looks like Lymphocystis which is actually viral. I cannot find any treatment other than the fish needs to fight it off. I am moving the fish to QT today as to isolate the issue but any thoughts on treatment? My major concern at this point is that she stopped eating.

 

[snorvich]

Lymphocystis does not normally affect appetite. Treatment is adding selcon or vita-chem to the food. However. When was the last item that was wet added to this tank?

 

[ReefDoberman]

Last item was added monday. Picked up a bunch of corals. The queen is new to the system (about 2 weeks).

 

[snorvich]

Last item was added monday. Picked up a bunch of corals. The queen is new to the system (about 2 weeks).

The time line is suspicious. Watch behavior carefully. Any reclusive behavior? Avoidance of lights? Any flashing? Any hovering near water returns?

 

[ReefDoberman]

Curious what doesn't add up about the timeline? ... behavior wise she is great. Very active, swims right up to check you out and stays around when you're there. Saw one or two "not quite" hover twitch moments but they looked like she wanted to.

 

[snorvich]

Curious what doesn't add up about the timeline?

Any timeline of addition that is less than three weeks (four weeks preferably) makes me nervous; if the fish were acquired from a source that runs copper in their system, I would be especially leery. Any wet items sooner than 4 weeks also makes me leery.

 

[ReefDoberman]

The fish probably came from a copper system.... I am adding things to my system constantly. The queen was added at the same time as a Regal angel and some tangs. Everyone else is great. There were corals that were added to the system in the days before and after as well.

I am trying to understand how these factors influence the current situation? Could you provide more detail?

This system is close to 400 gallons (will be 600+ on sunday when I add another tank). It has been thriving for years and is very stable. Water parameters are checked daily (Cal, Alk, Mg, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, PH, Salinity and Temp). This is actually the first sick fish I've had in as long as I can remember and I've been in this hobby a while.

 

[snorvich]

The fish probably came from a copper system.... I am adding things to my system constantly. The queen was added at the same time as a Regal angel and some tangs. Everyone else is great. There were corals that were added to the system in the days before and after as well.

I am trying to understand how these factors influence the current situation? Could you provide more detail?

This system is close to 400 gallons (will be 600+ on sunday when I add another tank). It has been thriving for years and is very stable. Water parameters are checked daily (Cal, Alk, Mg, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, PH, Salinity and Temp). This is actually the first sick fish I've had in as long as I can remember and I've been in this hobby a while.

Copper masks various parasites including ich, velvet, brook, and possibly uronema. Within the first four weeks, I would be reluctant to add any fish to my display tank without: tank transfer (eliminates ich), and at least three weeks of observation beyond that. While it is very difficult for me to tell at a distance, the "not eating" is of great concern as it is the first behavioral sign of some parasites.

 

[ReefDoberman]

The queen is going into isolation QT where I can treat for parasites as a precaution. Any recomendations on a med for parasites?

 

[snorvich]

The queen is going into isolation QT where I can treat for parasites as a precaution. Any recomendations on a med for parasites?

It varies by what the parasite is. I have various stickies in this forum which are informative. If I had to guess (based only on timeline and initial symptoms) I would look at velvet. The next symptom would be avoidance of light.

 

[ReefDoberman]

Much appreciated.