round wooly raised spots

[airtime23]

So unfortunately one of my anthias has developed several (3-4) spots along his body. They look like small rounded cotton balls (white, raised, round). He's eating fine, swimming fine, no breathing difficulties that I can tell.

I assume that this is a fungal infection.

Is there any "reef safe" medication that I can add to the DT to cure this or will I have to try to remove him from the DT (difficult task - 300 gallon mixed reef with 25 other fish).

What medication should I use?

Thanks in advance.

 

[snorvich]

Google lymphocystis.

 

[airtime23]

Steve, I thought it might be that initially, but the more I looked at it and compared it with pics online, I'm not so sure.

The pics that I've seen of lymphocystis seem more like clearish cysts. My anthias has very white cottony balls. Could it still be lymphocystis?

 

[airtime23]

Steve, nevermind...did a google image search and it does indeed look like lympho.

So, to treat....good water quality, frequent feeding, anything else?

 

[snorvich]

Steve, nevermind...did a google image search and it does indeed look like lympho.

So, to treat....good water quality, frequent feeding, anything else?

To accelerate the process, use Selcon, Vita-chem or equivalent soaks for the food.

 

[airtime23]

Just ordered some Selcon and I'll give it a shot.

Do you think it'll spread to my other fish?

Thanks.

 

[snorvich]

Just ordered some Selcon and I'll give it a shot.

Do you think it'll spread to my other fish?

Thanks.

Absolutely not. Selcon, by the way, is a great additive even without the problem you are solving.

 

[ThRoewer]

Absolutely not. ...

Lymphocystis is caused by a virus AND insufficient water quality and occurs most often at wounds - often tiniest skin or fin damages from netting or fights.

So yes, it can and will spread if the bad conditions that caused it are not fixed.

But usually it is unlikely to spread when your water quality is good and there is not a lot of opportunity for fish to get injured through fights or netting.
Also, some fish are more sensitive than others.

Lympocystis most often occurs on new fish that have been netted a lot and were kept under less than stellar conditions at the store or elsewhere in the supply chain, usually also in combination with overcrowding.

 

[airtime23]

Just came home and noticed that one of my two false perculas also has developed the same lesions on its underbelly - 3 of them.

My water quality is pristine. All parameters are perfect.

Other than selcon, is there anything else I can do?

 

[ThRoewer]

What do you call pristine?
Low NO3 or PO4 doesn't automatically mean pristine. Dissolved organic matter or bacterial load may still be high. Other things that are not captured by tests is yellowing of the water.
A large water change (50%) may help.