Spot on tang

[oakengineer]

I have a Kole tang in QT. I noticed a white spot on one of one of its fins about a week ago and figured it was Ich, so I started Cupramine. A week later the thing is still there but it seems more stringy than a spot now. I would take a picture, but its hard enough to see this shy fish, let alone take a picture. Should I continue treatment for another week? Or do a freshwater dip or something?

 

[HumbleFish]

Very likely Lymphocystis (see image below), a virus which usually clears on it's own by feeding vitamin enriched foods and maintaining pristine water conditions.

 

[Dmorty217]

Also cupramine won't help the fish be less stressed, which cause lympho. Enriched varied diet and a few weeks or possibly longer before the issue will clear IME

 

[oakengineer]

Looks like it could be that. Its in the middle of the fin, though, not on the edge.

So should I remove the copper? The pristine water conditions is tough in my QT...

 

[Nina51]

lympho is a virus so there isn't any real treatment. it can be anywhere on the fish but typically it's found on the fins. my kole tang got lympho while in qt. i started feeding food soaked in selcon and/or vita-chem and it cleared up fairly quickly.

why do you say pristine water conditions are tough in your qt? i just did water changes every other day or two.

 

[oakengineer]

I meant that in hindsight, my tank was not cycled enough for a fish that eats as much as a tang. I had a little ammonia peak, and now I've got a little nitrite peak in there. I have been doing water changes every 3-ish days to keep the nitrates down.

 

[Nina51]

oh, ok. i don't have a cycled qt, i just set up a 10g tank when i'm getting a new fish. even with a fish as big as a kole tang, it should be easy (at least it was for me) to do enough water changes to keep the ammonia at bay. it would take me 5 minutes to dip out 3 gallons and replace it with premixed saltwater every day or 2.

unless you have a huge qt, a water change even every day should be quick and easy.