Spots on foxface...not sure this is Ich.

[Shooter7]

Tank has been running for a little over 3 months (120 gal). Was established with rock from my own smaller system and rock I purchased from a local reefer. Have not had any disease issues with this tank since it has been set up and all inhabitants were QT'd before being placed into the tank. My foxface was acquired through a trade with another local guy. He was healthy, but was still QT'd for a couple weeks showing no signs of any illness and eating very well. He is pretty good size at about 6 inches and thick. Two days ago he developed about a half dozen white spots on him. They were pretty good sized, probably close to the size of the ball in a ball point pen if not bigger, and white in color. He now has two left on him that are now darker in color and seem somewhat swollen around them. These are all there were and no other fish in the tank have had anything on them. Tankmates are 3 lyretails, ocellaris clown, one chromis, scopas tang, carpenter's wrasse. Fish shows no signs of these bothering him, no "itching", eating like a horse, no decrease in activity. So, is this just like a sparse infection of ich or something else? Sorry, no pic as he is constantly moving and can't get any kind of a decent picture of him. (and yes, I have looked at the ich articles and have treated fish in the past using hypo)

 

[kevin2000]

Any chance you can provide a picture?

 

[Shooter7]

Nope, like I said, this guy is constant motion. Also, it's interesting to note that these spots have "closed" considerably in the past few hours that I've been home. They're almost not noticeable now. The fish ate like crazy earlier, as normal.

 

[poopsko24]

I have a VERY similar, probley the same, senerio going on with my PB tang. I've had the PB tang for almost 1 1/2 years. I was going to post but I was'nt sure how to word it....... and I did'nt want dozens of people telling me I got ich cause I really don't think it is, I know what ich looks like. You did a perfect job of describing it. It even looks as if the spots are more at times, and then almost gone. Just a slight darker hue to them, like a blackhead under you're skin, its even got the slight bulge to it. I don't have any cleaner shrimp, but I was thinking of getting some. I only added a stupind tree sponge awhile back, wonder if that brought anything to the tank ? All other fish ( school of 6 lyretail , fairy wrasses) dont' show any signs. He is the only tang in the reef. I would love somebodys input on this as well. I can't promise a good pic either, hard to get one, but I'll try. In the meantime, sound farmiliar to anyone ?

 

[Shooter7]

After I posted previously, the dark spots/bumps on him continued to do a fast closing and within an hour or so, you almost couldn't tell there was anything ever there. Just a very slight bump, but coloration was completely back. As I said before, during the time this was going on, he had no change in behavior at all, still swam about and ate like usual, and continues to do so. There has been no recurrence and all the other fish in the tank have remained perfectly fine with not a single spot showing up on any of them. I guess it's nice to hear of someone else in the same boat - at least I've got company.

 

[poopsko24]

well then, I'm glad it worked itself out for you. I'd rather not catch him and do treatments. If he can work it out that would be great. It seems they come and go, not more thatn like 8 on him at a time. No other fish have it either. I don't think its black ich at all. I guess I'll wait it out.