Tangs with small bumps

[lj1064]

I have a very large Sailfin and Yellow tang w/small bumps. Looks like just under their skin. It’s really hard to get a good pic of them…have to be at the right angel to see them.

The tank a 550 gal FOWLR has just completed a hypo-salinity treatment 1.010 over the last 6 weeks. I have been using IO salt adding some Coral-Accell for vitamins and baking soda for PH. I have just started bring the salinity back up. My plan was to do 45 gal weekly water changes until back up to 1.020. The tank has a new UV and very large skimmer, no fuge.

Thanks very much...

lj

 

[lj1064]

Anyone, I just don't have a clue...I'm guessing it's some sort of parasite just don't know and really need help.

 

[odyssey1]

can you give more info? are the bumps red or white? or are they the same color of the fish? does the fish brush up aginst the rocks or sand?

 

[lj1064]

Thanks!!! They appear to be the same color as the fish, like it's just under the skin. No brushing against the rocks. I think (hope)the ich is gone. The tank was kept at 1.010 for over 7 weeks. Hoping that took care of that???

They are eating very well...the Yellow is a little timid but the sailfin if very bold and active, not that the Yellow is not just not as much.

Thanks for any ideas you may have...I will try and get some pics. Just have to have a good angle to see them.

 

[odyssey1]

pics please!!!

 

[lj1064]

OK finally got some pics of my sick tang...hope someone can help.

Thanks!!!

 

[odyssey1]

it looks to me like a warty growth which implies that he might have Lymphocystis which is a viral disease. I would try feeding him some healthy food like New frozen brine shrimp w/ calerpa in it. Also I would try going to the grocery store and getting a garlic clove and cutting a small piece off and smashing it and mixing it with his food. This will help the healing process. He must be eating fine since he has lasted this long. It just seams that he has a case of the warts. Make sure the food is not stale and try to give plenty of garlic and vitamins and he should be just fine. It will take a while for this to go away but you might wake up one day and most if not all will be gone. THanks for the pics they really helped!!

 

[odyssey1]

does both of the fish have the same symptoms? If it is a viral disease that is causing this it will transfer fairly easily to the other fish?

 

[odyssey1]

bump

 

[nemonick84]

I have something similar to this. In fact, this is the only thread on here I've found that some-what resembles what I have. How long has the fish shown these symptoms? Mine developed exactly what yours has within 2 days and on the third day the "pimple-like" bumps had opened revealing a small, open sore. Very strange. Most feedback I've received has suggested Ich...but I've seen Ich many times and battled it as well, and this certainly doesn't seem like Ich. These bumps leave open sores behind. Keep us posted. I'm very interested in seeing if this is the same as what my Blue Tang is infected with.
Here as pictures for comparison:

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Note: The white spots, or markings, along the black area of the fish are not cysts (suggesting Ich), they are actually areas where these bumps have already come and gone.

 

[Percula9]

Maybe a bacterial infection. You might try a round of antibiotics. I like furan2.

 

[lj1064]

I thought the Sailfin had but did not see tem the last couple of days.

I have tried catching the yellow it's next to impossible. Would dosing the DT w/a antibiotic be a good idea as suggested?

The water parameters
temp was 79 took it up to 82
Sal 1.013 â€"œ in the process of bringing it up from a 7 week hypo of 1.009
PH 8.24
Alk 5
Nitrate 40
Nitrite .01
Phos 2

I was doing 35 gal water changes weekly…to bring up the salinity I am doing 45 gal weekly.

There are 2 Regal Tangs â€"œ 1 very large 1 large
the Yellow
3 Different Triggers
Very Large Sailfin
A Porcupine
A Orange Shoulder

The tank is a 550 w/a apx 80 gal sump (no fuge) UV, large skimmer and chiller. Apx 250lbs branching tonga lr and ls

 

[JHemdal]

I wouldn't dose your DT with antibiotics, IMO I'd rather take the loss of both tangs than to go through that hassle - ammonia spikes, risk to the other fish and such.

Just thinking out loud here - all three of these species are prone to "tang turbellarian". These give black spots in yellow and sailfin tangs and body colored spots in hepatus. What if the hyposalinity killed the turbellarians, they died under the skin and then this resulted in a secondary bacterial infection?
I have never actually seen this happen, but it sounds plausible(grin).

Jay

 

[JHemdal]

Ah sorry,

My last post was directed more towards the picture of the hepatus tang - looking at the post again, the yellow tang lesions COULD be lymphocystis (the picture isn't very clear) the lesions look raised up, where the hepatus tang lesions look like divots - assuming that the YT lesions didn't develop overnight, and you saw them gradually grow over a few weeks time, it could be lymphocystis.

J

 

[Percula9]

Lymphocystis usually forms cauliflower like lesions on the fins and tail. I doubt what I saw on the yellow tang was lymphocystis.

 

[JHemdal]

No, it does form on the bodies of some fish - including yellow tangs. I'm not saying that what it is, just that in using a proper differentail diagnosis technique, possible causes need to be ruled out.


J

 

[Percula9]

I just looked it up in my fish disease book and I agree it does sometimes form on the body. But usually you see it on the fins in ornamental fish.

 

[nemonick84]

I'm leaning away from Lymphocystis. My understanding is that the disease develops on the outside of the body and usually in specific areas. It never appears widespread, it simply affects given area(s) and then manifests itself there. I've yet to see Lymphocystis that is evenly spread out, let alone beneath the skin as the picture indicates. Tang Turbellarian seems a little more probable, but no appearance of black spots wouldn't be consistent with the disease. Furthermore, the hypo treatment should have addressed Tang Turbellarian.
lj1064, have you noticed any changes in behavior? Loss of appetite, heavy breathing, etc
I haven't seen any major changes with my Blue Tang. Still hungry as ever, normal breathing, energetic swimming. Aside from occasional scratching he doesn't seem to be too affected by whatever ails him. I've been feeding garlic to see if that offers any improvement. I'll keep the thread posted.

 

[Percula9]

I would still remove the fish to quarantine and treat for possible bacterial infection.

 

[JHemdal]

nemonick84,

I thought this might happen - two different fish owned by two different people and like five people responding - can't avoid getting confusing!
The Lymphocystis was in regards as possibly be infecting the yellow tang - your blue tang doesn't show any signs of it.
The tang turbellarian idea (and its just that, an idea) stems from the thought that the hypo having killed the worms, and the dead tissue causing a bacterial infection at that site. You won't readily see black spots on a hepatus that has turbellarian problems.

JHemdal