What is this????

[ryguy886]

So, out of nowhere my copperband butterfly seems to have developed some sort of disease. I'm not sure what this is or how I should treat it.

I haven't added anything to the tank in 4-5 months (coral or fish). all water parameters are stable and where they should be. None of the other fish are affected.

Tank is a 265 gallon mixed reef.

The copperband butterfly is eating still and he is not breathing heavy or flashing or trying to scratch these cotton like growths off. They are mainly contained on his dorsal fin and caudal fin, although he does have on on his pectoral fin now too. Because he is still eating I was going to try to soak his food in something like an antibiotic, but I don't want to treat until I know what this is.

I have tried to catch him but with no luck. I wanted to remove him to a quarantine tank but he is acting fine other than the growths.

Any help with identifying this disease would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[Nina51]

looks like lympho (it's a virus but rarely spreads to other fish). how long have you had him? the only treatment for this is feeding vitamin enriched foods. soak his food in selcon and/or vitachem. my kole tang had this while in qt, i alternated what i used. it will take a few weeks but it will go away on its own as long as your water quality is pristine and you soak his food.

for your reading enjoyment...
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa181

 

[ThRoewer]

Lymphocystis - a virus infection. There is no treatment for it, but luckily, with good food and clean water fish usually get over it on their own.
The particular virus strains are genus or even species specific, so your Chelmon is not likely to infect other of your fish (though if you ever add another Chelmon or closely related butterfly fish he will likely get it too).