What's this stuff? Thought it was ich.

[scubadan206]

What is this stuff? I thought it was ich and figured, no problem, he's in quarantine and I'm planning a copper treatment anyway. The infection however is black or dark brown. On both sides of the fish and in multiple locations. The fish shows no signs of distress yet, and is eating and swimming just fine. Currently at about 60% strength for copper levels in a 55 gallon tank.

 

[scubadan206]

Update. Fish is the same. Spots are not worse, maybe a bit larger.
Water parameters are non issue as it is mostly from my main tank water change.
Any help would be appreciated.:bounce2:

 

[eshtog]

I'm sure someone else will chime in about what that stuff is, but I can tell you for sure that's not ich.

 

[biomek]

no claim to be an expert here. is that a tang of some sort possibly changing colors as it goes from juvenile to adult?

 

[scubadan206]

It's a juvenile orange shoulder tang, and no it's not changing colors naturally.
The spots today are darker and more dense, but not really any larger. If it stays still long enough I will get a few pictures.

 

[lespaul339]

Try a formalin dip and see if that takes care of it.

 

[scubadan206]

I don't have Formalin. I have ParaGuard, which says it is a safer alternative to formalin.
What do you guys think?

 

[scubadan206]

Updated pictures. It definitely seems to be small dark spots. More so than sores or scrapes of some kind.

 

[curtcherry]

Paraguard would be my suggestion as long as there are no laborious respiration problems. Make sure you put an air stone in with the paraguard. Paraguard treats just about everything from a fungus to bacteria to parasites. It if isn't a parasite, which it doesn't look to be, it would make sense that it is a fungus or a bacteria...

 

[curtcherry]

I might want to start with a 1/2 dose and see how the fish reacts to it???

 

[scubadan206]

Can't hurt I guess.

 

[curtcherry]

Does this compare to your situation?
http://www.*********.com/threads/brown-spots-splotches-on-tang.78332/

Guess I can't post that URL on here....

 

[scubadan206]

link doesn't work...

 

[ThRoewer]

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=/threads/brown-spots-splotches-on-tang.78332/


Could be black ich and an accompanying skin reaction (discoloration).
If it is black ich PraziPro should help.

 

[ThRoewer]

I don't have Formalin. I have ParaGuard, which says it is a safer alternative to formalin.
What do you guys think?

It is not a suitable substitute to formalin where formalin is actually the only cure (Brooklynella and the like).
Formalin is one of the must haves in your fish medicine cabinet!

 

[scubadan206]

Doesn't look like any of the pictures in the links from google.
Looks almost like someone too a lighter to the side of the fish.
I will have to save the dip for tomorrow as I work 3rd shift and I don't have time right now.

 

[ThRoewer]

I don't think this is black ich. I saw a foxface with similar discolorations at a LFS today - seems to be going around right now.

Here another thread about an orange shoulder tang with what looks like the same condition:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2284040
That tang died.

I flipped quickly through Noga but didn't see anything that matches this. So either the displayed symptoms are particular to certain species and I didn't find it for that reason or it is something currently undescribed.

The tread linked above suggested that it may be bacterial. So you may give a treatment with a broadband antibiotic a shot.

 

[Reel North]

Kinda looks like fingerprints.....

I've seen this on fish that have been caught and released. Dry hands remove the slime and it becomes a discolouration. It's likely bacterial as result.

 

[scubadan206]

That link is the closest thing I've seen so far. Probably identical. I did the Paraguard treatment and I'm waiting for some reaction.

 

[curtcherry]

Update?