HELP! Ich? I don't think it is

eric w

Active Member
Any ideas.. pbt has been in tank about a year.. this just started to show up.. looks like hair stubble on skin.. definitely filaments coming off the fish.. he has been scratching.. never had ich but don't think it is.. all other fish seem ok.. water checks out and have done numerous water changes. Thanks
86af6b6a16a6937644ae322cf78e431a.jpg
59dbcac8111a37c33aa456bf1b6c7ef9.jpg
ffe112d797a8bd20120713ff27cb9e61.jpg
b96d723f1f269c29325202860af7199f.jpg
c1995a3e53649be63b1a2f990f54b8d2.jpg
a97e072574a5665cc1d6e18932ba8a41.jpg
9353d65cfd124344254a353c490fee41.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Oxylebius

Well-Known Member
Since I am not there to see it in person, I can't be 100%, but it looks like marine ich (Cryptocaryon irritans). The parasite protrudes outside the skin.

Here is some reading on it.

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forum/index.php?threads/marine-ich-myths-and-facts.23132/
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forum/index.php?threads/curing-fish-of-marine-ich.52236/

Advanced Aquarist
Aquarium Fish: News from the Warfront with Cryptocaryon irritans: Part One of Five
Aquarium Fish: News from the Warfront with Cryptocaryon irritans: Part Two of Five
Aquarium Fish: News from the Warfront with Cryptocaryon irritans: Part Three of Five
Aquarium Fish: News from the Warfront with Cryptocaryon irritans: Part Four of Five
Aquarium Fish: News from the Warfront with Cryptocaryon irritans: Part Five of Five

A few reference sites that provide advise on medicating fish.
http://www.fishvet.com/Disease_Articles_Intro.htm
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/ichparasiticdiseases/a/aabrooklynella.htm

From the Univ. of Florida: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa164
http://chucksaddiction.thefishestate.net/ich.html

How to set up a QT: Hospital tank
 

eric w

Active Member
When I have seen pics of ich it looks like more of a white head.. these have small like hairs coming out.. is that what ich looks like?? Thx


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Oxylebius

Well-Known Member
First things first - you need to set up a QT. This is not normal and you don't know if it is a fungus or parasite or something else, either way it can be contagious.

Also be aware that marine ich has a life cycle in which the parasite lives in the sand, in the water column and in the fish. Understanding the life cycle is very important in effectively treating or preventing it. It is an obligate parasite, which means that it cannot survive without a period of growth on a fish. Once the original parasite attaches to a fish, it burrows into the skin where it feeds and grows for 5 to 7 days. During this time, it is very irritating to the fish and the characteristic white spot develops. The parasite then breaks out of the cyst and is called a tomont. When this happens it may look a little different from the regular white spot that is seen. Once free the tomont swims freely for 12 to 18 hours until it produces sticky opaque material and creates a cyst, which then attaches to a rock, coral, glass, etc. The cycle continues and marine ich can infect other fish.

Here are a few websites with information on how to diagnose an issue. Since I can't see you fish in person, there is only so much I can do to help you, especially since you insist that it isn't marine ich. Please keep up posted if you find any changes in the fish or the look of the parasite.

http://chucksaddiction.thefishestate.net/disease.html
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/10/aafeature1
http://www.saltwater-aquarium-online-guide.com/fish-diseases-and-treatments/
http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-health/saltwater-conditions/common-marine-fish-diseases.aspx
http://www.fishlore.com/Disease_Saltwater.htm

Hopefully others will join the conversation and provide their thoughts as well.
 

DaveK

Well-Known Member
Any ideas.. pbt has been in tank about a year.. this just started to show up.. looks like hair stubble on skin.. definitely filaments coming off the fish.. he has been scratching.. never had ich but don't think it is.. all other fish seem ok.. water checks out and have done numerous water changes. Thanks...

This sure looks like a case of ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) to me. Tangs really seem to suffer from the disease, and yes the parasite does tend to protrude more on tangs. In addition, this is on a powder blue tang, which is noted to be an "ich magnet". When the parasite falls off, on tangs, you'll often see a welt or bump where it was.

Just because the other fish don't show it and you think the water parameters are ok, doesn't mean you don't have the disease.

I will add the following -

Never, ever medicate a reef system to treat a fish disease.

No matter what the LFS says, no matter what it says on the bottle or package, no matter what someone else may tell you, in my opinion there are no "reef safe" treatments that are effective against SW ich.

Always treat in a quarantine tank. If you don't have one, get one. No excuses.
 
So it doesn't look like what I am used to with ich, but the advice above is sound regardless. THe fish obviously has something and needs treatment or at least isolation in a QT tank. Get one set up ASAP!.
You say you have had this fish for a year, but have you added anything recently? A fish, a coral almost anything "wet" could have brought ich or something else into your system.
Have there been any changes in your system? A heater malfunction or a poorly matched water change? Any changes to the system could stress the fish and weaken it's immune system allowing it to become prey to ich or another parasite.
Just some thoughts, but the most important part is get that quarantine up and running.

Peace
 
Top