Cowfish spots/welts

[Julie kerley]

So my cowfish had welts three days ago. I asked for help and after excellent suggestions, I quarantineed him and began treating him with metroplex and kanoplex. This morning was his third treatment and he has more welts than before. Peramiters are perfect and he has plenty of aeration. Suggestions? Please? First three photos are pre treatment. Last 2 are post treatment

 

[vetteguy53081]

So my cowfish had welts three days ago. I asked for help and after excellent suggestions, I quarantineed him and began treating him with metroplex and kanoplex. This morning was his third treatment and he has more welts than before. Peramiters are perfect and he has plenty of aeration. Suggestions? Please? First three photos are pre treatment. Last 2 are post treatment

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Looking at the head, This looks much as bacterial and may have begun with injury

 

[Julie kerley]

Looking at the head, This looks much as bacterial and may have begun with injury

How do I treat? The metroplex and kanoplex isn't working

 

[vetteguy53081]

How do I treat? The metroplex and kanoplex isn't working

Thank you for posting additional pics. There is a toss up here. The previous pics showed what looked like warts and suggested an internal issue. I just viewed you two new pics and this may not be a disease but part of fishes' anatomy. To clarify this appearance is not normal but is a trigger from the fish.
I sold these at my LFS and often wondered why they were even sold as few hold up well. As you notice, they are very slow swimmers, yet need food source regularly. Often when annoyed by tankmates in which they should not have many, they can emit a secretion.
Where does secretion come from? . . . . . . if you look at their bodies with a magnifier, their skin has a series of hexagonal-shaped dermal plates that are fused together and when scared or annoyed release this mucus often called a toxin but there are FEW cases of any toxic poison released by them. These little plates expand which I believe is what you are seeing and not an infection. THIS IS A THEORY AND NOT A COMPLETE ANSWER but explains why they are present.
Have you noticed fish hovering around this fish or snatching food it is trying to get to?
Is fish eating ? If so- what foods?
Are you running carbon ? If not - Add some as it will reduce any levels of toxin if Present.
What is your current ammonia and nitrate level?

There is bacterial mass around its horns and you can continue kanaplex but pull off from metroplex

 

[Jay Hemdal]

If you had a microscope, it would be helpful to scrape some of that material and have a look see, otherwise, we are just guessing....lots of issues have similar symptoms.

This does still look like bacteria. The metronidazole won't help, but the kanaplex should antibiotics take up to 5 days to start working. However, not all antibiotics are effective against every bacteria - since it is getting worse, I would suggest trying a different one - perhaps Neoplex.

Jay