Gem Tang: Weird white splotches, no other symptoms

[eddius_maximus]

Hi guys, my Gem has had these white splotchy markings for a few weeks now. Completely normal behavior. Eats well. Doesn't swim into powerheads or hide from the light or flash/twitch/scratch. Completely normal. Because of that, I've been watching and waiting to see if it's a situation that would resolve itself over time.

Also interestingly, no other fish are exhibiting symptoms or showing the same markings. Just the gem. Thoughts?

 

[eddius_maximus]

Just to add, the splotches aren't raised at all. Completely flat. Really scratching my head as to what this is.

 

[SCReef'n]

Looks like ich or velvet to me. Im no expert but if it were mine I’d throw together a qt tank At 1 ppm cu and raise to therapeutic levels as fast as possible without too much stress

 

[piranhaman00]

Looks bacterial to me.

 

[SCReef'n]

Do you qt your fish before going to the display?

 

[eddius_maximus]

Do you qt your fish before going to the display?

I do, all fish currently in the display have been through copper.

 

[SCReef'n]

Looks like ich or velvet to me. While I waited for someone a little more experienced to chime in I’d be getting my qt running. Just my 2 cents.

 

[vetteguy53081]

It may not necessarily be parasitical, and you can try a freshwater dip to see if it alleviated the blotches. The blotches can be generally associated with protozoans which have gotten into the mucus layer of the fishes' skin. These marks you see are associated with stress more than likely.
No need to panic here. Once a fish has developed white spot you need to decide when is the appropriate time to act . Stress causes the mucus layer the fish produces to become thin thereby allowing a parasite to attach. Removing the fish from the tank can be just as stressful which can cause more harm than good in some cases. try the freshwater dip and focus on diet adding garlic to the food.
Nori, spirulina brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, plankton, LRS herbivore diet are just some of the foods you should be feeding at minimum.

 

[Euphyllia97]

Looks like velvet to me. I also see some fin rot, might be something bacterial. I would QT it.

 

[eddius_maximus]

It may not necessarily be parasitical, and you can try a freshwater dip to see if it alleviated the blotches. The blotches can be generally associated with protozoans which have gotten into the mucus layer of the fishes' skin. These marks you see are associated with stress more than likely.
No need to panic here. Once a fish has developed white spot you need to decide when is the appropriate time to act . Stress causes the mucus layer the fish produces to become thin thereby allowing a parasite to attach. Removing the fish from the tank can be just as stressful which can cause more harm than good in some cases. try the freshwater dip and focus on diet adding garlic to the food.
Nori, spirulina brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, plankton, LRS herbivore diet are just some of the foods you should be feeding at minimum.

Thanks, yea its definitely not velvet or ich (have had both, several times, went fallow, etc).

All my fish get nori 24/7 and live blackworms twice a day along with mysis once a day. My gut tells me to continue doing nothing...but it's such an expensive fish!

 

[blueface]

I’d do a freshwater dip to check for flukes had an imperator angel have that years ago and praziquantel took care of it.

 

[DonTavo27]

It does look stress related. But I’m no expert. I’d go with @vetteguy53081 on this one. Maybe some Brightwell aquatics Vitamin C would help.

 

[mitch91175]

Question @eddius_maximus do you see the tang in front of a power head more than normal? I mean literally swimming in place in front of any of your power heads or returns?

 

[Big G]

Consider adding Beta Glucan to the tang's food. It tremendously boosts the fish's immune system:

 

[eddius_maximus]

Question @eddius_maximus do you see the tang in front of a power head more than normal? I mean literally swimming in place in front of any of your power heads or returns?

No- I’ve had velvet in the past so I’m familiar with that symptom!

I’m currently rebooting my quarantine and getting it set up. For what I am unsure. Ich or velvet are sure things- whatever this is, I have no idea, and I’m afraid transferring him will make it worse. He’s had this for weeks now. But i might as well get it set up.

 

[Badilac]

Gems do get white splotches from stress.

 

[mitch91175]

No- I’ve had velvet in the past so I’m familiar with that symptom!

I’m currently rebooting my quarantine and getting it set up. For what I am unsure. Ich or velvet are sure things- whatever this is, I have no idea, and I’m afraid transferring him will make it worse. He’s had this for weeks now. But i might as well get it set up.

If the fish is eating as usual, then you should be fine starting out with a freshwater dip then moving to QT without copper to monitor. I wouldn't do both back to back with that fish. Too expensive to potentially loose.

Also if you have some Prazi Pro, add that to the fresh water dip.

 

[tastyfish]

Any flashing or signs on other fish?

Could you detail your QT regime please?

Thickening mucus can be caused by a number of factors, including ciliates, bacterial and viral infections as well as ectopar

From the looks of it, I would not discount Brookynella as a potential.

Have you performed a freshwater dip in a black bucket?

 

[eddius_maximus]

No flashing or signs of anything negative in the gem or the rest of the fish. QT is copper power at 2ppm for 14 days while I monitor. Any other ailments are treated as is, not preemptively.

My quarantine is filling up now. Once it's ready I'm going to do a FW dip and check for flukes then transfer him to quarantine where I'll do Prazi.

 

[tastyfish]

A freshwater dip will tell you whether it’s flukes. I don’t believe it is, my money’s on viral or brook. Just watch for signs on other fish

Brook has certainly been in the supply chain a lot more over the last 3 months with lots more cases than I have seen before, so I would pre-order formalin or chloroquine if you don’t already have them, just in case (you’ll be lucky to get chloroquine at the moment, however)