Blue Tang: Ich or body scrapes?

[Otto_VonBacon]

I noticed the other day that my precious blue tang had some white marks on his body. At first I was thinking it was Ich, but now looking at the pictures (which turned out better than I thought) they look like scrapes.


Please help me, I would be heart broken if I lost this guy. I've had him for about a year now. No new additions in the tank other than the occasional coral.

Fullsize link to the first image from imageshack: http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/2033/1002365.jpg

 

[Otto_VonBacon]

Anyone?

 

[Kevin8888]

not ich, could be larger parasite though, some flat worms are parasitic, or possibly a parasitic pod spiecies or as you say it could be just scrapes. It's hard to tell without being able to inspect.

 

[Otto_VonBacon]

All the white scrapes are gone, but the large one near the bottom of his belly has turned into a lump, and today It's a HOLE. I've looked and I can't seem to find any info on it. I'm assuming it's a parasite. You think a freshwater dip is in order?

 

[Otto_VonBacon]

Just tried to catch him for a freshwater dip. It's impossible. He keeps hiding in his holes. Tomorrow I'm going to the LFS to see if there are any medications for ulcers and lesions.

 

[ShadowBass]

Sounds bacterial or result of some parasite.

If he's in a reef tank or with inverts don't use anything with copper unless you net him out, since it will kill them.

 

[Kevin8888]

Its an ulcer as you say, it could be
-Brookynella
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/brookynella.html
-Vibriosis
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa036
-Fish Tuberculosis
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/Keefer_FishTB.html
-Monogeneans (flukes) (if the parasites eat to much surface tissue)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa033

Those are the ones I can think of the links contain treatments and symptoms for each. Though generaly speaking FW dip could help with a few of them, but not 100%. Hope this helps.

 

[Otto_VonBacon]

Got some pictures of him. I was thinking it was bacterial. Any possible medication suggestions?

 

[Otto_VonBacon]

In the pictures it looks like a scab... Might not be a hole at all. Tangs just move so fast it's hard to tell.

 

[Kevin8888]

Hmm... not parasite or if it was its not anymore at least as far as I can tell... now that I think about it, its not Brook, as he would be dead or dead soon.... I'd say your best bet is antibiotic dips at this point. Can't say as to regularity as I haven't done it, but I feel like I saw mention of every other day till healed....? Presumably the medication would have a dose/instructions.

If its not bacteria... then it would be a parasite... but I've never heard one that burows into the skin visably like that...

I would work under the assumption that there was damage from something and it got infected. It also mite be a good idea to dose your tank or dip your fish in something that improves mucus production as the mucus is the best prevenataive to infections (tangs being suseptable to skin issues due to thin mucus layers). Though don't mix the meds who knows what would happen, dose after its healed.