I just noticed this today. What is it? What causes it? How do I treat it?
Water parameters
temp 78
salinity 1.025
ph 8.1
ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 20
I dont have a phosphate test kit. I will take a sample to LFS for that test. I do have a cyano outbreak. I am assuming phosphates are likely high.
Looks like a fungus or something. Phosphates aren’t the cause of this.
Removal of the fish and treating with medication is the only remedy.
thats what i was thinking. What meds do i use though? I have never had to treat a fish before even in my freshwater tanks. I have had fresh for about 20 yrs now.
Do I need to remove just the tang or do all the fish need to be treated?
The tang is the only one with it.
I would do just the tang, but closely monitor the other fish. How is the tang’s appetite?
The tang ate when I fed them last which was tuesday. I only feed them every other day. So tonight is feeding night. He wasnt like this yesterday.
what meds do i use?
Honestly, IDK, but my first thought when idk is Formalin bc it treats a wide range of problems. Take a look at this:
Agreed with B - Formalin isn’t reef safe, so you’ll need a QT tank or something you can use for one. Pay close attention to the rest of the fish because if it’s velvet, it spreads very, very rapidly.
I’ve never had to deal with something like that so I can’t say what it is for sure, but it looks like either fin rot, or some sort of fungal infection.
what size tank should i get for the qt?
Nobody has that medication. I called petsmart, concord pet petco kritter kove and the fish bowl.
I used 2 cheap plastic totes from lowes for QT to save some coin. I think they were 30 gallon capacity. Only downside that I found is not being able to see in from the front and sides. Petco is also having their $1 per gallon sale right now. I guess the deciding factor for size would be how big your Tang is. Good luck!
yeah i was going to get a tank from petco. just trying to decide between 10 or 20. the tang is about 4 inches
Go with the 20.
If you can’t find formalin, Paraguard is supposed to be a cure all type medication too.
here is an updated pic of him. most of the white stuff appears to be gone but his mouth his red and appears to be rotting. Couldnt get a pic of it.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s vibrio. Many treatment options out there, but be careful, vibrio can spread to humans. Wear gloves when handling the fish and keep an eye on your other fish.
I have been checking the other fish on and off all day. I showed the pics to LFS and he seems to think the fish will die.
It might - but it is treatable with meds.
Fish make it?
he is still alive but wont eat! It looked like he was getting better but now some more white stuff is growing on the other side of him .