Help with Regal Tang

[KNUTE]

My Regal has had a problem that I have been unable to identify as of yet. After successfully treating for ich she developed a fuzzy white spot about 1/16'' in diameter above her right pec. It is about 1/16'' thick as well. She has had it for a few weeks and is otherwise healthy. Eats well etc. Water quality is good and she doesn't appear stressed. She gets along well with her tank mates. 65 gal with 4 other small fish and lots of corals etc. Any help would be appreciated in how to I.D. and or treat. TIA

[horge]

Hi KNUTE,

Could be a localized fungal or bacterial infection. If so, treatment is a tough call to make.

If you go in and get the fish for treatment with topicals, you stress the fish further (and quite possibly fail to kill the pathogen). In marine fish, infecting bacteria are usually Gram-negative, so you can try swabbing with topical hobby medications based on chloramphenicol or even erythromycin. Fungus is trickier to cure.

The other way is to boost the fish's immune system with good food. Your tang needs fresh marine vegetables. Look into obtaining live soft seaweed. IPSF's "Tang Heaven" --whatta name-- aka Gracilaria sp is by all accounts the best general tang food you can buy and can even propagate at home.

Fish normally have good resistance vs fungal and many bacterial diseases, and it takes quite a bit of environmental or nutritional stress to render them vulnerable. Nutritional deficits aside, could you quantify just how 'good' the water conditions are?

HTH
horge

[This message has been edited by horge (edited 11-17-2000).]

[Ralph Santangelo]

Hi
My Regal Tang had a white fuzzy spot 1/4" in diameter.When I asked Bob Fenner if I should treat it he said it might go away on its own.After 5 days it want away and he is looking great.One more thing I was treating his food with selcon every day plus I was treating his food with garlic because he was scratching himself on the rocks.I dont know what really helped him maybe it was the selcon,or maybe he is just hardy. HTH Ralph

[KNUTE]

Thanks for the quick reply. Water parameters are PH 8.3, Sal 1.24, CA 400, Alk 9.2, 0 Nitrates and 0 Nitrites, 0 Am, water temp 78. Use only RO and seawater, O phosphates. Dose with kalk at night. 6- 96watt pc's and 1 VHO. 22gal sump. 1 Yellow Tang 2'', 2 small clowns, 1 goby with prawn, lots of Corals and 2 Clams and 2 Anemone's, all growing and doing well.

[KNUTE]

I know next to nothing about SW fish but it does look fungal. I keep a trap in the tank a few days a week just in case I need to get someone out of the tank and to keep them used to it. Could put her in a Q tank if needed but don't know the benefits vs the stress. Hasn't gotten any worse but hasn't gotten any better in a few weeks. I feed garlic soaked and vitamin added food everyday. I feed the Tangs all of the Nori they can eat plus they eat live brine several days a week as well as a homemade frozen concoction. Forgot to add the PJ Cardinal.

[drac]

I would watch the spot over the next 3-4 weeks (assuming that it stays around that long). If it takes on a warty shape or sort of textured appearance it could be Lymphocystis (a viral infection AKA Cauliflower Disease). Most larger fish will stay healthy with this and after it reaches full size (can be up to several months) it will simply fall off. The only danger here is that it can spread to other fish. There's no commercial treatments (that I have found) for this. Isolation is the key.

Be grateful that it's not marine velvet. My Regal and Sailfin tangs recently succumbed to this nasty beast - no getting rid of it without the copper extreme.

[Alice]

I was going to suggest Lymphocystis; from observations at the shop where I work it is often associated with prolonged copper treatments.

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Reefkeeping is my life; I can't afford a hobby too!

[KNUTE]

Thanks for the tips. I have the Regal in a Q tank now and will just isolate her for a week and see how she does. I'm off to my place in Hana in the morning and get to see reefs up close again. Been training a fish sitter all week.