Need diagonsis and treatment option

[imaqt4utoo]

I've had a CBB for about 1 1/2 months and just recently it started to get some funny white stuff on it's fin.
It does not look like ich to me as I've associated ich similiar to salt grains over their body. This is more or less just concentrated on his one fin and is growing slowly.
I've done a freshwater dip and have the fish in hypo at the moment, but nothing is happening.
Let me know if you know what this could be. the only other thing I could come up with is some sort of fungus, but I'm not sure of the treatment options.

[abulgin]

It's lymphocystis, a non-contageous, non-letahl viral disease--akin to a wart. No cure other than keeping good water quality, low-stress environment, and good foods (supplemented with HUFAs/Selcon).

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/viraldislymph.htm

[D to the P]

It looks like a true fungus growth, but it's hard to tell from the picture if it is a white cottony tuff or if it is white and stringy (which would actually be bacteria). Keep the fish quarantined and I would recommend treating with something like API's Melafix, or Pimafix (or even both), but only because those have always worked for me. I'm sure there are plenty of other people who would recommend different products.

[D to the P]

Lymph was another guess, but like I said it's hard to tell exactly from the picture.

[abulgin]

Originally posted by D to the P
It looks like a true fungus growth, but it's hard to tell from the picture if it is a white cottony tuff or if it is white and stringy (which would actually be bacteria). Keep the fish quarantined and I would recommend treating with something like API's Melafix, or Pimafix (or even both), but only because those have always worked for me. I'm sure there are plenty of other people who would recommend different products.

Don't treat this--there is nothing to treat. No need to medicate fish unecessarily. My CBB had the same thing, but went away a few weeks after placing it in my display. This is common in CBB because they get stressed easily.

[D to the P]

I agree that it could be lymph, and if it is, than you are correct that there is nothing to treat. I'm merely giving him suggestions as to what it could be so he can make an informed decision on what to do. You're right, lymph isn't really that bad and usually keeping stress down will help it become "dormant" in the fish, but I do not feel confident in making a 100% diagnosis because the picture is a little fuzzy. I wouldn't want him to think it is one thing and have it be another because of the picture being a little blurry.

[abulgin]

Understood. I'm very confident that it's lymph. I've seen enough of it to know it when I see it.
See http://www.wetwebmedia.com/lymphfaq2.htm for some examples.

[imaqt4utoo]

It started off as a small patch of what looks like white cotton balls and has grown. There's nothing stringy on it. I've been feeding him a diet of selcon daily with his food. He still eats well, but I know he's not happy in his QT.
So this does go away on it's own and there's nothing to treat?

[abulgin]

Ah--you said the magic word--quarantine. This is one of the fishes that most people recommend NOT putting a CBB in quarantine but rather employing freshwater/formalin dips and dumping it in the display. The reason being that this fish does not do well in stressful situations, and QT is very stressful.

See my correspondence with Bob Fenner re: this condition on my CBB at wetwebmedia.com:

Lymphocystis - Chelmon rostratus 1/6/2008
I purchased a Chelmon rostratus, not only because it has always been one of my favorite fishes but also because I have about 10 or 15 Aiptasia growing in my display that I'm hoping it will eat.
The butterfly has been in my 30g QT for 7 days now.
[I would move it to the main display]
ANYWAY, my question really relates to 2 masses on the tail and pectoral fin of my Chelmon, shown in the attached photos. Based on my research, I believe that the fish simply has Lymphocystis, but would like your concurrence.
[I do agree]
If so, I won't hesitate to put him in the display after the 3-4 week QT if all else goes well. If it's something else, then I'll proceed accordingly.
[I would place this fish now... this is much more an "environmental" or stress condition than a type of pathogenic disease... Won't be "catching"...]

Re: Lymphocystis - Chelmon rostratus 1/6/2008
Thanks, Bob. I presumed that everything needs a long QT period, but it seems that with the Copperband 8 days is enough as long as it isn't showing other signs of disease/reason to keep in QT?
[... please re-read... "I would..."]

[D to the P]

As albulgin said before, if it is lymphocytosis than all you really need to do is provide a stress free environment (good water quality) and some vitamins in it's diet. Usually lymph can look like a piece of cauliflower, but you'll want to look at some pictures of it (use the link he posted, and Google image) to make 100% sure. If for some reason it isn't lymph than you'll want to look into other options.

[Tswifty]

Also, I believe feeding live black worms is imperitive to maintaining a healthy CBB longterm.

[imaqt4utoo]

I had initially had the CBB in the main display when I noticed this stuff on his fin. When it started to grow, I moved him to QT in order to treat him (if it was a treatable bacteria/virus).
I'm running GFO, Ozone and do 25% water changes every 2 weeks on the display tank where he was. My params are rather good because I have SPS corals and they wouldn't be able to handle "dirty" water.
By reading what everyone is saying this is something that won't go away and there's no treatment.
Currently the CBB is only eating blood worms...I've been trying to expand his diet, but he's rather finicky. He'll eat live black worms, but I've not had luck with mysis or any other food. His food is always soaked in Selcon and garlic so I don't know what else I can do...
Are blood worms enough for his diet and do I just ride out the problem hoping it won't get bigger?