What Is This on My Fish?

[ldreefer]

Ok so before I even begin with my question let me first make it clear that I have not used a QT tank which I know is highly recommended, but is just a little out of my reach at the moment, so please don't badger me about using a QT and things of that sort.

Ok now I bought a Maroon Clown from my LFS on Wednesday and he has been doing fine. He eats fine, swims fine, and doesn't scratch or rub against anything, but I have noticed that he has two small white dots on his skin. They aren't big, proably about the size of the diameter of a paperclip. One is right near his mouth an one is on the front tip of his under belly fin. I kind of noticed it Thursday morning, but wasn't too concerned, but then saw it again today and figured it might require attention.

I am hoping that I'm just paranoid and praying that it's not MI. I have bought many a fish from my LFS before this particular clown with no problems at all.

I have tried to take pictures, but he doesn't sit still long enough. I have also tried to look up pictures of MI online, but all I can find are pictures of it when the fish is completely covered in white dots. This is certainly not the case with my clown, as he only has two small dots.

Also, none of my other fish seem to have anything like this on them.

Any ideas as to what it might be? If none of you guys can help me by early tomorrow I am most likely going to take him back to my LFS and talk to them about it.

Thanks is advance for any help.

[b0bab0ey]

Without seeing any pics, my best guess is it might be something bacterial. But that's just a guess. I have a Maroon Clown that developed something similar to what you are describing while he was in QT, and Maracyn 1 & 2 knocked it out.

[ldreefer]

Yeah it doesn't seem like it's gotten any worse over the past couple of days, which kind of leads to me to believe that it's not MI because I think it would have spread a little more over his body by now, rather than just being two spots. They haven't grown or gotten any bigger either, so I'm still not sure what to do right now.

[b0bab0ey]

Originally Posted by ldreefer

Yeah it doesn't seem like it's gotten any worse over the past couple of days, which kind of leads to me to believe that it's not MI because I think it would have spread a little more over his body by now, rather than just being two spots. They haven't grown or gotten any bigger either, so I'm still not sure what to do right now.

You have two choices:

1) Sit tight and hope it goes away/the fish's immune system fights it off.

2) Be proactive and start treatment.

What other fish do you have in this tank? Personally, I would at least QT to minimize the risk of this spreading to your other fish. Lions are pretty hardy so if that's your only other fish you might have a shot. I see you have a reef, so medicating in there isn't an option. So unless you are willing to setup a QT to deal with this, your only option is to sit and wait, or dump the fish/give away the fish. Not trying to badger you about it, just giving you the options. Also, if you can take some pics that might help us help you identify exactly what you're dealing with here.

[ldreefer]

Thanks for the help. I take no offense to anything you have said, don't worry. I have the Maroon, as well as another Maroon, my Lion a couple of Chromis and a schooling Bannerfish.

I have tried to take some pictures, but he won't sit still long enough. The QT I might could do, but I think what I may end up doing is just taking him back to my LFS and returning him, but I was really hoping that he would pair with my other Maroon. He was the perfect size and everything, a lot bigger than my Maroon that was already in there, but oh well. I guess I'll have to give that another shot later on down the road.

[ldreefer]

Here is a picture of the spots on my Clown. The one by his mouth is easily noticeable. There is another on his bottom fin, but it is a little harder to see.

[Arkayology]

There are threads about this in the clown and nem forum. I had dealt with it before. It will get worse and then go away all of a sudden. I tried Furan-2 and it *may* have helped it go away as a day after the first dip the white patches seemed to have reduced in size. My advice is to keep feeding with garlic soaked food and wait it out. If you have access to furan-2, it is worth a shot. Ask the LFS if you can just have a small amount in a cup for 3 or 4 treatments instead of buying a big jug of it.

Make sure you use the correct amount of furan-2 to water ratio. This stuff is very potent.

[ldreefer]

Is that reef safe? Can I use it in my main tank or will I need to set up a QT? Thanks for the reply.

[sandwi54]

Idreefer, that white dot is not marine ich. I believe it's lymphocystis. It's a common viral infection and unfortunately there is no known cure to it (kindda like the flu we humans can get). A few of my fish got it when they first went into my display tank, but eventually they heal on their own if the environment and nutritions are good. It's important that you maintain a stress-free environment and almost all fish will fight it off and recover.

[ldreefer]

Ok. Thanks so much. That's what I have been reading online about the lymph thing. I'm sorry I freaked out about the MI. I'm just new to this and I would rather be safe than sorry you know?

[Arkayology]

Originally Posted by ldreefer

Is that reef safe? Can I use it in my main tank or will I need to set up a QT? Thanks for the reply.

You would need to put the furan-2 into a separate container with tank water. Do not put it directly into your tank.

If it is lymph, then all you can do it wait it out. Good luck!

[sandwi54]

Originally Posted by ldreefer

Ok. Thanks so much. That's what I have been reading online about the lymph thing. I'm sorry I freaked out about the MI. I'm just new to this and I would rather be safe than sorry you know?

No worries. I freaked out too when I saw lymph for the first time and thought it was ich, just like you. Don't worry and just keep an eye on the water quality and try to soak foods in selcon if you can to give it additional vitamin C boost. This will strengthen the fish's immune system and help fight off the lymph.