Any ideas what this might be?

[CRJDriver]

Sorry I don't have a pic but I'll try and describe it as best I can. The fish in question is a yellow tang. It has relatively large brown spot on both sides about 1/4" straight behind the eye and near the top of the gill. It started out small on one side and now its on both sides. The fish is eating great, pretty much everything I put in the tank. Appears to be breathing fast, but I'm not sure if I'm just thinking that because of the spots. No apparent white spots. The fish swims around fine but not constantly, it will hide from time to time. Anyone with suggestions as to what it might be? Thanks

[leebca]

The description is too wide open. It could fit a few different conditions, some caused by bacterial infections.

Three photos would be helpful:
1. Fill the frame of the photo with the fish, side view, clear, and high resolution;
2. Close up of area -- fill the frame of the photo with the spot, clear, and high resolution; and
3. Face-on view with the full height of the fish filling the frame of the photo, clear, and high resolution.

[CRJDriver]

I tried to post the pics but the file size is too large. I tried changing the format still too big. Any ideas, i have the pics ready to post just cant. Thanks

[leebca]

Sorry. I'm not knowledgeable or experienced with photos. Ask your question by posting in the Photo Lab Forum. Poseidon there is the expert when it comes to photography!

[CRJDriver]

Guess I figured it out, hope the pics help to determine what it might be. Thanks

[leebca]

Waiting to see the photos when you can figure it out.

In the meantime, some additional information about the fish might prove helpful:
1. When did you acquire the fish?
2. Was the fish quarantined before adding it to your display?
3. What has been added to the tank the fish is in for the last 6 weeks (fish, invertebrates, plants, rock, etc., etc.).
4. Size of the fish (tip of nose to base of tail).
5. More about the aquarium it is in: size; age (when last cycled); equipment; etc.
6. Water parameters (pH, sp. gr., temp., ammonia, nitrite, any other readings). Give ranges you keep the water at and when last tested.

[CRJDriver]

well you should be able to see the pics, if not i'll try again. answers to ur questions...
1. Got the fish little over a week ago
2. No it wasn't, didn't have the QT tank set up and ready
3. Nothing has been added to the tank but two clarki clowns put in at the same time of the tang
4. Approx 2.5"
5. 75 gal, skimmer, N.O. lights, been up and running for lil over a year, had ich break-out so was empty for 8 weeks, had 4 chromis in the tank after that for about a month then added these three fish (everthing else is swimming around and eating like they own the tank)
5. Ph 8.1 - 8.3 last tested 8.2; SG 1.022; Ammonia - last tested .25 or less; Nitrite - 0, Nitrate 10ppm i believe. Was last tested as soon as i noticed the initial marking on the tang on Tues.; Temp - 79

[leebca]

Good photos.

The marking has more of an appearance of a poisoning. I use this word (poisoning) in the broadest sense of the term.

Tangs especially are sensitive to certain water quality issues that don't seem to affect other fishes. In part, it is because the Tang mucous coating is thin and not very robust as in many other marine fishes. In a way, the Tangs are to the aquarists, like the canaries are to miners -- this fish is telling that there is something wrong with the environment.

Investigate water quality issues. Not only those to test for, but sources of other contaminants (corroding equipment, condensate falling into tank from lighting, etc.)

Putting multiple fish in at one time probably was not a good idea. It is best to let the bio-filter gear up to the load, or to have an artificial load on the biological filter before putting in more than one fish at the same time.

Find the poisoning problem and correct it quickly. This condition can get worse very quickly and kill the fish. For now, do daily or twice daily very large (over 60%) water changes.

If the 'spot' spreads or gets worse you should be prepared to hospitalize the fish in absolutely the purest salt water you can make up. Better obtain some antibiotics (I recommend either Maracyn Two for Saltwater fish, or Spectrogram) for secondary infections that usually follow or that are now getting a foot-hold, and set up the hospital tank/QT now.

While doing all this -- the fish will need all the best nourishment you can get into it. Be sure to provide it with immune boosters (see: Fish Immune Boosters) and the optimal nutrition for this fish (see: Feeding Marine Fish and Fish Nutrition).

Keep us informed. Good luck!

[CRJDriver]

Well that’s a relief in once sense and a worry in another. Relief in the sense that it sounds likes its not a disease and the other fish should be ok, worry in the sense of something has gone astray in my system. I do add Vita-Chem, and garlic to the food, and put some Marine C in the water this afternoon, so I'm hoping this will helps some, I'm trying to feed a good variety (dried seaweed, Formula two, veggie flakes and frozen brine) I'll do a water change when I get home in a couple of days. (hoping he's still alive)

I've noticed some brown algae forming on the glass, I haven't had this since the tank was initially set up, could this be a sign of something I don't know?

Appreciate ur knowledge i'll keep ya posted.

[leebca]

Very good, CRJ! You're picking up on the signals. The return of the brown 'algae' is a very good indicator that the aquarium water has gone downhill. The tank is reverting back to its 'immature' stage. I still think it was too much, too soon, after the fallow period, on the biological filter.

[CRJDriver]

As far as the fallow period, I had 4 chromis in there for about a month before these fish were put in, however i see what ur saying. The good news is he's still swimming around and eating, bad news is he's looking a lot worse, losing color and one eye is starting to cloud over. As for now I think I'll try and find some of those meds you listed above and see what happens. Any other suggestions?

BTW, all other fish still look very good!

[leebca]

It's not uncommon for a fish to start on a downhill path from a water issue. It is very difficult to get them over the 'hump.'

Hospitalize, feed those immune boosters as long as the fish will eat, provide the best nutrition, and treat with one of the mentioned antibiotics. Watching and maintaining high water quality in the QT is extremely important. I would suggest that, while the fish is recovering, the specific gravity be held between 1.016 and 1.018. This helps the fish conserve energy used for osmoregulation and re-direct that energy towards healing.

That's about the best that can be done.

[CRJDriver]

Well I thought I'd give an update on the tang. Still hasn't shown any signs of recovering, still eats well and fights for food. Now however, the little white spur along the tail on one side almost seems to be coming off or peeling off. Still very pale and discolored and the fins appear to be brittle so to speak. Swims around peacefully at times and then very aggressive at times. I did approx 15-20gal water change yesterday unfortunately becuase of the holidays I haven't been able to get any meds yet. Tried at petsmart before i left, but they didn't have the meds you described for saltwater. Any more thoughts besides wait and see what happens?

[leebca]

By 'spur' do you mean the fish's scalpel? Also known as the pedunclar spine? The spine may have been damaged and is just going through the healing process.

Nothing more to recommend. Keep water quality as good as possible.

[CRJDriver]

The thing I'm talking about is the white thing near the tail in the pics above! Not sure the technical name for it. Okie Dokie, i guess I'll just wait and see what happen. Thanks for the help!

[CRJDriver]

Well all of the brown spots are gone, seems to be swimming around fine, still eating good! Not sure what it was but apparently its gone and I'm hoping it will stay away. The spots started to clear up and the fish started acting strange and freaking out from time to time but that subsided and all seems well! Thanks

[leebca]

Thanks for the follow up. Sounds like a good ending!

[CRJDriver]

Well it seemed to be a good ending but now things have gone south again. The brown spots in the photos above are gone and were gone for a few days. Then I noticed the fins started getting spots on them. They don't look like Ich spots, some are darker. I don't think its Ich but I'm no specialist either. Still eats very well, all other fish are doing well and eating! Today I noticed what appeared to be a blood spot on the right fin. It almost appears like a vein has burst in the fin. Swims around ok, but appears to swim laborsome/ungraceful like the others swim. Any ideas what this might be? I just did around 15% water change. The pic below is the best I could get, kinda hard to get a picture of a fin flappin around. Thanks in advance

[leebca]

I can't see anything in the photo which I can define as an abnormality.

There are a series/group of organisms referred to as flatworms of the Phylum Platyhelminthes known to infect Yellow Tangs in particular.

These worms are invisible. However, when they burrow through the fish's skin and begin to feed on the fish, they cause a hemorrhaging. This in turn causes a dark spot just under the skin. These spots are about the size of a pin head or smaller. It is the blood spot that is seen by the human eye, not the worm.

The condition is referred to as "Black Ich" because the fish has black spots on it similar to the white spots of Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans). It's a while before the fish shows these spots but when it does, the fish is truly infected. There is a good close-up photo of a Yellow Tang heavily infected with Black Ich at this site:
DisPic Summary

I can't tell if the Yellow Tang in the posted photo may or may not have a flat worm infection. You'll need to decide that yourself.

If the condition is Black Ich, the preferred treatment is a Formalin Bath. Although a Freshwater Bath (See: Freshwater Dip for Marine Fishes) is easier and safer to perform, it has not had the success of the Formalin Bath.

Formalin Bath instructions are provided here:
Formaldehyde: Friend or Foe - Treating Saltwater Fish Diseases

Either treatment requires consecutive baths, 3 days apart. The fish is best handled by moving it to a hospital tank where it can be easily caught for the baths, without the use of a net.

If you think it isn't Black Ich, then I'll need a much better photo to help much further.

[CRJDriver]

This blood spot is much larger! I really don't think its black Ich. In the photo you can somewhat see the white spots on the fin. The spots are pretty big, nothing like an Ich spot. Unfortunately I have see what Ich looks like. I'm thinking I'll try some maracyn 2 or a fresh water dip. I apologize I can't get any better pics. Any other thoughts at what it might be?