[dendrosa]

My C.Lunula has been in quarantine for a week now with symptoms as seen in pics. Has had a fw dip and treating with copper (para cure from Red Sea Labs). I like cnfirmation that this is in fact ich. I'm a bit concerned about infection around gill area on rhs

i157.photobucket.com/albums/t80/dendrosa/rhs1.jpg

i157.photobucket.com/albums/t80/dendrosa/lhs1.jpg

[leebca]

WELCOME TO REEFLAND!

Sorry it was this condition that prompted you to post here for the first time.

The outward appearance of the fish does not look like a Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) infection. The fins are deteriorating and patches of skin have been compromised. There seems to be areas that are raised up off the skin level, too, unless I'm reading the photos incorrectly. This is not the way of Marine Ich.

You said you've had this fish in quarantine a week. How long have you had this fish?

Is the fish flashing? Is it having any difficult swimming? Does is move with any kind of jerky movements? Were other fish showing these signs, wherever this fish came from?

There are a group of organisms and parasites that can cause what you see. The above information may help narrow the possibilities, but unless the skin is scraped and the organism is either cultured or identified microscopically, there is no guarantee of the proper cure path.

[dendrosa]

Hi Lee. Thanks for the welcome! . I've only had him about 2 weeks.After aclimatisation he was put into main tank ( a no no I know ) Soon after he was in tank I noticed White spots on him which I attributed to ich brought on by stress. When it had not cleared up after a couple of days I decided to move him to QT toobserve and treat with copper. After a week, symptoms seemed to be getting worse .He picks on rocks but has not yet taken to prepared foods yet. Up ntil today he has been behaving / swimming normally. Today is the 1st time that I've nticed him scrape up agaist rock. I have him at a lowered salinity (1.022).I have been told that this may be Lymphocystis which, having read up onit certainly sounds like it. If so what would be the best way forward?

[leebca]

It doesn't look like Lymphocystis to me from those photos. Here is a photo of a fish with Lymphocystis. See if it looks like this on your fish:
ViralDisLymph

The clumps are usually whiter that what I see in the photo and often attached more to fins than the main body of the fish.

If you believe it is Lymphocystis, then: This is rarely fatal IF the aquarist takes positive action. This is a virus and usually hangs around the fish. Fishes that are weak or not getting the proper nutrition or are under considerable stress (or a combo of these) usually get this infection.

Remove as much stress from the fish as you can and be sure to be feeding it properly. Without the fish eating, it could easily die from this. What you can do is add vitamins directly to the QT water. I don't know what water soluble marine fish vitamins are available to you there in SA. Are you close to Cape Town? I wouldn't be surprised if the Two Oceans Aquarium has the ability to properly diagnose the fish's condition. My membership there expired 10/2006.

If you don't think it is Lymphocystis, please post again.

[cl2ysta1]

Lymphocystis in Marine and Freshwater Fishes
more info on it