Blue Tang Question

[gabyz]

Quick question...I've been trying to look through the forums with no luck...

I have 1 blue tang that has this strange mucas cloudy white growth around his right side, near the eye area about the size of a dime. I know for sure its not ich. Any ideas what it is?

[leebca]

WELCOME TO REEFLAND!

There are several conditions that come to mind that fit that description. To narrow them down I would need a photo and a lot more information.

If you can get a photo of what it is you are looking at, that will be the most important. Hard to do with a Tang. I know! But. . .Your description fits too many possibilities which range from a water quality/skin reaction, to infections and malnutrition, and a few things in between.

If you want to take this further, provide the photo and the following information:
How old is your tank? When did it originally cycle?
What is the size (dimensions and gallonage) of your aquarium? Does the gallonage include the volume from the sump and any refugium?
Do you use carbon, skimmer, mechanical or other chemical filtration?.
List all specimens & sizes in the tank (fish, inverts, corals, clams, snails, crabs, shrimp, etc.).
Do you use a quarantine tank and procedure?
Foods you use and feeding schedules.
How long have you had this fish? If the fish was recently acquired (6 weeks or less), two more questions: Did you treat it or give it a dip before it went into the aquarium? How did you acclimate it – what procedure?
Do you use any vitamins? Fat additives? Any elemental or other additives? Please list all.
Chemistries – you gave some. Do you test for Phosphate, alkalinity, calcium and magnesium? Please give actual current numbers for everything. Have these numbers been changing lately?
Water parameters – please give actual numbers (pH and your pH range, salinity or sp. gr. & range, temperature range)
Do you see any of the following in your system: hair algae; micro algae; cyanobacteria growths (red slime algae); dinoflagellate (zooxanthellae) growths; brown algae; diatom growth; slimes; off-colored patches on rock or substrate that are not coralline; etc.?
Water changes (how much and how often).
What is your source water? (Tap water, RO water, DI water, RO/DI, distilled, etc.)
List what you added or taken out of your aquarium system (living, decorations, and equipment) during the past 6 weeks.
Maintenance schedule. What have you done lately?