Naso Tang ich?

[villanueva]

Hey, so I inquired a while ago about whether or not my Naso Tang has ich. I have now finally gotten some pictures of it, so if anyone can give me some feedback it would be much appreciated. It's characteristics are quite normal. No heavy breathing, or anything. It's been 2 weeks since I first noticed the spots. I have not taken an quarantining actions. I've read that a characteristic of the Naso Tang is to develop white spots when excited, and they seem to appear primarily when I'm watching it very closely or about to feed it. As well, I had not introduced anything new to the tank prior to noticing the spots. Also, the spots are definitely below the skin, and do not appear to be raised up.

Thanks a lot to all who can help, and to those who helped the first time as well (leebca, lol)

[Bullet]

Those spots appear to be the kind that a naso tang has when frightened. When my lights first come on, my naso has these same spots for a few seconds, then they go away. I think it may be a survival reaction or maybe a "look at me, I'm poisonous" thing. I'm no expert, but I think its not a big deal, unless your naso is always like that I would think it is stressed for some reason. I hope this is of some help!

[leebca]

You've indicated this has been going on for some time. Have the spots remained in about the same position or have they changed location?

What is the fish currently being fed? How often? How much is it eating?

Refresh my memory -- has the fish always looked like this or ?

[villanueva]

It's hard to tell if they have changed position, but I have not seen anything that would really make me think that they have moved.

I'm feeding it once a day, with a pellet formula of Krill and Herring protein. It also picks at the live rock, and filters for algae throughout the day. It eats all of what I give him. Which is enough for it to take him about 20 seconds to eat up the pellets.

The fish hasn't had any change in colour. The white spots were first noticed probably just under a month from first acquiring it.

[leebca]

I suggest you change the foods and the feeding frequency. Flakes and pellets are about the worst choice for marine fishes.

Feed it algae. It likes algae. Get those macro algae sheets from your LFS or online stores, such as those that sponsor here in Reefland. Put in 1/4 in the a.m. If the fish hasn't eaten it by lights out, remove it. Repeat daily until the fish starts to eat it. Offer it in different locations including the clip, rubberbanded to a rock, etc.

Next, give up the pellet diet as soon as you can. Feed the fish frozen (preferably gelled) foods that say they contain spirulina and/or algae for herbivore fishes.

Next, increase the feeding frequency to three times a day. If you work, then when you get up (put the lights on a timer to have them on 1/2 hour before you feed). Then when you get home and then just before bed.

When the fish starts to eat the macro algae, start putting more in AND upping it to twice a day. Put in what the fish eats in half an hour to an hour and no more, twice a day.

Next buy and use vitamin and fat supplements. Read this post and adhere to it, okay?
Feeding Marine Fish and Fish Nutrition

I think this reaction will go away when the fish is put on the proper, nutritious diet.

[villanueva]

Then leebca, would you say it's very likely not ich?

[leebca]

I would say that the appearance of this fish doesn't indicate Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans). If you find photos on the web o Marine Ich and compare what fishes properly diagnosed with this parasite look like, you can compare it to the appearance of your fish.