[bguile]

Merry Christmas everyone!

My Hippo Tang appears to have a darker skin color on his head from the top of his mouth to the bottom of his top fin (dorsal?). He is behaving normally, eats healthily and doesn't look to have any symptoms of other problems. He does occasionally seem to rub against a rock every now and then (a few days) with just a single pass, but I haven't attributed that to much as he doesn't do it often and there appear to be no blemishes or marks on him. This darkness only appears in the area between his eyes....nowhere else. Also, I am only able to see this when just the actinics are on.

Is this normal or is it an indication of worse to come?

[Samper]

I noticed from working at that shop for a while that some of the tangs have a color change depending on what's going on. I don't know the species but one of them would lighten at night and then at feeding time his stripes would be more pronounced. The scratching is not a good sign. I think it's called flashing and is usually an indication that something is bothering them. If you watch closely you can see exactly where they rub. The tangs are notorious for being ich magnets and I'd never purchase without a proper quarantine. Did you quarantine at the time of purchase?

[bguile]

Originally Posted by Samper

Did you quarantine at the time of purchase?

Yes. I did quarantine him for 2 weeks and he looked fine. He still does I figure since I can't "see" any blemishes and I watch all my fish very closely for long periods of time. Like I said in the earlier post I've only seem him do it occasionally meaning once every other day or two and only on his right side. I've paid special attention to that side. Granted I don't know what he does during the day when I'm not here, but I observe them every day. I often observe them from across the room where they can't see me so I can watch their normal behavior and haven't seen anything strange. Is there something I should do or wait a little longer and see what develops. Last night after my post I noticed that my Flame Angel's "nose" appears a little spot bluish with the actinics but bright red with normal lights...maybe it's just some type of blemish that the actinics accentuate. Kinda like women's makeup and blacklights..

[Samper]

I guess it's possible that the actinics could show a blemish but I never noticed or read anything on the subject. Keep an eye on him as well as your other livestock for a potential worsening of the problem.
I assume you've read enough to know what the scratching usually means.


Do you use Cu in your Q tank?

[bguile]

No. I have never used anything in my Qtank. Have only had to use it for observation of new fish before adding them to the display tank. Hopefully I won't have to use it. You're right, I've read quite enough to know what the flashing means and also enough to know that copper is a delicately measured remedy, so if this is a case of ich I may explore as many other options as possible before having to use it.

[bguile]

Update:
Well, its been a couple weeks and the Tang is doing fine. Later that day the white spot was gone and I figured it must've been a piece of rock since he lays in a little crevice in my Tonga branch once the lights go out. I waited a few weeks just to be sure it wasn't ick and haven't seen anything since. All fish are doing well. Thanks for everyone's help.