So I got a powder brown tang a little more than a week ago. I've been feeding him and he's been eating like a horse. He's got a great personality and lots of energy. Yesterday I noticed he was a little icky. I have a cleaner shrimp in there, but my cleaner wrasse died the day I bought him (the LFS is replacing him tomorrow).

I mean, is this ick, an injury of some kind. I really want to keep this fish. He's quickly become my favorite.

If it is ick, what are my options besides setting up a hospital tank. I really don't have anything that will serve as one and I'm tapped out after spending a bunch on lights and a skimmer. Garlic? non-reef killing meds? 

Here's a pic of that side before the lesion.

I agree with Kpotter. I've seen a spot like that when raising salinity from hypo. My guess is this fish was in low salinity and you added him to your tank with normal SG. I wouldn't do anything, just watch him. good luck.

 THanks, guys. That's the plan for now. He had a little white flecking yesterday, but that's cleared up toay save that one spot. I really do like him. Want to keep him around.

 Looking at his fins, there is some fuzzy white stuff on each. Not sand for sure. I've been in and out of the tank as I get it set up. There's a niger trigger in there but he's smailler and the PBT and he worked out the territory thing last Monday when I put the PBT in there. Since then they have been cool with each other. So I don't see any fish-related stressors. Once I get the new cleaner wrasse in there I'm gonna leave everything alone and let everyting settle. 

I got some chromos when I got the cleaner wrasse. Two of them died too. Water params are all good. Not sure what's up.

 I got him at Coralville Bay.

Sorry to say it, but I am not fond of that store. I do shop there and buy supply's, but not a lot of livestock. That is all I will say and its my own opinion on this. I trust Petco and Sea of Marvel in this area, but if I see something some where else I spend the time to look at it and other tanks in the system. I know that is not 100%, but I make my peace with it if I have problems.

Posted By Kpotter2 on 08/08/2012 07:36 PM

Sorry to say it, but I am not fond of that store. I do shop there and buy supply's, but not a lot of livestock. That is all I will say and its my own opinion on this. I trust Petco and Sea of Marvel in this area, but if I see something some where else I spend the time to look at it and other tanks in the system. I know that is not 100%, but I make my peace with it if I have problems.

I've had mixed results with all the stores in town. I just started going to CVB and I will say that it's the most well stocked of anywhere in town when it comes to supplies by far. And I've liked talking to Ed the several times I've been in there.

I went to SoM once and for a while I wasn't even sure anyone worked there. It was a weird, uncomfortable experience. They had some nice stuff, but the overall vibe made me really uncomfortable.

Posted By Andy The Reef Guy on 08/09/2012 02:27 AM
what youre lookingat is either cryptoboidosis or monogeans. Either is an irritating ecoparasite that stimulates the over production of slime membrane. Long term it will cause emaciation, chronic stress, and death. You should probably pull him and treat him in a 30 gallon + hospital tank. Hypo salinity or formalin baths will improve the condition. Good luck. I'm working on an ill fish too.

Andy, is that my only option? Really don't have the $$ to set up a hospital tank right now. Are there in-tank ways to treat? I've had a couple fish show a little icky-ness when I first put them in the tank but then they got better, or at least stopped showing signs of it.

I will say he looks much better now. The lesion is healing/almost healed. He still has the white on his side fins, though.

Oh and Kyle, I don't think Hung was there when I went in to SoM. I was in the store for about 5 minutes before I saw anyone and then there was a younger fella who came out but didn't approach me. I wasn't sure if he was working there or not. It was the middle of a Friday and I was the only person in there. Not a big deal. A little while later a woman came out and asked if I needed help.

Thanks for the help everyone.

 I guess I do have all those things accept the tank. I wonder, though, should i wait a bit and see if he improves more. From what I've read (and has been suggested here) if he does have ich then the tank has it and to get rid of it I'd have to shut down the tank, which I'm not going to do.