Ich or Velvet?

chrisdhewitt · Jan 23, 2019

I cant tell which this is after exhaustive searching. Maybe you guys can help? This is the 3rd day of this condition, eating normally, which is a lot, and acting pretty much normal. Looks god awful. Only fish in the tank with this condition which includes:
2- Clownfish
2- Chromis
1- Firefish
1- Mandarin
And the blue tang pictured.

DangerDave · Jan 23, 2019

I’m no expert, but we do have one in the club. Maybe @Humblefish can help you out.

chrisdhewitt · Jan 23, 2019

Thanks, I hope he sees it. I know he has written a lot on it, the ID is tough tho

diana a · Jan 23, 2019

Does your clown fish skin look like it is peeling off and white mucus is forming on those areas? If yes then it is brook

chrisdhewitt · Jan 23, 2019

Nope, clownfish both look great

eholceker · Jan 23, 2019

Those spots are big and looks like crypto however there is quite a lot of them which does point to velvet. Either way with that severe of an infestation your probably going to have to treat.

chrisdhewitt · Jan 23, 2019

I'm concerned about stressing him to death if i try to catch him. I would rather do that when the parasites drop to reproduce, nevermind that i would have to tear apart everything to catch all the fish.

eholceker · Jan 23, 2019

If its velvet you have bigger things to worry about. Even if it's just crypto that is a bad infestation. I know crypto can be managed and will eventually burn its self out but that Hippo looks severely infected. Not every fish can build immunity to the parasite. What size tank is that Hippo in?

Mrx7899x · Jan 23, 2019

Looks like velvet did you just add a new fish. I would try and get the hippo out and into quarantine.

Jeremy Brito · Jan 24, 2019

Its a tang they are notorious for ich, I am sorry but I believe your sucess rate in saving the fish is dependent on the fish it self... If its a new fish its a a snowballs chance in Florida. If its an established long time fish slightly better chance.
Ich is hard to kill and is found in most tanks dormant, they weaken immune systems so doing treatments and rapid changes to the fishes environment usually cause more stress then good.
Treatment options are remove the fish from the tank. Treat fish with copper and make sure nothing that copper touches ever comes near your display tank.
Or hyposalinity.