New Blue Hippo Tang

Hello, everyone. I just bought me a new fish. A X-Large Blue Hippo Tang. When I was at the LFS she seemed clean of everything and looked healthy. I got her home and started the acclimation and notice little white spots on them. It looks like ick. I was wondering what I should watch and do to help her get rid of it.

 

Did you put it in a QT tank when you bought it, if not then your tank is infected with ich. Blue Hippo tangs are ich magnets and all should be FW dipped and QT for 2-4 weeks IMHO. I also tend to treat them with copper while in QT. Your best bet now would be to put all your fish in a QT tank or use a 40g rubbermaid tub and treat with copper and leave your tank without fish for 8-12 weeks.
Good Luck!

 

I wouldnt go so far as to say the whole tank now has ich, the cysts havent reproduced yet. But I would def. take that fish out and QT. Just treat with hypo and it will be fine.

 

You have to assume that some cysts may have fallen off, all it takes is one to fall off and soon you will have thousands. You cant under estimate the ferocity of this parasite when fish are present. You dont even know what stages they were in!

 

I agree, but if the spots just appeared after it left the LFS it would take 3-7 days for the trophonts to drop off, but if they were there at the LFS and you had missed them...then you could have a problem.

Bigger problem...a 55g tank is way to small for a blue tang.

 

YIKES!! Those fish belong on prozac! I had one when I first got into saltwater cause daughter begged for a "Dory". After 2 bout of Ich and a month of QT, "Dory" went back to the fish store and Ich has been gone since. And let me add that I have 2 cleaner shrimp that would clean it off.

 

there is no doubt it is probably ick. i had a large hippo tang and it had ick 4 times before finally dying of unknown causes. the other fish in my tank never showed any signs and are all still alive today. so my point is just because the blue tang shows signs doesnt mean the other fish will.

 

Yeah, thanks for your guess responses. I finish acclimenting her and put her in the tank. 2 days later I notice all the ich is gone. I have never had ich on any of my other fish. So i really hope that they dont reproduce in the system. Infact I think she looks happier in my tank then the lfs and also looks better. And I agree with kimmy, they need some kinda of prozac or something lol she goes crazy when I put the algea on the clip, its usually gone within 1hr after putting it in there. I worry about the other fish as she is just tearing it all up before they even get to it.

 

There is no doubt now that the fish has ich. The parasite can lay dormant in the fish for months before you see it again, and by that time it will start to reproduce.

Just a little FYI...you introduced it into the tank, if/when it comes back you will have to QT all the fish.

 

I agree that the Blue Tangs need Prozac. I have had one for close to five years and up until about a month ago he was fine. I added a sailfin blennie and all of a sudden the blue tang will not leave the blennie alone. The tang is on his way to a LFS this weekend so that the blennie can do his thing. I have never had a problem with ick or anything like that with the tang.