Hippo has white spots? Nothing else does

loseriam

loseriam

Member
I have a small Hippo about 2 inches and he has white spots all over him. But no other fish in the tank has any spots, and I have some other dark blue fishes couple of clowns and I am really looking to see if anything other then the Hippo has anything on it but I cant find any spots. So my question is Is it normal or what do I have?
Thank you
Kevin
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
It is not normal. If the Tang is stressed it will have a compromised immune system.
Can you get a clear picture? Some details about your systems and other inhabitants will also be helpful.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Not normal for them to be so susceptible to parasites in the ocean like it is once they are introduced into the hobby. But unfortunately for this particular type of tang it is probably the most common fish to contract this sort of affliction. The fish more than likely has the marine form of Ich (cryptocaryon irritans) and which comes from a compromised immune system as mentioned above. And if so than it's pretty much infecting the rest of the system though some forms of livestock may be a little more resilient to the parasite than others.
We'd still need some good images to be certain of this though.
 
loseriam

loseriam

Member
Cant get a good clear shot. But I have a 54 corner tank with a 20 gallon Refugium attached as well as a seperate 20 gallon bio ball drip. The fish seems to be doing well he eats all the time. I have 1 yellow tang, 2 clown fish, 2 cleaner shrimp, 1 large anemone, pajama cardinal, 4 damsels dark blue no spots.

 
wcbush22

wcbush22

New Member
Like everyone above suggested, sure sounds like Ich. Rough stuff if you don't take care of it... I would move the blue into quarantine immediately and treat with hyposalinity. Hope the Yellow doesn't have it also! Search marine Ich treatments for some more help!
Best of luck!
 
wcbush22

wcbush22

New Member
Forgot to add, do NOT use an ich agent directly in your tank. I saw you have some coral and ich agents are not reef friendly! Just wanted to make sure you didn't read somewhere to buy some anti ich treatment and dump it in your tank!
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Quote:
The fish more than likely has the marine form of Ich (cryptocaryon irritans) and which comes from a compromised immune system as mentioned above.
Just to set the record straight IMO while a compromised immune system can make a fish more susceptible to ick. it is more likely to happen the other way. The fish gets ick because the parisite was introduced into your system, the fish then is infected and its immune system is compromised and the fish it then is open to other diseases. Do you have fine sand in your tank? it is imposable to say your fish has ick from the pics you posted. I find it hard to believe one fish can have a massive infestation and it not show up on any of the other fish.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Same thing happened with my hippo. Full blown infestation. Nothing showing on the other fish. A little research on ich and hippos has led to this fish being branded as the king of ich. Not my words :)
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///t/393430/hippo-has-white-spots-nothing-else-does#post_3500856
Just to set the record straight IMO while a compromised immune system can make a fish more susceptible to ick. it is more likely to happen the other way. The fish gets ick because the parisite was introduced into your system, the fish then is infected and its immune system is compromised and the fish it then is open to other diseases. Do you have fine sand in your tank? it is imposable to say your fish has ick from the pics you posted. I find it hard to believe one fish can have a massive infestation and it not show up on any of the other fish.
Not doubting you Joe, but what are Ick infestations so rarely seen in the wild?
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/393430/hippo-has-white-spots-nothing-else-does#post_3500868
Not doubting you Joe, but what are Ick infestations so rarely seen in the wild?
Bang i am sure you know what the answer is this is for those that do not.
Dilution and current. The odds of the ick parasite in its free swimming infective stage causing a full blown infestation in a fish must be astronomical. There is just too much water and current as well as the fish migration. Now I do believe that certain fish without scales that have a small area of existence have over time developed a thicker slime coat to protect them from parasites. one must remember
It’s the sheer number of the ick parasite that impacts the gills that kill fish in a closed system as well as secondary infections by the then compromised immune system
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Well my eyes are going bad but zooming in close in the first picture I'd stake my money on ****** (ich).
Perhaps environmental conditions in this fishes native habbitat have yet required them to develop more of a defense to guard against such things. Everytime I walk into one of the big chain pet stores down here, the hippos always appear to be infested and malnurished looking. Same with the yellow tangs. Often withssigns of HLLE as well.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/393430/hippo-has-white-spots-nothing-else-does#post_3500877
Well my eyes are going bad but zooming in close in the first picture I'd stake my money on ****** (ich).
Perhaps environmental conditions in this fishes native habbitat have yet required them to develop more of a defense to guard against such things. Everytime I walk into one of the big chain pet stores down here, the hippos always appear to be infested and malnurished looking. Same with the yellow tangs. Often withssigns of HLLE as well.
Certain fish (tangs) are more susceptible to ick the problem lies with the shipper to retail stores and retail stores to hobbyists. A shipper relies on shear volume and speed in getting fish to retailers to make a profit. They are not concerned with having to quarantine and treat fish for ick. Chain retail fish stores more often than not have interconnecting tanks it’s just not cost efficient for them to shut down all of their tanks to treat for ick, its much easier to get rid of fish with full blown infestations and sell the ones that are minimally infected to unsuspecting buyers. Nature treats ick by dilution and current. a closed system just does not have that luxury
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Agreed and it's a shame. Everytime I walk into those stores I cringe at the condition of thier livestock. And I shutter to think how many people purchase those fish who have no clue.
All the more reason to stick with reputable stores and do your homework before making purchases.
Any updates on the fish in question?
 
A

abeandlulu

Guest
JMO. The cleaner shrimp is the best thing for the hippo. The shrimp will clean the ich off of him. just make sure you have vit C and garlic soaked food to feed him. From past experince trying to catch the fish and put him quarentine will stress him even more and make the ich worse. Just my 2 cents.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
IMO while cleaner shrimp are a nice addition to your CUC they are hit and miss when it comes to eating the ick parasite off of an infected fish. More often than not the shrimp are too well feed due to other food introduced into the tank. The only way to eradicate the ick parasite is to brake the life cycle and again IMO that is something that is just too difficult for cleaner shrimp to do
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Joe, I agree Cleaner Shrimp are not a way to erradicate Ick. However, they do seem to make the fish less stressed and are able to clear out to worst of the infestation in the gills and mouth of an infected fish. Not a bad option to keep the fish alive until you can get a hospital tank going.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
I agree Bang that’s why I said they are a nice addition to the CUC every little bit will help I just do not want the op to get the idea that cleaner shrimp are in and of themselves a cure for ick
 
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