Hippo Tang Scratching?

[newfishfiend08]

Hello,
I have a juv. Blue Hippo Tang that appears to be scratching against rocks/ decor/etc. I've had him for four months and he is eating well, swimming vigorously and looking healthy. Recently I've noticed that he has what appear to be white scabs around his head where he's been scratching. I do not think this to be ick as he had it when I first got him (treated easily and successfully) also there are no trademark white spots on him. I just moved him into a bigger tank... could it be related to him not having enough room to swim. Any help would be appreciated.
Also, I am in the process of getting a new camera...Hopefully I can add a photo or two.

 

[yearofthenick]

I know exactly the kind of behavior you're talking about... he approaches a rock, then speeds past it, rubbing himself up against it. My hippo only did that when he had ich. Ich is a die-hard parasite, and even when you don't see signs of it for months, it could still be there. Just soak the food with a garlic/vitamin solution (you can buy a bottle at your local fish store) and if you feed frozen food, just put a few drops on the food as you're letting it thaw... then serve. Do this and you could notice an improvement in as little as a week... but it's something you should do for a while, like months... and preferrably for the entire life of the fish. The garlic/vitamin solutions out there really strengthen the fishes immune system, and makes them able to fight off many diseases and parasites. it also helps with their coloration because of their improved health.

 

[newfishfiend08]

Thanks for the information. How do I make the garlic/vitamin solution...or is it sold in stores? Thanks for your help!

 

[yearofthenick]

Originally Posted by newfishfiend08
http:///forum/post/2698180
Thanks for the information. How do I make the garlic/vitamin solution...or is it sold in stores? Thanks for your help!
I use "H2O Life GVH Garlic/Vitamin Soak" - It comes in a little blue bottle (see pic below).
I have shot glasses that I use specifically for fish food. I take a little of the tank water (like 3 ml), put it in the shot glass, then add a cube of frozen spirulina and a cube of frozen mini-mysis... then 5 drops of the GVH. I let it thaw/soak for about 20 mins and then I put it in a mini turkey baster and feed it to the tank.
Some people on here recommend using freshly squeezed garlic, but the GVH is good because it has all kinds of good stuff in it for your fish. Ever since I've been using it, I've not had a signle disease in my tank, not a single spot of ich, and no strange premature deaths.

 

[kaliman33]

Mine did that too, it was gil fluke, so make sure before you treat it for ich,
all my other fish started doing it as well, when he died we cut the gills and looked under a microscope and saw them.

 

[spiderwoman]

When you are feeding garlic, you are better off using fresh garlic and just squeeze the juice out and feed that. Bottled garlic has already lost it's most pungent properties.
That scratching definitely sounds like ick.

 

[bioneck47]

Originally Posted by SpiderWoman
http:///forum/post/2699996
When you are feeding garlic, you are better off using fresh garlic and just squeeze the juice out and feed that. Bottled garlic has already lost it's most pungent properties.
That scratching definitely sounds like ick.
+1 use freshly squeezed garlic

 

[sepulatian]

First, garlic is only effective if it is fresh. Bottled garlic does nothing more then stimulate fish to eat, and that is questionable. Please read Beth's Common Treatments FAQ for the uses of medicinal garlic. Tell us more about your tang. Scabs are not ich. If you cannot get a picture up then please post as much detail as you can about his condition. What sized tank did he come out of? How long has this new tank been set up? What are the water readings on the new tank?