My Powder Blue Tang Has White Spots

[seaweed]

Help I think my powder blue tang has developed Ick. Today I noticed white spots that looks like someone sprinkled some salt on him. I have a 55 gallon tank with live rock, a couple anemones, some other fish, some shrimp and crabs. What should I do for treatment?I also have a 30 gallon hex which has no live rock and I can use as a hospital tank.

 

[beth]

HYPOSALINITY Quick!
If the Hex is not already setup, set it up quickly as a hospital tank. Make sure the water is the same temp and PH as the tank that your fish is coming from. Place the fish in the hospital tank and over the next 2-3 days, start dropping the salinity levels in the hopital tank down to 1.009. Leave the saline level at that level for 4 weeks. If all is well then, slowly raise the salinity back up to normal levels. Continue to leave the fish in the hospital tank for another week. If all continues well, and your main tank has not been hit with ick [which is very likely that it will be unless you move all your fish to the Hex] then you can return your sick fish back home on the 5th week. Feed all fish garlic soaked food over the next week.
To do more research on this matter, including the hyposalinity treatment, use our search feature to study up on the subject of ICK.
Good luck, and keep us posted.
[ August 09, 2001: Message edited by: Beth ]

 

[seaweed]

Okay will do. How do you soak fish food in garlic?

 

[beth]

You can buy garlic juice or extract from the grocery store or you can chop up fresh garlc [be sure to retain the juices] then let your fish food soak in it for an hr before offering it to them.

 

[jimi]

You had better move all of your fish to quarantine. Some fish definately have a resistance to ich so all might appear well in your main tank it may not be and when you return the powder blue he will get it again. Dont count on garlic for treatment especially with powder blues. Use hypo on all your fish and leave the main tank without a host at least 30 days.