Little white spots on blue hippo tang?

[zbrook1]

Anybody with some advice as to what these little white spots on my hippo tang are. Form of saltwater ick?Yesterday he was fine but also yesterday I added another 12-14 lbs of live rock from the same LFS I bought the other 45-50 lbs from(and never had a problem) to put in this 55 gal.(I did do a little rearrangment of the rock when I added this 12-14 lbs and Im sure it freaked him out) I also just put the tang in this tank 5 days ago and he has been super. He is eating very good and swimming around just fine. Please tell me I wont have to medicate this guy. My other tenants are two clowns, 1 brittle star,4 turbo snails,6 blue leg hermits and one pepperment shrimp. I can see nothing on the clowns as of yet. Also I have no corals as of yet.Thanks folks......

 

[Anonymous]

Zbrook. I would almost guarantee it's saltwater ich - cryptocarion (sp?). Tangs seem to be magnets for it when stressed. If he has it that means it's in your tank and your other fish may get it too. The best way to treat is to remove him and all other fish to a quarantine tank and let your main tank stay fishless for a month. Raise the temperature slightly will speed up the parasites life cycle as well. With no fish it will cycle out and die from lack of host. Otherwise you can try medicated or garlic soaked foods - I would not do hyposalinity or dose the main tank with any medications.

There is I believe a faq on fish dieseases here on RDO also you may want to try the excellent FAQs over at wetwebmedia which answer every question under the sun about Ich and treatment.