Scopas Tang

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I have a medium Scopas tang in quarantine. He's about 3-3.5" long. He has some white spots on his body at times, but these are not raised like ich nor are they the small, natural white spots associated with this species.

Unfortunately, he won't let me take a good picture of him. There is chelated copper in the tank at around 1.6 mg/L. It seems like these spots appear when I'm watching him closely and he gets nervous. At other times they disappear completely when I'm farther away or not watching him up close.

Is this normal? Could it be because he may be a juvenile, or is that a natural response to stress?

 

[Brew12]

I have no idea.

@Humblefish or @melypr1985 might be able to help. This is beyond my experience.

 

[melypr1985]

Sounds like a stress response. It doesn't sound like anything disease related.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Sounds like a stress response. It doesn't sound like anything disease related.

I concur. There are also two clowns in the QT with him, and they show no disease signs whatsoever.

 

[4FordFamily]

We will need photos, if possible. It's not uncommon for clowns not to show parasites while tangs and others succumb, they have thick slime coats.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

We will need photos, if possible. It's not uncommon for clowns not to show parasites while tangs and others succumb, they have thick slime coats.

I've already tried...twice. He really is camera shy. He hides when he sees me holding something rectangular!

 

[4FordFamily]

I've already tried...twice. He really is camera shy. He hides when he sees me holding something rectangular!

Well dang it!

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

He is amazingly schizo...poor guy. He goes from a pale color to normal color in like two seconds. I think he's doing fine. I looked at him again, and I see no spots.

 

[Humblefish]

Sounds like a stress response. It doesn't sound like anything disease related.

I agree, this sounds like stress spots.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I agree, this sounds like stress spots.

Very strange that they can spot up in response to stress. I'm not sure I've ever seen that before. Maybe this Scopas is *sensitive* lol

 

[Humblefish]

Very strange that they can spot up in response to stress. I'm not sure I've ever seen that before. Maybe this Scopas is *sensitive* lol

Hippo and Naso Tangs are notorious for getting them. Little white splotches will show up on their skin and then suddenly disappear.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Hippo and Naso Tangs are notorious for getting them. Little white splotches will show up on their skin and then suddenly disappear.

That's exactly what is going on. Thanks again!!

 

[ClearRain]

Nice Scopas specimens have natural white/ sky blue speckles and "scribble" marks very prominent on their back half and face. When they show stress colors and get really dark, the spots will stand out more. I wouldn't worry about it, just sounds like a good looking fish to me

 

[mort]

Nice Scopas specimens have natural white/ sky blue speckles and "scribble" marks very prominent on their back half and face. When they show stress colors and get really dark, the spots will stand out more. I wouldn't worry about it, just sounds like a good looking fish to me

Agree with this. It's the reason I have one as on close inspection they are far prettier than any other tang with the intricate subtle spotting.

 

[nex64]

Like this rain?

 

[Ryandt90]

Like this rain?

Hi what actually is this on your fish?

my tang currently has white spots on like this, I'm concerned it is ich.... Im really hoping not.... Water parameters are good and all other fish are fine.

No signs of rubbing up to rocks or anything spots are not raised.