Single grey spot on Singapore Angel, is it flukes?

[level99fishing]

Hello,

After reading through R2R threads about fish diseases, I decided to visually inspect my fish and that's when I noticed that my singapore angelfish has a single grey spot inferior to his left eye located within the black band. It is now day 3 and this grey spot has not disappeared, but the situation has also not gotten worse. The fish has a good apetite, swims normally, robust coloration, and comes straight to the glass when I walk over to ask for food. All other fish are visually free from abnormalities. Is this something to be concerned about?

I did add a pair of clown fish 1 day before I noticed this grey spot. The clown fish had white stringy poop on the first day (but not anymore after feeding them with what I have at home). I acquired the clownfish from a reputable source, and from reading online stringy poop may or may not be an issue.

Thanks everyone for reading.

 

[*GAREEF*]

White stringy poop in clown fish is common when they aren’t fed enough.
Keep a close eye on angel fish. Post a picture and or a video of him.

 

[level99fishing]

White stringy poop in clown fish is common when they aren’t fed enough.
Keep a close eye on angel fish. Post a picture and or a video of him.

Here's a picture of him. The Grey spot is just visible beneath his eye.

 

[Mark Goode]

I can just make out a small grey blur, sorry. How long have you had the fish?

 

[level99fishing]

I can just make out a small grey blur, sorry. How long have you had the fish?

Sorry, he wont stay still. Had it for 3-4 weeks.

 

[Mark Goode]

Sorry, he wont stay still. Had it for 3-4 weeks.

Yeah, mine's camera shy too. They're a lovely fish, but it seems far too many are caught with cyanide, and their chances are rarely good. Best of luck, the fact that she's feeding well is a promising sign.

 

[level99fishing]

Yeah, mine's camera shy too. They're a lovely fish, but it seems far too many are caught with cyanide, and their chances are rarely good. Best of luck, the fact that she's feeding well is a promising sign.

My Singapore angelfish is still alive and is no longer shy. That previous grey spot has disappeared now, but since then it gets grey spots in different places. I've done some research and it doesn't match the description of itch or velvet. Hard to tell in the photo but these spots are not raised and do not look like salt grains or dust. It's more just like a patch of grey in the body. Seems flat. Here is another picture. No other fish have it as far as I can see. Just a bit concerned as I don't want to add more fish until I know what this is.

 

[AlyciaMarie]

#fishmedic

 

[Jay Hemdal]

My Singapore angelfish is still alive and is no longer shy. That previous grey spot has disappeared now, but since then it gets grey spots in different places. I've done some research and it doesn't match the description of itch or velvet. Hard to tell in the photo but these spots are not raised and do not look like salt grains or dust. It's more just like a patch of grey in the body. Seems flat. Here is another picture. No other fish have it as far as I can see. Just a bit concerned as I don't want to add more fish until I know what this is.

Generally, flukes are not visible as individual worms on a fish - you can sometimes see the damage that they do; frayed fins, cloudy eyes, and "rough" looking skin. Then, there are other symptoms such as flashing/scratching or rapid breathing.

That said, this species is prone to Neobenedenia flukes, and you've had it for about 6 to 8 weeks? That's about the right timeline for Neo to show up.

Has the fish even been treated for flukes? If not, you might consider a praziquantel treatment.

 

[level99fishing]

Generally, flukes are not visible as individual worms on a fish - you can sometimes see the damage that they do; frayed fins, cloudy eyes, and "rough" looking skin. Then, there are other symptoms such as flashing/scratching or rapid breathing.

That said, this species is prone to Neobenedenia flukes, and you've had it for about 6 to 8 weeks? That's about the right timeline for Neo to show up.

Has the fish even been treated for flukes? If not, you might consider a praziquantel treatment.

I'm not sure if it has been treated for flukes before or not. Is praziquantel shrimp safe? Reading online, the consensus is that it is, but then there is the occasional story of shrimp dying from it. Best to net them out first?

EDIT: There is also no flashing/scratching at all from this angelfish. He seems to be 100% asymptomatic. However, I just noticed one of my cardinal fish scratching his head/gill area against a rock

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I'm not sure if it has been treated for flukes before or not. Is praziquantel shrimp safe? Reading online, the consensus is that it is, but then there is the occasional story of shrimp dying from it. Best to net them out first?

EDIT: There is also no flashing/scratching at all from this angelfish. He seems to be 100% asymptomatic. However, I just noticed one of my cardinal fish scratching his head/gill area against a rock

Prazipro won't harm shrimp (or really any invertebrates if done correctly) however, without some secondary symptoms, I'm not sure I'd rush into dosing it quite yet.....

 

[level99fishing]

Prazipro won't harm shrimp (or really any invertebrates if done correctly) however, without some secondary symptoms, I'm not sure I'd rush into dosing it quite yet.....

I don't have prazipro, only have praziquantel tablets. The exipients in the tablet probably won't do anything when dissolved right?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I don't have prazipro, only have praziquantel tablets. The exipients in the tablet probably won't do anything when dissolved right?

They should be o.k., but you need to know the actual active amount of the praziquantel in each pill. The formula is: actual tank volume in US gallons * 2.2 ppm / 265 = grams of medication. So for example - a 100 gallon tank, * 2.2 = 220 / 265 = 0.8 grams

 

[level99fishing]

They should be o.k., but you need to know the actual active amount of the praziquantel in each pill. The formula is: actual tank volume in US gallons * 2.2 ppm / 265 = grams of medication. So for example - a 100 gallon tank, * 2.2 = 220 / 265 = 0.8 grams

update:

Angelfish still completely normal apart from those grey spots. However, cardinal also has a grey spot now and it does look a little raised next to his gill. Cardinal is scratching gills against rocks. Tang is now also scratching from time to time.

I think I'm going to start a course of praziquantel just to be safe. What's the best dosing regime to follow? I just need to do a one-off dose based on the formula?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

update:

Angelfish still completely normal apart from those grey spots. However, cardinal also has a grey spot now and it does look a little raised next to his gill. Cardinal is scratching gills against rocks. Tang is now also scratching from time to time.

I think I'm going to start a course of praziquantel just to be safe. What's the best dosing regime to follow? I just need to do a one-off dose based on the formula?

The typical dose for praziquantel is as I posted on Thursday. You need to run any skimmers (but don't collect the skimmate while treating. Remove any carbon or other chemical filtrants and add an air stone. Then, 8 days after the first dose, do a 25% water change and do a second dose. In some cases, a third dose is helpful. The trouble is that prazi doesn't kill fluke eggs, so you need to need to try and time things so any existing eggs hatch, and you kill those flukes with the second dose, but before they can lay eggs of their own.

 

[level99fishing]

The typical dose for praziquantel is as I posted on Thursday. You need to run any skimmers (but don't collect the skimmate while treating. Remove any carbon or other chemical filtrants and add an air stone. Then, 8 days after the first dose, do a 25% water change and do a second dose. In some cases, a third dose is helpful. The trouble is that prazi doesn't kill fluke eggs, so you need to need to try and time things so any existing eggs hatch, and you kill those flukes with the second dose, but before they can lay eggs of their own.

OK so its been 3 days since I've dosed the praziquantel. The spots have disappeared from the angelfish and the cardinal fish. The cardinal fish is still flashing on the sand bed and rocks though. Should I stick with the dosing regime and repeat the dose on day 8? Or is the flashing likely not flukes?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

OK so its been 3 days since I've dosed the praziquantel. The spots have disappeared from the angelfish and the cardinal fish. The cardinal fish is still flashing on the sand bed and rocks though. Should I stick with the dosing regime and repeat the dose on day 8? Or is the flashing likely not flukes?

Often, the fish will continue to scratch after treatment for flukes because when the flukes fall off, they leave holes in the fish's skin that also irritate the fish. I would stick to the schedule and redose on day 8.

 

[level99fishing]

Often, the fish will continue to scratch after treatment for flukes because when the flukes fall off, they leave holes in the fish's skin that also irritate the fish. I would stick to the schedule and redose on day 8.

Thanks for the help, I'll stick with the treatment plan.

I also did a freshwater dip on the cardinal and nothing came off. Probably should have done it before dosing the praziquantel.