HELP- Tiny White Spots on Hippo Tang

[amcarrig]

1. Raise the tank temp up a degree. He said this will often times cause the fish to be more relaxed. (Good suggestion but what this really does is speed up the life cycle of the ich parasite)

2. Use garlic. They were out, so I am hoping to get some later this week. He said this is an awesome immune booster. (Another good suggestion but garlic stimulates the fishes appetite which will, in turn, boost up the fishes immune system)
3. Cut back on food. He said if I am feeding to much and the cleaner shrimp is eating too much during feeding time he won't be cleaning the fish as much and when you cut back on the feeding they are more reluctant to set up their "station". (How much are you feeding?)

4. Do a water change. This way if there was anything he wasn't liking in the param's, a water change will help. (How old is the tank? If it's still cycling, I wouldn't recommend a water change. What are your parameters at?)

[reef_guru]

but a lot of people on here will tell you a qt tank will just stress the hippo tang even more.

yes it does, it lowers the immune system.

i would try other methods before trying this suggestion:
if you dont have a QT. take an extra bucket with the same salinity and temp with a copper treatment let it sit in there for about 15 min or so. may take a couple treatments. there is a chance the fish may react adversly so caution should be taken.

[totter0817]

My tank is about 7 months old now amcarrig.

[Tangster]

Is the thing still eating well ? or is it starting to hide out and not eat ? Are the specks like salt grain size or a light dusting looking cover on the skin ? Don't kill it with worry or kindness .. If its larger slat grain size true Ich and its eating well then it will be fine and may take up wards of a yr to totally stop displaying any of these parasite symptoms .. If its a whitish looking fine dusting them you need to medicate the system with a good antibiotic

The larger Ich specks just show up but fish will feed and act O.K just will try to scratch and rub on Rocks and the speck's will come and go in Hrs .

If its a lighter dusting like covering the skin then its odenium and thats a horse of a different color Thats as a rule will do most of its damage to the internal organs and gill's as it migrates out wards on the fish to finish its cycle and it will move along the fish's flanks to wards its pectoral & caudal fin area's This stuff kills in less then a week and if its not I.D properly and really soon it will wipe a system out.. Also a newer super strain of Ich has been hitting many fish collecting and holding facilities over the last yr or more.

[totter0817]

It looks like grain sized salt over the body. It doesnt looking fuzzy or like a covering. Defiently it looks like little salt specs over the body.

[totter0817]

NEW UPDATE:
My hippo tang's ich is getting worse. I am heading to my LFS in a little bit to help him.

[Tangster]

There is no cure for Ick if you keep messing with the tank and adding stuff to lower the water quality it will only get worse if the fish is still eating and acting normally other then itching on the rocks let it be It will pass . What I'd do if really worried and the fish is still eating is soak the food in some marycin 1 antibiotics to help ward off any secondary infections. If its not eating then just let it ride it out.. Some fish no matter what species will never acclimate to life in a little glass box of water.. It happens to use all .