White Fluff on Yellow Tang Fins

[johnca]

I've noticed what appears to be white 'fluff' on both fins of my Yellow Tang. The fish behaviour seems normal and its feeding ok. The left fin has had a single piece approx 1-2mm on it for about a week, I thought it was some sort of parasite that my Cleaner Shrimp would remove. Today I saw a smaller white deposit on the right fin. Eyes & Gills look fine, no other marks on body.

I've had the fish for about 2 months, also have 4 clowns, 2 firefish and a goby and no sign of any problems with them. I wondered if it could be Ich or Oodinium, couldn't find any photos illustrating these conditions so not sure what it is. Would appreciate any suggestions or links to photos which would help me identify the problem.

[chrisgregg]

sounds more like a bacterial infection , a fungus if its a white cotton wool like blob you need to treat it with some myxasin it reef safe and work a treat then it should clear in a couple of days ... if the tang it scratching it might be itch but doesnt soung like it from you description

[Wombat]

From your description this sounds like lympocystis (time to hit the books or the web to hunt down a picture to compare)

If so it's a fairly harmless viral disease which usally resolves on its own

[johnca]

It does look like a tiny piece of cotton wool

[chrisgregg]

get down to your local fshop and get some myxasin by waterlife good stuff for a reef tank ... you can leave to see if the fish will cure it self but i would rather help it along the way :D

[Dr Bee]

If it look like the surface of a cauliflower then that is pretty confirmatory of lmyphocysitis or a papilloma virus. If that's the case they no antibacterial will touch the viral infection infection (although it may help keep secondary infections at bay).

Having said that, if it is lympocycstis or papilloma virus most cases of this (as wombat said) clear up on their own

Any chance of a picture?

[johnca]

Will use Myxazin as suggested and see what happens. Thanks for your advice

John

[Dr Bee]

Will use Myxazin as suggested and see what happens.

I wouldn't unless you are sure it isn't viral and the whole tank need treating. Also Myxazin isn't well tolerated by clams and some corals

[johnca]

I agree that its not worth using a medication if it could damage corals & clams which I have. If I don't use Myxazin I don't know what to do. Today the fluff on the right fin has gone, there is still a speck of fluff on the left fin .. Tang seems ok otherwise and all other tank inhabitants look fine to me. Is there anything else I can check for?

[Wombat]

Still sounds like lympocystis which is usually self resolving. A photo would help