[jsgates]

I received a small Powder Brown Tang almost 2 weeks ago from Saltwaterfish.com. I have had great luck with Saltwaterfish.com in teh past and the fish is a beautiful specimen. I acclimated him over a 3 hr period using the drip method and then put him in my QT (12 Ga. JBJ Nanocube). Since day 1 he has readily accepted food - flake, algae sheets, and mysis. No visible signs of disease. No white of black spots. He does not appear to be stressed at all. Last night, I noticed a small white speck (kind of L-shaped) on his left eye. This morning it is gone. He is doing very well, but I don't want to move him to my DT until I'm sure he is disease free. Any idea what this could be? Like I said it is gone now. Fluke maybe? Would it be safe to freshwater dip this Tang? Of course I would match the PH & temp of the dip water. Just want to make sure he is ok while he is still in QT. Thanks for any suggestions.

[pogodzib]

Yes, he would be fine to do a FW dip on, but not all diseases or parasites are killed by FW dips. You should first try to figure out what it was and where it went. It wouldn't do any good to FW dip a fish if the parasite was at the bottom of your q-tank waiting to hop back on to your fish.

[jsgates]

Ok, one question about FW dips. I understand how the Osmotic Shock works, but after the dip, you just put the fish back in QT? Seems like a huge fast change in salinity......just the opposite of what acclimating a fish does. Possibility this wasn't a parasite? Thanks.

[pogodzib]

Yes, it is a fast change in salinity, but fish can handle it if they go back to their original water after the FW dip. You don't do so good if they are placed into water that is different than the original water after the dip is complete. Also, during a normal acclimation period, you're trying to minimize creating anymore stress on the already weakened fish that has just got done being shipped half way around the world, been quickly acclimated to a stores water and then having to be moved again to get to your house. During the FW dip process, you are trying to get something off the fish that is already causing stress so the fish is hopefully less stressed out after the dip process is complete.

[demonsquirt]

Look here...

Saltwater Aquarium Fish Disease Trouble Shooter