Lymphocystis

[sundancer]

Does anyone have any experience with lymphocystis,particularly on a Bartlett's Anthias? I have 15 of these guys. One (also the most aggresive one) has some small white clumps on the tips of most of his fins. They are small and noticable mosly when his fins are flared. I am sure it is not ich as I know what those look like. I have been researching this and there seems to be differing opinions as to contagiousness of the infection. Some say it will heal on it's own while other authors say it will drop off and reinfect. Any input from the disease experts on RC? The Anthias is not affected by the disease at the monent.

[oct2274]

i do not believe it is contagious to other fish, possibly if the water conditions are bad. I've bought two fish now that had it. Both cleared up within a month or two. It is typically found in tanks that have poor water conditions. If your tank has low nitrates and phosphates and everything else is in line it will clear up on it's own. If it developed in your tank you need to check your water chemistry because something is most likely out of whack.

levels to check
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
Phosphate
pH
alk
Salinity - do you use a refractometer or other tool to check

There are other things and levels of those things that are important to reef aquariums which may or may not contribute to this

Calcium
Magnesium
Iodine
Strontium

Are you using tap water or RO/DI water

There are alot of variables that could be contributing. But I can almost guarantee that it is water quality or bad nutrition in either your tank = if it developed after you bought them or in the stores or suppliers tank.

If you find your water parameters are out of line, 20-25% water changes every week or so till you see a change for the better would be a good way to start if you are using RO/DI water to mix your salt with.

[sundancer]

Thanks. My water is perfect. No detectable anything. Trace parameters are where they should be. I believe this one Anthias already had it while in QT but I did not catch it until it was added to the display. I saw it the first couple of days aided by the better lighting. I hope it goes away on it's own. I don't want to have to catch it. Thanks for the input.

[JHemdal]

Without a pic I can't say if your Bartlett's has Lymphocystis, but they are one of the species that can get this viral infection. It is contagious, generally by fish biting one another and rupturing the infected skin cells which releases the viral particles into the aquarium. There is only an indirect relationship between water quality and this disease...most cases involve exposure to infected fish as mentioned above, excpet with angelfish where the skin damage from improper netting allows the virus to infect the fish. I've seen Pomacanthus angels get their cheek spine caught in a net and then develop Lymphocystis right at that spot a short time later.

Old school treatments included excising the lesion and painting it with antibiotics - we now know this just increases infection rates for other fish in the tank...so leave the lesions alone. The lesions are usually self-limiting, that is, the fish's immune system will eventually fight off the infection. The only lethal cases I've come across have involved large lesions on a fish's mouth that subsequently hindered the fish's feeding ability.

Jay

[sundancer]

Thank you,Jay. I am glad to hear that I can let this one alone for the time being. I'll keep an eye on this guy. He has been in the display two weeks. I noticed one small white clump on one fin the first couple of days. It has grown a bit since and now he has a few other ones on several fins but I think it has now stopped spreading. I can't get a good shot with my camera. He is too quick.