White Spots on Filefish

[JerryJ]

Hello WAMAS,

 

I have an aiptasia eating filefish in quarantine. I bought the fish about a month and a half ago. Soon after I got it, I noticed a few white spots on the fins. Now there seem to also be spots on the body, near the tail.

 

I have been treating with copper (Cupramine) for over a month. What puzzles me is that the spots are not getting much better, or much worse. I thought that in Cryptocaryon, the parasites (spots) on the fish go away in about a week, then drop to the aquarium floor and multiply, and re-infect the fish. So individual spots disappear, only to be replaced by more and different spots. But the biggest spot on the anal fin (see photo) has been there for many weeks. 

 

I recently did a freshwater dip, which had no effect.

 

This has me wondering whether this is Cryptocaryon at all, but I don't know of any other parasites that cause spots like this. 

 

The fish also has a little "skin tag" on its lower lip that doesn't get bigger, or go away.

 

Any advice will be appreciated!

 

Jerry

 

[ParrotFish]

You might try also posting to humblefish, they know a ton and respond relatively quickly from what I've heard.