1 dead, 1 sick... please advise

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BOSLawGuy

New member
I have 5 fish in a 75G FOWLR

1 Gramma
1 BiColor Blenny
2 Chromis
1 Clown

The gramma was always a little *slow* and not as playful as the rest, kept to himself so I didn't notice (looking back now, was obvious) he became sick. No physical signs, but stopped eating, became lethargic. I found him dead one day at the corner of the tank.

Now my bi-color blenny started acting the same, after I noticed some red near one of his fins. He also was constantly biting/itching himself at his tail.

I've moved him to a hospital tank (what was my QT)... gave him some Ich guard (nitrofurazone) and checked it would not adversely interact, so gave some parasite guard stuff as well (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=23589)
but he is still not eating. This morning I thought he was dead and I went to get a net to take him out of the tank and when I touched him with the net was when he barely moved...so I let him go of course, and he ran to the LR (which I took from the DT in order to have some bio filter) I have in the QT.

The Chromis and the Clown are still in DT - they are totally fine, happy, swimming, eating, etc....

Any ideas!?
 
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I don't really have a pic ... I mean, the red behind his fin is gone.
Now he just sits in the rock all day, or at the bottom of the HT.
Won't eat. Has no visible signs of problems.
 
IME royal gramma's often do what yours did and stop eating. When you previously quarantined what medications did the fish go through? Internal external treatment?
 
the gramma was QT'd with the Chromis when they all arrived (from the same tank), but no medications were given as after 4 weeks, all were fine.

Gramma was not QT'd before death. Inexperienced me.

Seeing the same symptoms, I QTd the blenny. I was able to get a picture of him just minutes ago, see attached. He always had these few white spots... they go away when he changes colors.
 

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without a doubt, the problem started in the DT... but 3 of the 5 fish have not become ill whatsoever.

I am not sure how to treat the one who is currently ill (the blenny, as pictured above)
 
The white markings (not spots) on the Blenny is normal coloring. They show these colors when stressed or sleeping...at least mine does. How is the blenny's breathing? How long has he been off the food?
 
The white markings are normal for a bi color. Most blennys have these markings just some more noticeable than others. If he is biting and itching at his tail I would say he has some sort of parasite. Mine did the same when it had ich. I would pull all of the fish and treat since you don't have many. Also the live rock is a bad idea as it will soak up medicines and will be a pain to keep you medications at the right level. I'd throw a piece of PVC in or a fiberglass decoration you don't care about in there. Soak your food in garlic (just to entice eating not as a cure for anything). Try to see if there are any signs of a parasite. Just my 2 cents.
 
Is it a good idea to put the other fish with the blenny - seeing as right now they exhibit absolutely no signs of being sick... Wouldn't that be placing them directly in with the parasite? I only have one QT/HT
 
Whatever parasite the Blenny got while still in the DT is still in the DT. The other fish may not exhibit any signs but they could be a host for whatever is in the tank and therefore will not die off.
Since the other fish are not showing any signs I would put them in a separate QT and monitor them. You don't need anything fancy for a QT. I've used a Rubbermaid container with an air stone while one of my fish was being treated for brook.
 
Airstone & heater?

Also, here is a better picture of the blenny.

I took the LR out, and he started freaking out - still hasn't found a way to the new "hiding" places made of solo cups...

But he does have the energy to swim per this video:
http://noamliran.com/test/blenny.mov


ALSO - how long do you recommend I keep them out of the DT? Should I treat them or just monitor them?
 

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Yep, airstone and a heater would be fine. If you have an extra HOB filter that would be good. Just as long as you have water movement. Of course, make sure water parameters are good and keep an eye on ammonia.
Do you have any PVC for him to hide in?
Since you don't know what you're dealing with there's no way to know how long to leave the MT fallow.
 
From the video it seems he still has a lot of energy.... I suppose that is a good thing. So maybe his appetite is just suppressed?

MT?
 
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Air stone in a salt water does little good. Salt water receives oxygen from a gas exchange at the surface and the better the flow the better the gas exchange.
What s used for water flow in there ?
 
Like I said salt water receives oxygen from a gas exchange at the surface and good steady water flow helps.
I think you need a couple powerheads ..
 
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