Achilles Tang - One gill seems to have seized

[Rea17]

Title pretty much says it all. I've had my achilles for over a year, he's in excellent health otherwise. I noticed he wasn't eating as aggressively today and upon taking a closer look, noticed one of his gills is completely shut and the other is working overtime. I'm not sure what to do for him, or if anything can be done. Water parameters are all normal. Any help would be appreciated!!

 

[Holsteiner]

Can't say I've ever seen that one before. Can you see any reason or any trauma around the gill?

 

[Rea17]

No trauma whatsoever - he's been going through a prophylactic quarantine before hitting the new DT, but he's done quite well up to this point.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Have you ever treated for flukes?

 

[Rea17]

He was put through prazi when I got him, and I haven't see any symptoms of flukes.

 

[HumbleFish]

Following - never seen this happen to a fish before.

 

[Rea17]

No change yet, I'm pretty worried about him.

 

[ca1ore]

Nothing useful to offer other than moral support, which isn't very useful, sorry.

 

[Mrscribbled]

I could only assume some sort of gill infestation, whether flukes, lice, or other parasite. Odd this is happening after treatments have been performed. Is the overall behavior any different besides breathing?

 

[Rea17]

Lice? I may dip him to be absolutely sure no flukes are present, but he's behaving normally. No erratic swimming, flashing, discoloration, eyes are clear, appetite only seemed effected when he was having trouble breathing. This morning he's back to normal... I'm at a loss.

 

[smb2415]

Did you do another round of Prazi after you got him?

What I would do is
1) recheck all water params
2) large water change
3) dose prazi
4) after 3 days, large water change
5) run cupramine
6) start to gradually decrease salinity to do hypo Over a 3 or 4 days drop it to 1.016 and then over another few days to 1.014
7) continue cupramine for about a week or so
8) water change
9) gradually increase salinity over a week
10) leave in QT for another week for observation

Continue to monitor health and water params. If he starts getting better I would still follow the list above but may do a double round of prazi if that helps or cupramine if that helps.

He was put through prazi when I got him, and I haven't see any symptoms of flukes.

 

[Mrscribbled]

Lice? I may dip him to be absolutely sure no flukes are present, but he's behaving normally. No erratic swimming, flashing, discoloration, eyes are clear, appetite only seemed effected when he was having trouble breathing. This morning he's back to normal... I'm at a loss.

Probably more common in FW fish. Just thought I'd throw it out there, being anything is possible.

 

[HumbleFish]

You say everything is back to normal this AM. Anything look unusual about the gill? Any redness inside? I know it's hard to see, but sometimes I'm able to get a better look at my fish at night using a flashlight.

I guess if it were my fish I'd leave well enough alone unless he starts having more problems. Couldn't blame you though for giving him a f/w dip just to be sure he doesn't have gill flukes.

 

[vitz]

one gill 'not working' is usually a sign of either flukes, or an ectoparasite like an isopod. if the symptom reappears i'd suggest a good long fw dip, for as long as the fish can take before going into shock. if that doesn't work, i'd try to get the fish onto a table, on a pre-wetted w/ sw towel (which you can use to also keep it still, and from slicing your hands, heh)-and gently/carefully lift up the affected gill's plate, using a good strong 'mini maglight' (or any good led flashlight) for other signs of gill damage or larger parasites like an isopod.

 

[Ach1llesTang]

Vitz I have seen this before a few times with my fish. I would treat with prazipro.

Don't panic is the other gill opening and closing at a normal rate?
Is he still eating ok?

If so it will be fine, treat with prazipro and keep feeding. I imagine the other gill will start working in the next day or two.

 

[Ach1llesTang]

Sorry vitz I meant real

 

[Rea17]

You say everything is back to normal this AM. Anything look unusual about the gill? Any redness inside? I know it's hard to see, but sometimes I'm able to get a better look at my fish at night using a flashlight.

I guess if it were my fish I'd leave well enough alone unless he starts having more problems. Couldn't blame you though for giving him a f/w dip just to be sure he doesn't have gill flukes.

There's nothing externally wrong that I can see. I began PraziPro today (I figure I'll be running him through it anyway before his time in QT is over, might as well do it now).

one gill 'not working' is usually a sign of either flukes, or an ectoparasite like an isopod. if the symptom reappears i'd suggest a good long fw dip, for as long as the fish can take before going into shock. if that doesn't work, i'd try to get the fish onto a table, on a pre-wetted w/ sw towel (which you can use to also keep it still, and from slicing your hands, heh)-and gently/carefully lift up the affected gill's plate, using a good strong 'mini maglight' (or any good led flashlight) for other signs of gill damage or larger parasites like an isopod.

Thanks for the insight. He seems to be breathing normally now, but if he goes downhill again I'll pull him to do a dip. He's a very large and delicate fish so I was hoping to avoid handling him as much as possible, not to mention his scalpel is almost an inch long. If somehow, he does have something like an isopod attached to a gill, what would be the best method for removal/treatment without damaging the gill tissue? TIA

 

[vitz]

ime, removing isopods isn't that big of a deal-i've 'pulled out' isopods from triggers that were close to/just over 1/2" in length. grab onto it with a tweezer and squeeze hard on the isopod-it'll prob'ly jump out of the gill on its own in an attempt to escape, heh-just don't pull or yank it, as you run a risk of damaging the gill if it remains attached. and don't jump into the air from getting scared out of yer wits by something that looks like an eeevil cockroach w/devil eyes jumping out and scooting fast onto the table like i did my 1st time, hehe

i'll wager that a fw dip will irritate an isopod enough that it'll let go, as well-though i've never tried it as a remedy.

a good general rule is:

both gills acting goofy, it's crypto,brook, bacterial infection, or something present in the water. one gill, it's most likely flukes or some other larger (relatively) ectoparasite-at least in the early stages-after time, both gills can certainly be affected-crypto etc usually hits both gills w/in a very similiar time frame-larger parasites, not so much.

hth

 

[sandwi54]

I have seen this happening to fish many times, with or without parasites, and I would not worry about it as long as it returns to normal breathing and health is good otherwise.

 

[Rea17]

Thanks all for the input. He seems fine today and is back to eating normally. I'll continue my treatment plan and avoid stressing him further unless something drastic happens.