Ailing Angel

[hkgar]

What might be wrong with my Spotbreast Angel? Very lethargic and currently just hanging around the bottom in the back corner. Used to be a very active fish. Hasn't been in eating for a week or so, but shows interest but doesn't eat anything. He seems darker in color than she used to be. A couple pics





Thanks in advance for your help

 

[hkgar]

A better pic

 

[HumbleFish]

Looks like there are splotches on the body. Is that what you are seeing?

How long have you had her? Did you QT? When was the last fish added to the tank?

 

[hkgar]

Looks like there are splotches on the body. Is that what you are seeing?

How long have you had her? Did you QT? When was the last fish added to the tank?

Yes, I am seeing splotches on the body, plus the color of the breast area seems darker.

She went into QT 3/2013 and into display 6/2013. The last fish added is a Bellus Angel about 3 months ago. All fish have been through QT and treated with coprumine, except the Angels.

I am concerned that she may just be starving to death and the lethargy is from weakness. When I first noticed that she wasn't eating (I feed a couple cubes of home made frozen) I substituted one cube of frozen Mysis and she seemed to pick that out and eat.

I think I will feed only Mysis tonight and see what happens.

 

[HumbleFish]

Coral or anemone sting perhaps? Some fish are hard headed, and will continue to sleep in the same spot even if they are getting stung by sweepers from an LPS at night. Your QT protocol seems pretty solid... but there's always the possibility of bringing in a disease (as a hitchhiker) on a coral/invert.

Another possibility is she is getting picked on by another fish. A lot of fish will act reclusive when this happens and some even refuse to eat.

 

[hkgar]

Doubtful she is getting picked on. She has usually been the aggressor when new fish are added, she kept the Bellus in one corner for a few days but eventually they got along, and I have never seen any one go after her.

I have moved her to HT and am treating with PraziPro. I had absolutely no problem catching her. Just moved the net in and scoped her up. Not the battle one usually has when trying to net a fish.

 

[HumbleFish]

I have moved her to HT and am treating with PraziPro. I had absolutely no problem catching her. Just moved the net in and scoped her up. Not the battle one usually has when trying to net a fish.

Not a good sign. She must be pretty weak.

Do you suspect flukes (reason for doing Prazipro)? If so, you could administer a FW dip to confirm.

 

[hkgar]

I think she may be blind. Her eyes do not move at all and she doesn't seem to focus. I know, how can you tell focus with a fish, just a hunch from observing. As it was so easy to net her for the move, I put the net in the HT and could move it all around her and there is no reaction of any kind unless I touch her with the net. It would also explain why at feeding time she was just swimming around in the food but never went after anything. Smelled it but couldn't see it?

What would cause blindness? Could it be temporary?

 

[HumbleFish]

What would cause blindness? Could it be temporary?

I usually see fish go blind after "popeye" (the kind caused by a bacterial infection) is left untreated.

It's also possible your fish has a hereditary condition that has caused her to go blind. If so, she will need to be target fed and remain in a tank of her own until the condition is reversed (which may never happen).

 

[hkgar]

Fin rot

Fin rot

It may be fin rot. take a look at this picture taken shortly before transfer to HT:



Notice that the tail fin and dorsal fin seem intact. Now this picture taken today after 36 hours in HT:



When I first noticed the fins this AM I thought she had been chased and attacked by another fish, until I checked against the older pictures. I see a very noticeable difference.

 

[hkgar]

I suspect that there may be an underlying cause of the fin rot since she as been ailing for more than a week and the rot has only appeared within the last 36 hours. The limited reading I have done today suggests that fish tuberculosis or lymphocystis could be a cause. Probably the underlying cause, if any, can not be determined. Would the splotches and the darkening of her color be an indication of the underlying infection?

What would be a good treatment? It seems that antibiotics are generally recommended for fish rot. Would they also treat a possible underlying cause.

 

[HumbleFish]

Would the splotches and the darkening of her color be an indication of the underlying infection?

What would be a good treatment? It seems that antibiotics are generally recommended for fish rot. Would they also treat a possible underlying cause.

Very possible; could be a bacterial infection of some sort. Since you already have her in QT, I would begin treatment with a broad spectrum antibiotic such as Furan-2. You should be able to get that at a Petco/smart even on a Sunday.

 

[hkgar]

I got some at my LFS. They also recommended erythomyicin. Would that be helpful or just overkill and even damaging?

Some things I have read have me concerned about over dosing antibiotics. Since the HT is 25 gallons should I just dose 2 packs (directions are 1 packet per 10 gallons), 3 packs or 2.5. It is Furan-2

 

[HumbleFish]

I got some at my LFS. They also recommended erythomyicin. Would that be helpful or just overkill and even damaging?

Don't mix erythromycin with Furan-2; use one or the other. Erythromycin is great for gram positive infections (which most likely, that's what this is, but there's no way to know for sure). Furan-2 contains two different antibiotics for treating both gram positive and gram negative infections, so it covers all the bases.

Some things I have read have me concerned about over dosing antibiotics. Since the HT is 25 gallons should I just dose 2 packs (directions are 1 packet per 10 gallons), 3 packs or 2.5. It is Furan-2

You definitely don't want to OD antibiotics, so I would go with just the 2 packs. Also, increase gas exchange (point a powerhead towards the surface or run an air stone) while using antibiotics.

 

[hedgedrew]

This angelfish is in trouble. I would treat for parasitic and bacterial. Maybe formalin quick cure dips and fresh water baths and then returned to combo kannamycin and furan 2 mix. Might even want to put some metrodonizole in there also. Chloriquine phophate combined with that antibiotic combo also would work. I would immediately assume there is both issues.

 

[hedgedrew]

Also genicanthus angels are sensitive to water quality and detritus build up. Make sure the ht is spotless and siphon out all uneaten food and do waterchanges in there almost daily and replace medication with amount of waterchange.

 

[hkgar]

This angelfish is in trouble. I would treat for parasitic and bacterial. Maybe formalin quick cure dips and fresh water baths and then returned to combo kannamycin and furan 2 mix. Might even want to put some metrodonizole in there also. Chloriquine phophate combined with that antibiotic combo also would work. I would immediately assume there is both issues.

If I use a combo, would I use 50% of recommended dosage of each or 100% of both. I don't want to do more damage by overdosing.

I found directions for formalin quick cure dips, but I am not sure what you mean by fresh water dips.

Is there anything in specific from my described symptons that particularly alarm you? The prognosis sounds bleak. Any ideas of survival chances?

 

[hkgar]

Hedgerow,

I don't spend alot of time on this forum, like I do the Reef Chemistry forum, so I know nothing of the folks on this forum. When I get, or read advise, from Randy on that forum, I know they are coming from a Chemist and he knows of which he speaks.

Sorry, I know nothing about you. I want the best for my angel and question what your credentials are for prescribing mixing multiple medications. How can you know the effect of these combinations, particularly the side effects - unintended consequences.

 

[Deinonych]

I would not mix medications; especially multiple broad-spectrum antibiotics. I would follow Humblefish's recommendation and start by treating for bacterial infection with Furan-2. If that doesn't resolve the problem, then consider treating for possible parasitic infections.

 

[hkgar]

I am going to continue with the conservative choice until someone can provide supporting documentation for a radical, non conventional approach.