Anyone ever lose a fish...to age?

[SVTour]

I'm wondering if I may be getting close to this? I purchased a Foxface back in August of 2003 for my tank. Over the last year, his eyes have glossed over some (kind of like you would see with an older dog), but the fish is definitely not blind. And I know it sounds odd, but the fish is also starting to get a wrinkled face...like an old person.

Last few days, it's been getting white up in the spine area...like it's lost some of its color, and yesterday looks like it's been scratching itself on the one side (nothing like I've ever seen before).

He's not the oldest fish in my tank, I have a couple clowns that are over 12...and a yellow tang that is also 10. None of them are showing their age like this fish is. The Foxface still has an appetite, and is usually first or second to the food (and will eat out of my hand) I see no other issues other than the signs I've listed above.

So, is it possible he's just "getting old"?

 

[SVTour]

Adding a few pictures...all just taken.

Close up of the face

Left side, which doesn't look bad - other than him looking old

right side, which is obviously where he's been scratching.

 

[reefgoddess808]

it kinda looks like HLLE or hole in the head. Look it up and see what you think.

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

Selcon?

 

[fishmate]

WOW THAT LOOKS BAD! I would definitely check and see what it is, ...

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

i lost an orchid dottyback after about 10 years.

 

[Deberber]

Is it swimming abnormally?

 

[billdogg]

I think it may be HLLE as well.

And, FWIW, yes, I have lost a fish to old age. His name was Hannibal - a 4' Gymnothorax Undulatus (Undulated Moray) He was about 25 years old.

 

[Timfish]

Considering there's no visible detetioration of the lateral lines and most of the discoloration is on the side of the head and back that is usually only affected in severe cases of HLLE I'm inclined to think it's some other kind of infection. If you can put it in a hospital tank and treat it with antibiotics or even better if you can find a vet who will prescribe antibiotic shots that would be even better (trying to insure a fish gets theraputic levels by adding antibiotics to the water is very difficult). It's uncommon but you may find a vet who has specific training on fish.

I've had several fish that pretty clearly died of old age. There are five characteristics I look for together. One obvious characteristic is a general dulling of overall coloration and this happens over the period of many months, at least 6 or more so it's a very slow development. Second is ALL the fins start to look "ratty" or a little tattered but there are no signs of parasites or redish areas from infection and the fish is not breathing rapidly. Third is a gradual loss of body weight and this is most obvious across the back where it starts to looked "pinched" between the lateral line and dorsal fin and the "shoulders" right behind the head so it's obvious where the skull ends. Fourth is even though it there is very little change in behaviour when it's swimming around it is not nearly as active and seems to spend more time "resting" (this is really obvious with some of the wrasses, not so with fish like Banggai cardinals that are far less active). Fifth is very little change in appetite, when food is put in the tank it should demonstrate an interest in food little unchanged. Again for me to consider a fish is aging it needs to demonstrate all five characteristics. For example if a fish only shows a loss of body weight with a pinched back showing the outline of it's skull I'm going to think it's a parasite problem or it's not getting enough food, either from being underfed or dominate fish are not allowing it to eat enough.