Banggai red gills? ID needed please.

[DasCamel]

I purchased 3 Banggai Cardinals from the LFS, along with two firefish gobies. One Cardinal died after a couple days, didn't see much, it was the smallest. Now over a week later I had one exhibit labored breathing, laying on the botton last night and it shortly passed away. The gobies so far look great.


This morning I'm observing the third and the gills look red. Looks like also labored breathing. Attaching photo. Ideas?

Ammonia looks like zero according to API, 1.025, pH 8.0 nitrates are very low, the fish are in a 20L quarantine tank treated with Metrodinazole and Pazripro for one week. About to do a 20% water change.

Thanks in advance,

Das

 

[Newsmyrna80]

I would double check the ammonia. Red gills usually indicate an ammonia problem. You could add something like Prime. Are they eating ok?

 

[DasCamel]

The one in the photo did yesterday.

The one in the photo did yesterday.

I would double check the ammonia. Red gills usually indicate an ammonia problem. You could add something like Prime. Are they eating ok?

It's the largest one.

 

[DasCamel]

Double checking ammonia right now.

 

[DasCamel]

Nh3

Nh3

Yeah, confirmed it again in sunlight, zero.

Gobies are eating, last man standing ate yesterday, even the small one that passed last night ate 2-3 days ago.

 

[DasCamel]

Update: the last cardinal didn't even think about eating. I wonder if the tank had an ammonia spike that's passed.

Anyway, any other possible causes for the gills?

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Since you are treating with Prazi I don't think it could be flukes and since you tested ammonia and it was 0 it's not that. The only other thing I can think of is an infection, which I don't think it is, or something in the way the fish was caught/transported. Do you know how long the LFS had the fish?

 

[DasCamel]

Since you are treating with Prazi I don't think it could be flukes and since you tested ammonia and it was 0 it's not that. The only other thing I can think of is an infection, which I don't think it is, or something in the way the fish was caught/transported. Do you know how long the LFS had the fish?

Only a couple of days.

 

[DasCamel]

Update: last cardinal passed a few hours ago. Things move fast in this hobby, 72 hours ago things seemed normal. Feel so much better this was all in the QT.

Now to be patient with firefish gobies. Thinking at least 4-6 weeks.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

I think that is a good idea

 

[vitz]

from what i could tell of the pic, the red area looked to be more the base of the pectoral fin, or a small area of skin just *before* the actual gill plate. are you positive you actually saw the gills themselves ?