Blenny is Scratching

[bocareefguy]

My Bicolor Blenny started scratching himself on the LR yesterday. I do not see any infections, spots, blemishes, etc. He is still eating fine. I also have a clown and a firefish and they seem fine. Is this just something they sometimes do or is this a sign he's got something? Should I treat with Melafix and Pimafix to be safe? Any advise?

 

[Sk8r]

NEver treat in your main tank. Pull the fish all to qt to treat---but I wouldn't treat just yet...blennies sometimes do scratch, so just watch him. Side fins are a particularly good area to spot ich, because they're transparent---but blennies rarely get ich. He may just have gotten slimed or dusty, and decided to clean his skin. THere may be something he's getting into. Or he and a bristleworm could have had a small argument.

 

[luke33]

May be ick, a common sign. Wait until you see somethiing abnormal before you treat. Diagnose first, treat second.

 

[bocareefguy]

I did just add the purple firefish on Sunday. He's eating good and no sign of infection, but I was thinking he may have brought something with him from the LFS (but hopefully not!)

Thanks for the advise. I will keep an eye on him. If need, I will set up a QT - but hopefully, he'll just get over it. I had a bad case of ich in the tank a few months ago and lost all my fish. I waited about 5-6 weeks to let the ich die off without a host before adding any more fish. I've had fish in the tank now for about 6-7 weeks and no ich.

 

[Ruskin]

Not to be a jerk but.. your tank had ich and you lost all your fish and now you still adding fish to your main tank without quarentining them? Even if it isnt Ich you should have a QT setup especially if you've gone through the hardship of Ich in the display once already. They are cheap to setup and maintain and so helpful in a lot of ways.

 

[bocareefguy]

Are you saying quarentine all fish before adding them to the tank?

 

[luke33]

Bingo!

Bingo!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10036188#post10036188 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bocareefguy
Are you saying quarentine all fish before adding them to the tank?

You nailed it! As much as QT sucks imo, its way better than having to break down and QT all your fish. I learned teh hard way a long time ago. I even hypo nearly all the fish first as well.