Chromis with sores on body (with pics)

[pufferpoison]

Well I bought some fish from a new supplier and have noticed one my 4 chromis I got in had a little whitish scar or something I thought on his side, looked like the scales were removed. I since in the 5 days of having them can't find one of them and now have seen two others with something on them. Basically it looks like a sore or scab or something.

 

[scott3569]

oh no!! I am sorry, I can't offer any advice, but I hope you can get it taken care of!!

 

[HumbleFish]

Uronema marinum. Treat with either copper or chloroquine phosphate. Either way, the chance of survival is minimal. Sorry

 

[snorvich]

Uronema marinum. Treat with either copper or chloroquine phosphate. Either way, the chance of survival is minimal. Sorry

Unfortunately, that is correct. I hope those fish are in quarantine rather than a display tank.

 

[pufferpoison]

Yes and no. They are in a 20 gallon tank with only those fish (plus a lawnmower Blenny) and corals, snails and crabs. I have a QT tank setup but the fish came in early and the QT wasn't finished cycling.

It now is cycled. Will coral dip clean the coral?

Also I read about this parasite and leaving a tank fallow will NOT cure the tank?

 

[MrTuskfish]

I have no idea why uronema is so prevalent with chromis during the last few years. I wouldn't buy them right now under any circumstances.

Coral dips help coral, do nothing for fish parasites or diseases.

 

[pufferpoison]

I have no idea why uronema is so prevalent with chromis during the last few years. I wouldn't buy them right now under any circumstances.

Coral dips help coral, do nothing for fish parasites or diseases.

What I meant was will dipping the coral clean off any parasite that is attached to the coral or have I condemned all my corals?

 

[snorvich]

I cannot determine if any coral dip will help with the corals. It is worth a try. If so I would do a coral dip bath, a rinse in new salt water, and then into a tank that is a restart after cleaning since leaving a tank fallow will not eliminate the parasite.

 

[pufferpoison]

So I've read that it's probably too late to do anything with these fish and some ppl just euthanize them to save them some suffering. Can anyone on here chime in on that and also I have a lawnmower blenny and a bi-color blenny that has been exposed. Is it the same fate for them?

If there is a cure, what to use for treatment?

 

[HumbleFish]

IME, Uronema & Brooklynella are very different from Ich & Velvet when it comes to cross contamination. It's very hit or miss whether another fish that shares water with the infected gets sick. On multiple occasions, I've seen (untreated) fish never show symptoms after being exposed to fish that died from both ailments. I don't presume to understand the life cycles of Uronema & Brooklynella, so I don't know why this is exactly. Snorvich may understand better why this is.

 

[pufferpoison]

The weird thing is the fish didn't show any signs of the disease except for the sores. They ate, weren't breathing hard and except for the sores (and two of them dying) acted normal. The LFS suggested maybe it it's not the disease and could be they are picking on the weaker ones.

It also seems like it only affects one fish at a time

 

[snorvich]

Well, the vast majority of chromis in a group end up being just one over an extended period of time. It seems like that is just the way it is; although there are exceptions. The sores seem more indicative of uronema as opposed to the dominant one widdling down the herd. My experience is more with ich, velvet, and brook since I do not purchase or keep chromis. Alzapro thinks that CP may fix that problem of uronema but I cannot say from my personal experience.

 

[HumbleFish]

FWIW; 20 years ago I always kept a school of chromis in every reef tank I maintained. Small schools, large schools... But I rarely ever lost one (not even to aggression), and didn't even know what Uronema was back then. I'd love to know what has changed. The only thing I know is they all came from Quality Marine, and were prophylactically treated with copper (specifically Coppersafe) and the initial doses of Maracyn 1 & 2 for at least one month.