Emperor Angel Blotches

[osufarker]

I have a medium adult emperor in quarantine right now. Has been in QT for 2 weeks now.
His body is covered in blotches. It seems to me to be stress related to me. The QT tank is only 40 gallons and I think the limited space is bothering him.

The fish eats and doesn't scratch at all. Its fins appear a little cloudy, but the eyes are not cloudy at all and its behavior is fine. I have not seen any signs of ich or anything like that.

It also has a little pitting in the face from being in copper at the LFS for too long, but I figure good water and nutrition would clear that up.

I think its just stress related from a small tank. Am I off base here, is it something more serious? I'm seriously considering moving him to the display now as I the conditons there would be much better (240 gallon established tank).

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[leebca]

I've kept an adult Emperor Angel in a space of 10" cubic area of a 70 gallon QT.

Space for the short time of quarantine process can be a concern, but your 40 gallon for this fish is enough space.

If the fish is showing signs of septicemia, internal bacterial infection or reaction to bad water quality, then you need to take action. You don't want to bring its problem into your display tank. Don't forget the reason(s) you are performing a QT process.

In a QT I make it a point to test water frequently for:
pH
Ammonia
Nitrites
Salinity

Perform an immediate very large water change. Verify water quality and be sure before you make the water change that your source water is just as excellent as it can be (use RO/DI or distilled water). Match water to QT water parameters (temp., salinity, and pH). Once you made the change, lower the specific gravity to 1.016 and see below.

IF the pH is low, raise it slowly like at 0.05 units per day until it is at 8.3.

These fish are very sensitive to pH shifts (even small shifts of 0.05). It could have suffered badly with the copper treatment, depending upon the kind of copper it was treated with. (Can you find out the kind of copper medication they used on it?) I've seen Emperor's go through exactly what you're describing and it is usually traceable to something wrong with its environment or water --- either now or in its recent past.

After the above water change and while slowly lowering the salinity, put Maracyn Two for Saltwater fish into the water at the recommended initial and subsequent doses. This will prevent a secondary infection or cure the fish of a primary infection. But, you still have to address water quality.

I'd also recommend you use a fish coating product to help provide and restore its mucous coating. (Pro Tech Coat Marine or StressGuard to use as a temporary mucus layer).

From your description, the fish has just a few more days of life in it.

If you see no improvement after taking the above action, there are still other considerations, however you will need to provide us with a photo showing up close and clearly what you are seeing.

Good luck!