Filamented Flasher Wrasse Trouble/ Help

[R.W.]

My wrasse is not able to swim in the current, i saw him gasping for air at the top, and he has these white blurry marks all over his skin. I noticed he has been hiding a lot the last few days as well, but thought that was normal behaviour. I just added some calcium suppliment (tropic marin bio-calcium) which contains CO2 and im wondering if he is starved for oxygen. The other fish seem fine.

have him sitting in a rubbermaid container in my sump with an airpump and some holes to allow flow through it.

Everything tests fine.
temp 79.2
amonia, nitrite, nitrate 0


I have no idea what is wrong with him. Here are some pics.

I am setting up my QT tank as we speak, i will transfer it in the morning.

 

[paulamrein]

Good, he also has clamped fins which would also show concerns. There are tests you can use to measure the dissolved oxygen in your system. salinity and temperature all play a part in that. Obviously the Co2 also has a part. Not saying definitely the Co2 is it, not even saying it's your oxygen levels, just saying these are things to eliminate while on the search for it's ailment. Could be infection, could be parasite, could be a lot of things as of right now, just start eliminating all possibilities before treating for something that isn't the problem. Far too many misdiagnose a problem only to have it worsen with "treatments" We have never lived in a better time for information so it's there, just have to find it. I wish I could give you a better answer. Maybe someone else can, but when it comes down to it, you know your fish better than anyone right now.

 

[Percula9]

I don't understand how the calcium supplement could have CO2 in it. CO2 in any event is not this fishes problem. His tail fin looks like tail rot and probably antibiotics would be a good idea to bring it around. I don't think he'll survive without some sort of treatment. I hope it works out for you.

 

[paulamrein]

It's not the calcium it's the carbon dioxide that is being introduced into the tank. Co2 takes space where oxygen was once. Water can only hold so much, fill it with one thing and it releases something else from the water. I'm not saying it is either Percula9, just saying it could be a factor. A lot of times it's a combination of things that ails fish. Things that induce stress that leaves them vulnerable to infection ie the fin rot that may or may not be there it's hard to tell in those pics.

 

[Percula9]

I wasn't commenting on your mention of CO2 as a factor in fish health. The person in the thread mentioned that bio-calcium supplement had CO2 in it. I was stating that that is not the case. If there was that much CO2 in his water I think the fish would be unconscious. CO2 is actually an anesthetic, and a dangerous one. I think the fishes problem is infection. I only disagreed with his statement about the source of the CO2. I don't think any supplements that you can buy release CO2 into the water.

 

[paulamrein]

Read off the label:
"All calcareous animals, especially corals and coralline algaes, require calcium to grow and flourish. However, the rate of coral growth depends on the symbiotic zooxanthellae that live within them. Bio Calcium supplies biologically available calcium to the corals and Carbon Dioxide to the zooxanthellae. Bio-Calcium contains all 70 trace elements found in natural sea water, including Strontium and Iodine, and will not alter pH of aquarium water when used as directed." (color added)

 

[R.W.]

his tail fin appears to be rotting off now. It was fine a day ago. I dont think he will survive but i would like to try.

 

[paulamrein]

There are good meds for fin rot, and if it isn't too far gone, it will grow back.

 

[R.W.]

what would you recommend? I have him in Qt with a cleaner shrimp right now.

 

[R.W.]

what would you recommend? I have him in Qt with a cleaner shrimp right now.

 

[Percula9]

Furan2 or Maracyn2 or triple sulfa any of these antibiotics will work.

 

[R.W.]

i couldnt get those at my lfs, only one they had in stock was gel-tek neomycin. Its a medication the fish eats.

 

[Percula9]

That one should work fine, just as long as he'll eat it.

 

[R.W.]

yeah thats what im worried about because he wasnt eating earlier today. Any ideas on how to get the fish to eat?

 

[Percula9]

You can try garlic extreme to stimulate his appetite. I can't believe your LFS had only one antibiotic on hand. I would go on Drs Foster and Smith site and order some antibiotics that I mentioned earlier to have on hand in case you need it. I gather the gel-tek is a gel and doesn't dissolve in the water. With antibiotics that dissolve, the medicant will be taken in when the fish drink.

 

[R.W.]

They carry them but were out when i went. I will try and find a dissolving medication. When i went to the lfs they only had a few saltwater medications left and a bunch of fresh water.

 

[R.W.]

UPDATE !!

The back fin is now totally gone. The white patches are gone off his body, but the back fin is now exposing the bone. It looks like he only has a bone for his tail fin. Does fit rot eat flesh that quickly. The whole tail disappeared in 36 hours. Could there be something else?

 

[Percula9]

I just think you didn't treat earlier enough. Hopefully it will regenerate. Keep us updated on his progress.

 

[JHemdal]

Wow! that is a really severe infection. In my experience, once the hypural plate (tail bone) is exposed, the caudal fin won't grow back, and in this case, because the infection has migrated even beyond that point, it will be fatal despite any possible treatment. But, I hope I'm wrong...

JHemdal

 

[R.W.]

The thing i couldnt get over is how this all happened in a matter of 36 hours. No joke. I was watching him the day before at feeding time and his fins were beautiful and very full. Thats what puzzles me. It has traveled 1/4 of an inch up his body now, and he still swims around but vertically. I can't imagine what kind of pain he must be in. I dont expect him to pull through because of how severe the infection is.