About a week ago my Electric Blue Damsel was struggling to swim. He was in the corner pointed up, struggling to keep himself in place. We had a 5 gallon tank in the garage so we grabbed it and filled with half water from the tank and half new water. Got the Damsel out of the DT and put him in hospital. After looking at him better, his tail fin was beatup and a couple small fins were beatup. His color was almost black. Other He was breathing very hard. Other than that, he looked ok. No spots or anything on his skin. All we had for meds was API Melafix that came with our DT when we bought it used. So we started dosing the hospital.
Each day he would look a little better. Sometimes he was electric blue and swimming happily and sometimes black and lathargic. He wasn't eating for about 3-4 days. Now when we feed him, the food will sink to the bottom and he will poke around and eat a (small) pellet or 2. He still has good times and less than good time. His fins are looking much better and healing well.
The melafix says to dose for 7 days, which is almost up. I think I'll keep him in the hospital until he is eating normal.
The DT is about 9 months old. 125G plus sump. I don't have the parameters in front of me but that were inline with what they always have been. Other stuff is 2 clowns, yellowtail damsel, brittle star, peppermint shrimp, Cuc and a handful of corals. Nothing has been added for at least a month. We did loose a Lawnmower Blenny a few months back but I think he starved. Once he ate all the algae, we could not get him to eat anything else.
None of the fish have been fighting. They all get along very well. All the other fish in the DT currently look fine and are acting fine. I did do a water change in the DT and I will do another small one this weekend. Just to be safe.
Sooo- What do you think happened to the Blue? What meds should we keep on hand in case of emergency? I don't have room to keep the hospital up and running. It will be drained and cleaned when the blue goes back home. Is there anything we could of done different? How long should he stay in the hospital?
Each day he would look a little better. Sometimes he was electric blue and swimming happily and sometimes black and lathargic. He wasn't eating for about 3-4 days. Now when we feed him, the food will sink to the bottom and he will poke around and eat a (small) pellet or 2. He still has good times and less than good time. His fins are looking much better and healing well.
The melafix says to dose for 7 days, which is almost up. I think I'll keep him in the hospital until he is eating normal.
The DT is about 9 months old. 125G plus sump. I don't have the parameters in front of me but that were inline with what they always have been. Other stuff is 2 clowns, yellowtail damsel, brittle star, peppermint shrimp, Cuc and a handful of corals. Nothing has been added for at least a month. We did loose a Lawnmower Blenny a few months back but I think he starved. Once he ate all the algae, we could not get him to eat anything else.
None of the fish have been fighting. They all get along very well. All the other fish in the DT currently look fine and are acting fine. I did do a water change in the DT and I will do another small one this weekend. Just to be safe.
Sooo- What do you think happened to the Blue? What meds should we keep on hand in case of emergency? I don't have room to keep the hospital up and running. It will be drained and cleaned when the blue goes back home. Is there anything we could of done different? How long should he stay in the hospital?
