Help - Midas Blenny Emaciated!

[sslak]

I noticed suddenly yesterday that my Midas Blenny is very thin around the stomach and I can actually see the outline of his rib cage. This took me by surprise because I've had him for 4 months now and he's been doing great!

He eats everything I put in the tank, mysis, rods reef, formula 1 pellets, etc.

I watched him closer after I noticed how skinny he is, he eats normally but after eating he swims around and puffs his cheeks out, gulping water through his gills. He then expelled a few of the shrimp and pellets he ate back out into the water.

Anyone know what is wrong, if there is anything I can do?!? I don't think I could catch him if I wanted to, he's in a reef tank with plenty of rock and loves to hide in the holes.

 

[sslak]

Forgot to add, parameters are good, all other fish acting normal. Other inhabitants: pair occelaris clowns, mandarin dragonette, cleaner shrimp.

Sg: 1.026
dKH: 9
Ca: 420
Nitrates/Nitrites/Phosphate - undetectable.

Midas Blenny was the last new addition to the tank 4 months ago, 4week QT.

 

[skibum9884]

could you describe the QT process the blenny went through?

 

[sslak]

Nothing fancy, I just put him into a 14g Biocube that I turned into a QT tank with an established piece of PURA pad as biological filtration.

I prefer not to dip or medicate my fish unless I have a reason to. QT is stressful enough. I know it was eating pellet in QT because if it had been leaving them behind I would have seen them on the glass bottom.

 

[TBall]

I noticed suddenly yesterday that my Midas Blenny is very thin around the stomach and I can actually see the outline of his rib cage. This took me by surprise because I've had him for 4 months now and he's been doing great!

He eats everything I put in the tank, mysis, rods reef, formula 1 pellets, etc.

I watched him closer after I noticed how skinny he is, he eats normally but after eating he swims around and puffs his cheeks out, gulping water through his gills. He then expelled a few of the shrimp and pellets he ate back out into the water.

Anyone know what is wrong, if there is anything I can do?!? I don't think I could catch him if I wanted to, he's in a reef tank with plenty of rock and loves to hide in the holes.

Hey Steve,

You need to go to the nearest fish store and get metronidazole. Soak it in frozen mysis and pellets. Feed often and that may help him out. They are great fish and I hope you dont lose him.