ID disease
- Thread starter Alex482455
- Start date
A video longer than one minute under white light up close to the fish, showing both sides of the fish would be more helpful then the photos. You can upload the video to YouTube then post the link to it here. The video gives a good idea of any behavioral issues, breathing, etc. In one photo especially, there are seen multiple smudge spots on the tail fin, yet on another photo, only one or two. Sometimes a video will help distinguish between spots on the aquarium wall (inside and outside) from what's on the fish.
Having suggested the above, some background would be good. How long have you had this fish? Do you use a quarantine procedure/process? What has the fish been fed? etc.
From what I can see the spots are small and there aren't too many of them. So, all the above info and video would be better. However spots can be indicative of
Cryptocaryon irritans (Marine Ich) or Amyloodinium ocellatum (Marine Velvet). Sometimes, especially with Butterflyfishes, they can be a virus. Lymphocystis is a virus that expresses itself when the fish is stressed. It's like the human common cold virus. Always around, just waiting to get a ‘foothold’ when a human is stressed. The fish is stressed just because it has gone through the 'system' to get to you, the hobbyist. Now it's time to make it less stressful.
A more definitive way of identifying parasites is to perform a microscope examination. You'd need to have access to a microscope and some guidance to the identification of parasites, flukes/worms, etc. on ornamental marine fishes.
If you already don't have a hospital tank setup, I'd suggest doing that now to be prepared to move the fish to it for treatment.
Help the fish by improving its immunity and ability to heal wounds by adding supplements for an ill fish to its diet as recommended in the Fish Nutrition document. Click on that link, then download (and read) the document. Use especially Beta-1,3/1,6-D-Glucan found online, in health-food stores, and pharmacies. Directions for its use and quantity is provided in the link.
