Miniatus Grouper's Color and spots receding from face!

[themaddhatter]

I'm not sure how to describe this adequately. The grouper is approx. 6" long. The whole area from the mouth to behind the gills has faded to a pale pink. Basically all the color and spots are gone. The rest of the body is the usual vibrant colors, and it seemed to eat readily at the LFS , and moved quite fast. I just purchased it today, so my tank parameters don't have any bearing on the cause. I did notice the LFS fed him rosy reds, which is never a good thing. Does any one know what this might be? I don't even know if its a disease, or a sign of malnutrition... Seems to be complete pigment loss in the affected area, without any overt signs of irritation...

 

[billsreef]

If you just got it today, it could be nothing more than stress. At this point I wouldn't panic, but would keep a close eye on it for a few days.

 

[themaddhatter]

It already had the problem. I saw it was otherwise healthy and it hadn't changed in a few visits. I knew they'd only keep it so long before they did something drastic to get the tank space back.... I asked about price and they offered it to my pretty cheap so I took it. They had no idea what it was either... I suspect malnutrition as they were feeding it minnows and at that size it may well be a tradein from someone who fed it nothing but FW feeders.... I plan to start soaking foods in Zoe to get it the vitamins it needs.. Any other suggestions would be really appreciated... Tank mates now btw, are 1 - 6" Niger Trigger 1 - 4" Blue Throat Trigger, 1 - 16" Snoflake Moray Eel, 1 - 5" Yellow Tang, 1 - 4" Sailfin Tang, 1 6" Yellow Rabbit Fish, 1 6" Red Lobster, a small pair of tomato clownss.... The clowns and Rabbitfish are on their way out though..

 

[billsreef]

Any chance of posting a picture?

 

[themaddhatter]

I'm shooting a few right now... back shortly...

 

[Recty]

Pics?

 

[themaddhatter]

Here's a pic... hope it posts...

 

[billsreef]

 

[billsreef]

That is bad. Based on the fins looking good, and if it isn't doing any scratching (flashing) or abnormal breathing rates, I would agree with long term malnutrition. Give it good water quality and a varied diet with the vitamins, and it should do well. Might end up with some scar tissue as opposed to recovering to what it once was.

 

[themaddhatter]

Thanx for posting the pic! I had a feeling it came down to malnutrition. I felt really bad for the poor thing. I'm going to start with frozen shrimp soaked in Zoe, and then alternate w/ krill. I'll pick up some of that frozen food (Formula 2?) as well.

So far he's been in since Friday night and he's picked out a cave. Shows his face regularly. I've caught him swimming around a couple of times as well, so I think he's acclimating well.

 

[themaddhatter]

Here's a report on feeding.. I soaked jumbo shrimp (w/tails) in Zoe and garlic for a few hours and then fed the tank... everyone but the eel seemed to have difficulty tearing it up... The miniatus was quick to grab his share though if anyone (Niger) approached, he'd ditch and run.. I'm think I should have chopped them into smaller pieces. Might try that next.. Chop them up and soak in Zoe and freeze into cubes.

 

[Recty]

Hmmm wow, he looks like the Joker. Weird looking for sure, hopefully he recovers with better food.

Shouldnt be a really hard one to recover from at least, that's always nice. I hate the diseases that take months of special care for the fish to pull through.