new jawfish--red streaks/clamped tail

[catdoc]

I received 4 fish today via an online retailer: 3 pearly jawfish and a royal gramma. The largest jawfish and the gramma look fine. The two smaller jaws (and they are small!) both have red streaks at the base of the tail and their tails are clamped a bit. This was noticed while they were still in the shipping bags and I called the retailer. They recommend maracyn-2, which I have not done yet.

All 4 fish were drip acclimated and are now in a 30-gal QT tank. The jaws are all hiding in the pvc tubing now, so I can't see them for an update or to take pics.

Would you do anything at this point beyond good water quality? I do not plan to offer any food today or tomorrow, just give them time to settle in. I did not do any FW dips since I was leery of further stressing them. They looked ok during the acclimation: swimming around, trying to jump out (as expected!), but they did do a good bit of "yawning". Anything to worry about there?

Thanks so much!

 

[Steven Pro]

I would use the antibiotic. If Maracyn-2 is Minocycline (I can never remember which one is which), that would be a fine choice.

 

[catdoc]

What's the treatment routine with the Maracyn-2? Daily? For how long? The LFS does have some but I didn't buy it b/c it specifically said it was for FW. Is there another version for SW or is this the one I want?

The gramma and one of the smaller jawfish (which has the reddened area) have come out of hiding--no change with either one. The other two jaws are hunkered down and not showing themselves yet. The QT tank has plenty of hiding spaces with some artificial coral and the pvc rack/cave, so I don't worry too much that I can't see the other two fish. I figure if they feel safe in a hiding place, that is less stress on them.

 

[Steven Pro]

There are freshwater and saltwater versions of Maracyn-2, but I don't know how different they are.

I would follow the directions on the package.

 

[catdoc]

I'll check the other store in town (my choices are Petsmart and Petco...not much to go on). If they don't have it, I can order it from Premium.

One of the jaws died overnight. The other two are still hiding (or dead?).

 

[catdoc]

No luck finding the SW version of maracyn-2. I picked up some kanamycin instead. I've got access to every antibiotic imaginable, but just don't have the fish doses. If anyone has other ideas, I'm anxious to hear them!

 

[catdoc]

2nd jawfish died minutes ago. He'd been swimming erratically about the tank this evening so I thought he was on the way out. I did a water change (after he'd started the odd behavior) with water from my display tank. I also added a second airline and switched the other airline from mini to the standard in hopes that maybe it was just an O2 problem.

Planning to take him to work tomorrow and do some wet mounts.

I've got the QT tank at the opposite end of the house as my display tank and using different buckets/siphon but still a bit terrified that whatever this is, it'll get into my display tank. First and last time I order from etropicals btw.

 

[catdoc]

Just continuing my conversations with myself, don't mind me.

The third jawfish is found and is eating mysis. Whew!