New Melichthys indicus

[Sonicblast12]

You're not gonna feed me? Fine.

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[Sonicblast12]

Well the fish seemed happy and healthy. The cyst has flattened and begun to heal around the edges. As the fish began to get more bold it began to get restless in the little QT. So I made the decision to go ahead and add to the DT which has already in hypo for about five weeks, just wanted to get this fish healthy and fat first. Probably should have waited until the cyst was totally healed, but impatience got the best of me. I was planning to maintain hypo for at least another month anyway, figure I can extend that a few more weeks if I need to.

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No aggression problems, which is a little shocking considering the tankmates. I figured the PBT would be a huge problem for new additions. They all hang to one side of the tank and keep an eye on him, but that's about it.

The real shame about this tank...I am not going to be able to keep that beautiful niger long term. It's growing so fast and it's such a little pet. I can reach in and the fish swims into my hand and lets me hold it.

 

[Ethan Music]

How do you like your picasso trigger? Been thinking about adding one to my tank. So far I have a maroon clown, and a arc eye hawk fish. Was thinking a smaller species of trigger and a cool wrasse to finish off my list.

 

[Sonicblast12]

It's a goofball, always snapping at it's reflection. This fish will swim out of it's cave in the morning and "sleep walk" around the tank bumping into everything and everybody. Always finds itself in the wrong spot, the blue throat will be swimming laps and the humu won't pay attention, get in the way and get ran over.

Gets pushed around a lot in this tank but seems to take it in stride. Had to re-home two other fish that relentlessly harassed the humu and left in hiding in the top corner. Due to it's rough childhood it will probably snap and kill the tank in a few years.

That fish is actually the reason I got back into saltwater after a three year hiatus, I always wanted one. But the idea of putting one picasso trigger in a 75 has grown into four fish tanks and eleven fish in less than a year. Oops.

 

[Ethan Music]

Great news same here triggers are the main reason I got into this hobby. But never had a tank big enough or close to big enough. Know that my Dads retired and I can setup a okay size tank without taking it down figured one in my 90g might be okay for like 3 years from what i've been told. By than I will have my own place with the tank I want lol.

 

[humaguy]

She looks great...glad to see her out of the pod...Let me know when you are thinking about getting rid of her...can put her in the 130 x 37 x 37...

 

[Sonicblast12]

And.....back to QT.

The spot began to spread and the fish started losing weight again. Wasn't getting enough food in the DT, and I'm sure the additional stress didn't help matters. Definitely looks like some type of fungus, starting maracyn treatment tonight.

I'm ashamed, I knew better than the pull the fish out of QT. Did it anyway.

 

[humaguy]

sorry to hear...how is she doing?

 

[Sonicblast12]

Fine, no change in behavior. The more I read the more it seems the fish has something that needs to be treated, not likely to get better without it.

This fish sure can eat a lot in one "sitting", I don't know where it all goes.

 

[humaguy]

internal parasites?

 

[Sonicblast12]

I don't think so, it just seems to eat a lot more than other triggers. I had a pinktail that was the same way.

Day three of the maracyn treatment and the spot only appears to be getting worse.

I don't know what to do.

 

[Sonicblast12]

Spot is bigger, respiration rate has increased. Maracyn hasn't seemed to help. I did have a little ammonia creep up overnight, that could explain the respiration.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Sonicblast12]

Well it got worse before it got better, but once the fish figured out that the vitamin soaked pellets were food....things really began to head in the right direction.

I was about 80% sure I was going to lose the fish in QT. Started getting really stressed in the small tank and was breathing really rapidly even at rest which burned off a lot of the weight it had put on. The spot expanded and reached the eye and began to crack the skin around the eye socket.

Put it back in the DT as a last ditch attempt to save the fish. Figured since I had already exposed my DT to whatever was harming this fish, what could it hurt?

Now it's first in line at the auto feeder slurping pellets and that white menace is finally healing. Eats a ton of nori for some reason. Much calmer in the large tank, not at all shy like it was in QT. The fins have thickened and have a solid jet black coloration. They were a little blotchy and thin when I first got the fish. Eyes look more clear as well, you can really see a difference when comparing the fish to the pictures in the thread.

 

[Sonicblast12]

Spot still there, but almost healed. Sorry about the scratched and dirty glass.

 

[fish stalker]

I have one of these too, great trigger and very calm. Great job on getting this one to fatten up. Hate to see a thin trigger, they're such eating machines.

 

[humaguy]

very cool!
well done...she is a beauty...

 

[Sonicblast12]

This fish has grown a ton, I'm starting to wonder just how large it will get...

The spot has been gone for months, just a little divot where it used to be.

My Niger requested a hijack of the thread. It grew a lot in the first six months but has slowed considerably and was passed in size by the Indian Trig.

 

[LisaD]

One of my favorite triggers. You and the fish both lucked out!

 

[humaguy]

well done!
She looks real happy!!