Royal Gramma looks dusty

[badbreath]

Best way that I can describe it is my Royal Gramma looks dusty. It is scratching and just looks uncomfortable (fins look a little raggity) Going to move it to quarantine... But what to treat it with? I've had it a year and a half and tank mates look fine.

 

[Psionicdragon]

Do you have a pic? It could be velvet from what you are describing.

 

[badbreath]

No pic... Instead of the scales being all a uniform bright purple. They vary some darker purple some brighter. Also look slightly loose, like they are flaring away from the body like dry skin might look. Does that help?

 

[MrTuskfish]

It sounds like velvet. (Dusty is a classic velvet symptonm. I'd google "marine Velvet" and see what you think. Velvet often looks like patches of velvety material, often goldish in color. Look at him with a flashlight from above, with the tank lights off, it becomes more obvious. Velvet is quick, very contagious and very deadly. If it is velvet, copper is the only cure I'm familiar with. A FW bath will give some temporary relief, but is not a cure. Basslets do not handle these parasitic diseases well, but you may pull him through. Again if it is velvet, all of your fish need to be treated with copper in a QT and the DT left fishless for 8 weeks or so. Was this fish new, in a QT, other new fish?

 

[badbreath]

was this fish new, in a QT, other new fish?

This fish is not new. The most recent addition was a half black dwarf angel. It looks fine... Maybe they are more hardy.

 

[MrTuskfish]

This fish is not new. The most recent addition was a half black dwarf angel. It looks fine... Maybe they are more hardy.

When was the angel added? Was he quarantined?

 

[sleepydoc]

It sounds like velvet. (Dusty is a classic velvet symptonm. I'd google "marine Velvet" and see what you think. Velvet often looks like patches of velvety material, often goldish in color. Look at him with a flashlight from above, with the tank lights off, it becomes more obvious. Velvet is quick, very contagious and very deadly. If it is velvet, copper is the only cure I'm familiar with. A FW bath will give some temporary relief, but is not a cure. Basslets do not handle these parasitic diseases well, but you may pull him through. Again if it is velvet, all of your fish need to be treated with copper in a QT and the DT left fishless for 8 weeks or so. Was this fish new, in a QT, other new fish?

+1 on the Velvet Dx and Tx. What is the lifespan of velvet? I'm assuming it is an obligate parasite based on your recommendation to leave the DT fallow, but I've never seen any information regarding this.

I've also read of using a formalin bath to give symptomatic relief, but Copper is your best bet.

 

[badbreath]

It's more than another week and because I haven't been able to catch the darn fish, it hadn't received any treatment... Question is, if it had velvet wouldn't it be dead by now?