sick trigger

[jwadet1]

Please help, I have a sick Trigger. He is laying on the bottom and appears to be laboring for breath. All water parameters appear normal but Nitrates may be higher but not out of range, has been higher. Did a water change and all is well wiithin ranges, no ammonia, nrtites, nitrates still at elevated but lower, pH at 8.0, salinity at 1.23sg. Can someone please help?
Wade

 

[jwadet1]

Come On,give me some help, Please I need it to keep my fish alive!
Wade

 

[jwadet1]

There is no ICH here and I can give advice how to prevent and eliminate that. Fish are 2 Plus years old. Just worry about the Trigger..........
Wade

 

[White Tiger]

Does the fish seem to dart around the tank?

Is the fish scratching itself on any rocks?

Is there a white slimy mucus like substance on the fish?

Does the triggers swim up to the surface for air?

Do any other fish seem to be breathing rapidly?

 

[jwadet1]

The Undulated Trigger is the only one that seems sick. He will rest on the bottom or maybe climb into coral and just stay there. Not eating and breathing heavy. No visible signs of Ich or other things you mentioned. I just can't seem to figure it out, all parameters check OK. He has been in the tank for one and a half years with no trace of a problem. Any Ideas?
Wade

 

[White Tiger]

My best guess to the cause of your problem would be ick eventhough you see no signs of ick. When fish breathe heavily, it either means that there is not enough oxygen in the tank, the water quality is bad, or ick is hiding the gills. Ick is a disease that has been known to not display any symptoms.

 

[Billybeau1]

How often does he do this. My trigger takes frequent naps throughout the day and he sleeps on his side. Been doing this for years. Not saying the isnt anything wrong but if he's not eating that is a problem.

 

[jwadet1]

Thank You, What is the best treatment if it is ICH within the gills.
He is lying on his side and breathing heavy. I am afraid to go Hypo too fast and create even more problems. Any suggestions?
I very much appreciate all your and guidence!

 

[Billybeau1]

Are the other fish in the tank breathing heavy or just the trigger ?

 

[jwadet1]

Hello, just the Trigger is breathing this way. I have not seen him lie on his side before but I understand it may be normal. Water quality continues to be OK. Is their any thing that I should do now such as Hypo. Just afraid of the shock it might cause?
Any special foods to get him to eat? I did another partial water change( about 7 gallons) in case my test kits did not detect something irregular.
Thanks,I really apreciate your replies
Wade

 

[White Tiger]

You treat ick in the gills the same way you treat ick any where else on the fish.

 

[Billybeau1]

I wouldnt treat until I new what it was. Let me ask you this . If you give him a little push does he swim around for a bit then go back and lay down or does he just lay there. If you can get him to look at food, try soaking a little food in garlic and see if he will eat it.

 

[White Tiger]

If I were you, I would treat the trigger immediately. Whenever a fish is lying on the substrate bed not swimming, it is a sign that the fish is in severe condition.

 

[jwadet1]

He does swim a bit but not normal and back to the bottom.Is Hypo the best option at this point? I have used Garlic but I think he is just week. I have started water changes to lower sg slowly but just do not know how fast to go at this time. Any suggestions? I do Thank you all for the responses.
Wade

 

[White Tiger]

I would say copper is the best option now. It takes 3 days to administer the hyposalinity treatment. With copper, you can begin treatment immediately. In addition, triggers are "durable" fish so they do not react violently to copper in the water as with other delicate fish.

 

[Billybeau1]

I dont know where all the experts are, I am not one when it comes to fish diseases, but I can tell you this much. Treating a fish for a disease that you dont know if it has is a bad idea. Now if you see the ich, thats a different story. He could have an internal parasite, bacterial infection, anything. Hypo and copper treatments are best done in a hospital tank. You should not put copper in your display tank. Why stress the other fish out. Hypo should also be done in a hospital tank. I have seen many occasions where misdiagnosis of a disease just led to death.

Unless there are visual signs that you can see on the fish, fish diseases are very difficult to diagnos.

Any change in his condition today ?

 

[White Tiger]

I never said anything about putting copper in the main tank. Plus, as I mentioned before, triggers are durable fish, they are almost impossible to kill. Therefore, treating the fish with copper immediately will not stress the trigger out too much. However, you can really stress the fish out by putting it in a small qt tank.