Skin Peeling off of Belly of Valentini Puffer...Help!

[AUFishGuy]

Woke up to find my Valentini laying on the sand instead of his normal spot on the seam of the tank. It looks like the skin on his belly is peeling. He hasn't eaten normally lately but is still eating some. Any ideas what this is or how I can help the guy? TIA

 

[snorvich]

Peeling skin is most often uronema or brook. Do you have new chromis?

 

[AUFishGuy]

Peeling skin is most often uronema or brook. Do you have new chromis?

No I had 2 chromis that have been with him for over 6 months. One did die yesterday though.

 

[snorvich]

No I had 2 chromis that have been with him for over 6 months. One did die yesterday though.

When was the last wet item introduced? What did the chromis die of?

 

[AUFishGuy]

I did add some "live sand" about a week ago but before that it had been many months. Not sure about the chromis I recently moved and so I assumed it was from stress of the move.

 

[snorvich]

I did add some "live sand" about a week ago but before that it had been many months. Not sure about the chromis I recently moved and so I assumed it was from stress of the move.

Live sand from someone's tank?

 

[AUFishGuy]

Live sand from someone's tank?

No from bags sold at LFS. I forget the name...carribean sea or something

He has also been stressed from the move, is it possible he just rubbed himself against a sharp rock or something?

 

[ThRoewer]

Often Uronema doesn't need to be introduced - it's most of the time already in the system (imported with live rock or any other wet item). It won't do anything until you get a weakened fish with an injury. Chromis seem to be especially vulnerable.

Uronema manifests itself mostly with localized white (=dead) skin patches that develop to open reddish bordered sores.

Peeling skin sounds more like Brooklynella.