Something wrong with my possum wrasse?! :-(

[JaneG]

I couldn't really get a good picture of it, because he is constantly moving. However, this is the best I could get...

For some reason, the area where his side fins are connected to his body (I don't know the word for it) is bright red this morning...

So far he has been acting fairly normal, eating, etc. What would you suggest I do? Should I perform a large WC? I've been doing 10% daily with RO/DI water at 1.025 over the last 4 days...I'm REALLY worried. Is this a symptom of Flukes? That would be my best bet. Should I do a FW dip/start dosing Prazipro?

 

[JaneG]

I thought I should also probably give a little bit more info about the other inhabitants today. My yellowhead jawfish (you can see him in the photo) is acting fairly normal today. However, he's got a slime coating that is QUITE thick (more so than yesterday)- this morning I freaked when I saw white dots on him. However, during feeding time he gets very boisterous (goes far out of the burrow) but also very timid (if there is any sudden movement he darts back in very quickly). This morning, he darted back in and almost all of the white dots feel off- I think it's probably sand that got stuck on the slime... I have seen him doing the (supposedly) territorial movement on the sand a couple of times today- I didn't see him do this yesterday though. My tailspot blenny is normal today as well. I haven't seen him do the scratching "territorial" behavior yet today. He doesn't appear to have a slime coating, lumps, strange eating, etc. I have been feeding 2x daily with an eyedropper mysis and Nori soaked in garlic and have been doing 10% WC daily.

 

[JaneG]

Just an update for everyone:

Since I've posted, the redness would go away later in the day. This has happened for about 5 days.

Today I woke up and he way REALLY reclusive- not his regular behavior. Even though my tank is only 12 gallons, I literally couldn't find him. I know this sounds normal for a possum wrasse, but he's VERY active, moving all around the rocks, etc. However, I moved a piece of live rock to see where I thought he might have been and he immediately darted out and went to another corner. I didn't get a good look at him, but I *think* his skin was discolored- it had little dark splotches (not growths, just pigment). I tried feeding this morning and he didn't come out for food (maybe he didn't know, because I fed on the right side of the tank and he was on the left side hiding behind the rock). Also, I added a new piece of cured live rock with tons of copepods, and Im sure he's been chomping on those...I'm really freaked and would like some advice!

EDIT: Just spot fed him and he came out for food. His skin isn't as bad as I thought, but his eye is cloudy!!! Is it time to actually start dosing or moving? I have been doing 10% WC a day and feeding garlic.

 

[aleonn]

It's good that he's still eating. I'd consider a freshwater dip on him to rule out flukes, slowly lower your salinity over the next few days, and dose Prazipro. I'm in the middle of a treatment for my QT right now (first time doing this), so hopefully some others will chime in too.

 

[JaneG]

Just an update for everybody:

I drove around all day today but all of my LFS are closed today (and tomorrow).

However, I bought an air pump, air stone, etc. for a freshwater dip just in case. The possum wrasse is still hiding in his new cave area with the new live rock, and I could peek in and see him. His eyes weren't cloudy? What does this mean? Should I dip? So confused >< He's still being more reclusive than normal...

Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[aleonn]

Hmmm hard to say at this point. Maybe he's intimidated by other fish. Is he still eating at least?

 

[huggybear1000]

do the other fish look normal? and acting normal too? the fins being red would concern me alot.

 

[JaneG]

Update:
He died the next morning, half-eaten by the CUC. I proceeded to quarantine the jawfish and the tailspot and treated with Maracyn-2. They did not like being moved and were very stressed. When I woke up the next morning, both of them had died. I dipped the bodies and nothing came out. One of the jawfish's eyes was very cloudy before putting him in QT but once he died it looked cleaned up. The tailspot looks like it had been dead for a little while and like its eyes were cloudy. Lesson learned: quarantine new fish. How long should I remain fallow? The tank feels so empty...

 

[aleonn]

I'm so sorry to hear. I would leave the display tank fallow for at least 6 weeks. However, while you're waiting, you can start the 6 week period for new fish in a clean QT tank.