sores on blenny

[Esreef]

Hello all,

I am a new member and I want to start out by saying this site is awesome and has helped me from the very beginning! For whatever reason it has taken me until now, about 18 months, to setup the account and get on here full time.

I was hoping someone might be able to help with the newest acquisition.

I picked up a bicolor blenny a week ago and he's been in the QT since then. He started eating frozen mysis the second day and I've fed him every other day since then, including today where he ate some rod's fish only blend.

Until today he mostly stays in the PVC fittings in the tank (10 G) and does the typical blenny- barely stick the head out of the pipe routine so I haven't really been able to inspect him since he was at the store, where he looked great. At least from how I remember seeing him...

Anyway today I was watching after I fed him and he was out I noticed a few little red open sores on his left side almost as if he had been picked on, but he is the only resident in the QT currently.

I looked through the stickies and did a quick google search and haven't really seen anything that looks similar.

tank parameters are PH: 8.1 ammonia/nitrites: 0, SG 1.021, did not test N03.
temp: 78*

He does not show any other symptoms. One other thing I noticed is the color becomes mottled at times but I feel like this is a normal type of camouflage behavior.

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Deinonych]

The mottling is normal but could be an indicator of stress. They usually camouflage themselves at night. If you have a picture of the sores, it could help with diagnosis.

 

[Esreef]

Kind of hard to see them but if you look toward his back about 2/3 toward his tail. It appears to be red in the middle and light around the edges. There is a second smaller sore below it.



I'll try to get a better picture this afternoon.

 

[HumbleFish]

I can't tell anything from the pic. His orange half looks pretty faded. Has it always been like that?

 

[Esreef]

This picture is pretty terrible. I think I was stressing him out a little trying to take a good pic. There are times where the colors are vibrant and solid but more often he is motled and faded.

I'll soak some frozen mysis in garlic for his next feeding and maybe cover up half of the QT so he doesn't get spooked by the kids.

I'll also check him out better today after work and try to get a better picture.

 

[Esreef]

Well I really couldn't get a better picture of him and I didn't want to stress him out trying. I will be feeding him again after work today so hopefully I'll be able to get a good picture.

 

[Deinonych]

As long as he is eating, I wouldn't worry. Keep him under observation and be prepared to treat for disease if it breaks out. I always proactively treat for disease with Prazipro and cupramine or chloroquine phosphate once the fish is eating regularly.

 

[Esreef]

I have been feeding each day now with mysis soaked in garlic and he eats great! The sores are looking better, they're not as red and seem to be healing. I think it may have been agression at the lfs.

I don't have any of those items, just coppersafe and erythromyacin. I read blennies don't do well with copper and without knowing for sure what's wrong I can't justify the risk with the coppersafe.

I think he will come through fine, he's got another week or so in quarantine so I'll continue to fatten him up and hopefully the sores will completely heal so he can go into the dt. One things for sure- as long as these sores are here there aint no way he's going in the DT lol.

 

[Esreef]

Ok so the two spots toward the back look a lot better. But I noticed one earlier in the week forming just behind his left gill. Today I looked and this one is getting bigger which concerns me because it is by his gill.

This was a few days ago:



And this is a pic of him today:



Any ideas?

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Esreef]

So I was looking at the sheet that came in with the API erythromycin and it said it cures open sores so I thought I'd give it a shot I started it yesterday and added the second dose today. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Deinonych]

Hope he pulls through for you. They are great fish.

 

[Esreef]

Ufortunately he didn't make it. The sore kept getting bigger and I don't think I started treatment in time, which stinks because it may have kicked it if I started back when I saw just the two small sores on his back half.

 

[Deinonych]

Sorry for your loss. Makes me wonder if this was uronema.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/10/aafeature1#section-16