Unknown Malady

[paulsreef01]

So about 8 weeks ago i removed my fish from my main tank suspecting an ich infestation although I never was able to visually diagnose it - the symptoms were flashing and random twitching but everyone ate great and no one passed.

I split all my fish between 2 10g tanks (glass bottom, pvc pipes): Yellow and Blue tang in one, and 2 clowns, and a dispar anthia in the other.

I treated both tanks with 0.4 cupramine for 4 weeks, I then proceeded with 3 treatments of prazi pro.

8 weeks later, my clowns and anthia are doing great: no signs of flashing, eating well, no visual signs of disease. The yellow tang on the other hand in the other tank has been flashing for the last few weeks on and off (the blue tang has not and neither has shown visual symptoms of ich) and breathing in a quicker manner. The YT has red streak marks in the face but they have subsided over the past couple weeks and he still eats well. Thinking it was stubborn flukes I decided to freshwater dip the YT but i did not see anything fall off of him - i placed him back in the tank and the next day he is still on and off flashing again with an elevated breathing level although not incredibly fast (again, no visual symptoms of ich).

I'm at a loss as to what the problem is with the YT. Any thoughts?

 

[HumbleFish]

The red streaks sounds like it could be hemorrhagic septicemia. Which sometimes is bacterial, sometimes viral. I would isolate him to a separate QT, and try something like Furan-2 on him. See if he responds to that.

 

[paulsreef01]

Could that explain his behavior (flashing and higher breathing rate)? Believe it or not I did dose Furan2 for about 3 days - I didn't really see much of a difference.

 

[HumbleFish]

Could that explain his behavior (flashing and higher breathing rate)? Believe it or not I did dose Furan2 for about 3 days - I didn't really see much of a difference.

The flashing could just be a "phantom symptom". Whatever was afflicting him (ich, flukes) left its mark, and the tissue is sensitive/itchy as it heals.

Heavy breathing is a symptom for just about every disease out there...

 

[Alohadood]

It's also a symptom of water quality issues. High nitrates can cause labored breathing. Moderate nitrites and trace ammonia can as well. Along with hyposalinity. Rapid breathing is a really hard thing to pin down.

 

[paulsreef01]

Thanks guys - I probably can be more aggressive with my water changes. My nitrates are 0 using an API test kit. My temperature is around 82 degrees - do you think that is causing stress on the YT?

 

[HumbleFish]

Thanks guys - I probably can be more aggressive with my water changes. My nitrates are 0 using an API test kit. My temperature is around 82 degrees - do you think that is causing stress on the YT?

I would lower the temp (slowly) to 76-78, so there's more available O2 in the water.

Even a trace of ammonia will cause adverse reaction in fish. But your nitrates would have to be off the scale before a saltwater fish was bothered by that.

 

[snorvich]

I would lower the temp (slowly) to 76-78, so there's more available O2 in the water.

Even a trace of ammonia will cause adverse reaction in fish. But your nitrates would have to be off the scale before a saltwater fish was bothered by that.

This. Nitrates would have to be way off scale.

 

[paulsreef01]

Ok great. I'll slowly lower the temperature. My test kit is showing zero ammonia but is it ok to add a water conditioner (i.e. seachem prime) just in case my test is false? My seachem ammonia badge is reading the lowest reading as well.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[HumbleFish]

Ok great. I'll slowly lower the temperature. My test kit is showing zero ammonia but is it ok to add a water conditioner (i.e. seachem prime) just in case my test is false? My seachem ammonia badge is reading the lowest reading as well.

Thanks again for all the help!

You have to be careful mixing ammonia reducers with certain medications. Copper is a big no-no; some have reported fatalities after mixing with Prazi. Never mixed one with an antibiotic, so I can't say - but I wouldn't risk it.

 

[paulsreef01]

Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of...all the meds are out of the water by this point but I'll i'll err on the side of caution and forego using it.

 

[paulsreef01]

Update: lowered the temperature but the YT still is breathing fast after the FW dip. I've now noticed that he is not eating either. I've tried pellets (which he used to eat in QT), nori, and arctipods. Is there anything else I can try (medication, other foods, etc). The other fish in the tank with him are eating just fine and show no signs of distress.

Just did a 25% water change yesterday.

 

[snorvich]

Can you describe his behavior?

 

[paulsreef01]

He is breathing faster than what i would call normal. His dorsal and pelvic fins are closed somewhat. He swims around the tank just fine but is not eating. He has the occasional twitch (never saw any flukes come off in the FW dip) but no scraping anymore. He shows no visual signs of Ich...he was in 4wks of .4 cupramine and 3 rounds of prazi. Overall, he seems somewhat stressed as his white lateral line is more pronounced than a happy YT.

The other fish in the QT tank is doing just fine and eating like a pig.

Things I have tried...

-Lowered the temp to 77-78
-Added an airstone to increase O2 (ph is on the low end, 7.9)
-Checked Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate...all 0