Watanabe Angel suddenly sick

[Jacob D]

I have a male watanabe that is suddenly sick (or injured) today. I noticed him hiding which is unusual; upon inspection he has several raised white bumps on his nose near his eye and his breathing is fast. This was not apparent yesterday. I cannot tell if it's an injury or possibly a fungus or other disease. While trying to photograph him he was cleaned by a cleaner shrimp that basically removed the offending white stuff (go figure).

The other tank inhabitants are:
Female watanabe (they were bought as a pair about 9 months ago)
Dwarf golden angel
Rabbitfish (S. vigratus)
Rainford goby
Copperband Butterfly

Neither of my watanabe pair has ever shown signs of illness or other problems, it took me quite a while to find such a healthy pair. In fact none of the fish in this tank have ever been sick. Here is some more info that I don't think is likely but might play into the problem...

- My CBB is new, added a few weeks ago and does show signs of Lymphocystis - which is nearly gone now.

- I have recently removed a large amount of sand and having some high nutrient levels and cyano problem right now.

- I started feeding a new brand of mysis yesterday (Hikari)

I'm hoping between what I've posted here and the crappy pics below (sorry photographing a hiding fish in a hurry is tough) that someone will see something that stands out and give me their opinion. I'm inclined to think it is an injury of some kind but I'm worried about the fast breathing, and possibly losing one of my favorite fish.

 

[White Tiger]

For possible help, please respond.

1. How large are white spots in diameter?
2. How is your water quality?
3. Are other fish breathing quickly?
4. What is a CBB?

+

The Hikari food most likely has noting to do with the problem you are dealing with.

 

[Jacob D]

1. Less than 1/32" I'd say. They now appear to be gone after cleaner shrimp working on them. Fish is still breathing fast and hiding.
2. As mentioned I'm having some temporary nutrient problems due to recent sandbed removal, so water quality has been better. Corals are doing fine (various SPS, LPS, etc...). I have not tested phosphates or nitrates lately.
3. All other fish appear fine.
4. CBB = Copper Band Butterfly


I added a few drops of Iodine, changed my filter sock and carbon, and will do a 10g water change tomorrow. Any thoughts, suggestions, etc.. appreciated, thank you.

 

[White Tiger]

Your fish probably has ich in the gills and on the body. You can use Ich-Attack in your tank to treat the fish since Ich-Attack is reef and invert safe. Or you could take all the fish out of the tank and treat them with hypo or copper-based ich medication.

 

[TerryB]

I would make a large water change using only well aged and aerated saltwater first. It is difficult to tell from the picture, but it does more like an injury than anything else. The increased respiration rate could indicate a bacterial infection in the wound. Cleaner shrimp are more likely to remove loose scales and dead tissue than disease organisms so the fact that the cleaner helped makes me think this is an injury. Bacterial infections often begin in injuries. I would definately NOT add an medication to your reef tank and I do not think that it is ich. If the fish is eating then I would be adding some Beta glucan to the food to enhnace immune function. Give the fish a day or so to see how it responds to the water change and prepare to use an antibiotic in quarantine if necessary. You might try some Poly Filter or Algone to remove some of the impurites in the water. The increased breathing rate may be the result of toxins in the water rather than the injury. Get the water quality up and prepare to use a good antibiotic in quarantine if the fish does not respond or gets worse.

Terry B

 

[Jacob D]

Thank you both for your responses. I do not believe this is ich. The first pic is grainy creating the appearance of many spots, but that is not the case. The spots I mentioned were only in the one location and actually raised, not consistent with ich. I could definitely see a potential for bacterial problem. In the previous phase of my sandbed removal I lost a large nephtea colony to bacteria, presumably caused by disturbing the sand.

I will definitely be doing some water changes over the course of the week, I will enrich the food as well. I almost wonder if he accidently got pricked by my rabbit fish.

 

[tatoofr]

hi,
What is ich attack and who makes it?

 

[SAT]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6995681#post6995681 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tatoofr
hi,
What is ich attack and who makes it?

Ich Attack is an herbal recipe from Kordon, claimed to be reef safe. As White Tiger has attested, some people have reported good results. Other reports have been less glowing. At this time there are no "reef safe" treatments on the market that are generally accepted to be safe and reliable.

 

[Jacob D]

Update:

Well it's been a few days. The spots on the head are gone, as reported before after the cleaner shrimp got after them, the breathing is normal, however the fish is still not well. I can't see any damage or anything obvious. He is hanging out here and there just hovering. Not showing much interest in eating although he does come out when I feed. I have done a couple water changes and will do another tomorrow.

Any other thoughts?

 

[TerryB]

Try soaking the food with garlic. It seems to stimulate appetite in some fish. Have you added Beta glucan to the food to enhance immune function? Has the wound healed? It might be time to add an antibiotic to the food.

Terry B

 

[Jacob D]

This morning I found the female chasing him and beating him up, she has never done this before I don't know if it's some strange reaction to him being sick, but he is pretty beat up now too

I don't think he is going to make it but I have him in a small QT tank. I'm going to try feeding in a little bit and see how it goes.

 

[White Tiger]

You could also buy a type of medicine that stimulates appettite if the fish refuses to eat anything.

 

[Jacob D]

Unfortunately I lost him today.

I pretty much knew that it was going to happen he was really beat up and would not eat. I have been keeping a close eye on all the other fish which are all looking ok. Thanks everyone for your suggestions I'm still not totally sure what happened.