What's wrong with my fish - local advice needed!

[Jon913D]

HELP!

I know there is a disease section, but I've gotten a faster assistance from local members so I wanted to start here.

I have a 150g fish only tank and about a week and a half ago I noticed my flame angel acting weird. Constantly swimming, not eating as much, just acting out of character. This is a fish I've had for 3+ years very hardy, never been sick before.

I did a water change maybe a week prior to this and my levels are all good / low, 75 degrees, 1.021. Few days later I notice white spots on both the flame and my other dwarf angel (singapore). I do a water change, increasing the temp (80 now) and I do a water change bringing it down to 1.015 range. I start dosing with some rid-stop-something -ich product from my LFS. No luck - they both die a day later.

New Ich product that I've used before into the tank now (Kick-Ich) that I've had success with treating my Blue Tang (who doesn't have any spots at this point) to protect the Naso, Foxface, Gobie, and Damsel still in the tank.

No luck - damsel dies (no white spots), gobie dies (no white spots). Still treating the tank but the Naso looks ok (see pictures) but the Foxface and Blue Tang are kinda rough.

NO white spots on the Naso but the Foxface's eyes have become whited over. Blue Tang has a few new spots as of today and now what look like open sores..... I haven't added any new fish in over a year and the ones I've had are all longer term residents - 3+ years.

Please HELP - any advice / suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Jon

P.s I have more pictures if that would help.

 

[dugg]

Judging by the cloudy eyes on the fox i would say you have some sort of bacterial infection going on. Cloudy or bulging eyes are usually bacteria related.

 

[chrisstie]

Was there any event associated with this happening? Adding a new fish or some new live rock by chance?

 

[Jon913D]

THANK YOU FOR THE REPLIES!

THANK YOU FOR THE REPLIES!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14420012#post14420012 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrisstie
Was there any event associated with this happening? Adding a new fish or some new live rock by chance?

No new fish or rock in over a year.

Nothing in particular - 30-40 gallon water changes once a month or so. I dose with a Part A & B (calcium / alkalinity) every other to change try and encourage some coraline growth, but nothing serious.

The water has been a little cool because the filter and storage is in the garage. Tank has been at 75 or so with no problems.

The Blue Tang's eyes aren't cloudy, but he's got these sores now much worse than when I left him this morning. Not Ich looking white spots. He's still eating but not as much - usually a pig.

Naso is eating despite film on eyes and crappy looking side fins.

Foxface not eating just sitting (don't think he can see - not reacting to me anymore).

 

[Jon913D]

Better pics of the Naso - Blue Tang is still hiding behind a rock (cleaner shrimp working him over pretty good)

 

[dugg]

That is deffinately bacterial infection. Is this a new bucket of salt? The temp change could have set it off if not. I would get some tetracycline tabs in there asap.

 

[Jon913D]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14420336#post14420336 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dugg
That is deffinately bacterial infection. Is this a new bucket of salt? The temp change could have set it off if not. I would get some tetracycline tabs in there asap.

Not a new bucket of salt - maybe about 4-5 changes in and this started 2 changes ago - give or take.

I'll pick up the tetracycline tabs tomorrow - anyone "second" or "confirm" this course of treatment?

THANK YOU!

 

[dugg]

Also your salinity is too low. It should be at 1.025 Raise it slowly though. Fish handle lowering fine, but raising salinity should be done over a period of a week or so. You should be doing 10% water changes every week rather than once a month to keep your system more stable. Once a month lets too much build up in between changes and is harder on your fish. The drastic change that is caused by once a month changes causes un nessesary stress.

 

[Jon913D]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14420426#post14420426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dugg
Also your salinity is too low. It should be at 1.025 Raise it slowly though. Fish handle lowering fine, but raising salinity should be done over a period of a week or so. You should be doing 10% water changes every week rather than once a month to keep your system more stable. Once a month lets too much build up in between changes and is harder on your fish. The drastic change that is caused by once a month changes causes un nessesary stress.

Noted - thank you.

But to make sure I don't have any Ich left hanging around I should maintain the current temp and low salin.?

 

[Jon913D]

One other thing - I'm seeing tetracycline online for freshwater applications only? Is it safe or is there a special type for saltwater applications?

 

[chrisstie]

You could try running some melafix/pimafix.. They are good for bacterial/fungual and can be run in your tank safely and as a combination. I've seen them at most of our local stores so you could get and treat ASAP. Its a start for a more general treatmeant until you can find out what exactly it is.

I recommend against anti-ich products because there isn't really a real one that works save for copper and hyposalinity (done properly).

 

[Jon913D]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14420593#post14420593 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrisstie
You could try running some melafix/pimafix.. They are good for bacterial/fungual and can be run in your tank safely and as a combination. I've seen them at most of our local stores so you could get and treat ASAP. Its a start for a more general treatmeant until you can find out what exactly it is.

I recommend against anti-ich products because there isn't really a real one that works save for copper and hyposalinity (done properly).

Chrisstie - thank you. I will try and pick those up tomorrow at aquaria studio.

 

[chrisstie]

Good luck treating your fish. Just follow the directions on the bottle and if you're running a skimmer you may need to turn it off when treating it may go a little nuts. Mine never did when I had to use it but some people I know had that issue.

It's so weird it looks almost like a fin rot on the naso but more so it looks like flukes on his fin. However if you haven't added any fish for so long its highly doubtly thats it. Some kind of bacteria or fungus probably is the case. Unfortunately fish pathology isn't my strong point

Let us know how your treatment goes.

 

[dugg]

The Naso fins turn that color when they are stressed. They are normally black, but mine will turn his side fins to blotchy yellow just from me being in the tank moving rocks around. The cloudy eyes are definately bacterial infection though. It has been years since i have had to treat any bacterial infections, so i'm sure there are better meds then tetracycline out there now, but it is marine safe also. I have used it in reefs before. It turnes the water yellow for a few days, but the skimmer and a few water changes clear it right up. Turn off your skimmer while you treat regardless. No sence in skimming out the meds while they are still working on the fish. Just follow the direstions exactly on what ever you decide to use and don't over dose thinking it will cure it faster if you use more.

Also be ready for a small cycle after the treatment as the meds will kill off your normal bacteria too. Check what ever you use to make sure it is safe for your inverts before treating the tank.

 

[chrisstie]

Oh I wasn't commenting about the color. The ends of the fins seemed a little frayed looking but it could have just been the coloration/picture.

 

[dugg]

Yes, it's just the coloration from what i see. Mine can change his fins from normal to looking like that in just seconds when he gets the least bit stressed. He can even do just one at a time or both. The first time i saw it i thought he had something seriously wrong.

 

[Jon913D]

Update:

I've continued the ich treatment and I also bought Erythromycin at the recommendation of Vihn at Aquaria Studio. He didn't have the tetracyclin, but indiciated the erythromycin was the same if not better (and doesn't make your water all cloudy/red).

Naso seems to have cleared up - eyes are slightly better, fins still look a little rough. I'll have to check some of my old pictures for the coloration.

Blue tang is still hiding in the rocks - shrimp cleaning. Hasn't eaten in two days, so I'm going to try and hand feed him tonight and encourage him to come out.

Foxface looks a little better but skin is a little blotchy and I don't think he can see me anymore. I'm not sure if its an improvement or just different.

I'm doing a 25% change tomorrow and then re-dosing the erythromycin and finishing off the bottle of Kick-Ich (might pick up another and continue to be safe).

Keeping my fingers crossed....

Jon

 

[dugg]

If thier eyes are clearing up, you are on the right path. The fins on the Naso and the blotchy fox are just signs that they are still under a little stress. Just keep up the treatment and they should be fine. The Naso fins should be black when he gets back to good health. Good Luck.

 

[Me No Nemo]

Another thought...although it's hard to tell, possibility of flukes being the culprit. If you can bring me one of the fish, I can see if that's the case and show you how to determine flukes and what you can do. Bacterial infections are often secondary to flukes on fish as are the frayed fins. I'm seeing small white specks on eyes and mouth...definite possibility IMO.

 

[cadillac]

Pimafix works great on killing bacteiral infections