What's wrong with my Flame Angel? :(

[SSpiro]

Not the best pics.. I kept them somewhat large so you can see. He moves fast, so hard to get a stable picture.




Over the course of the last 7 days or so, he's been developing a white mouth, slowly. Today it looks the worst that its ever looked.

Also his first dorsal is white.

Is this a fungus? Parasite?

Parameters are stable..
Salinity: 1.025 (refract)
Temp: 80-81F
pH: 8.2
Nitrate: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Ca: 440ppm
Alk: 12dKh
Ammonia: < 0.05

He's eating fine, and diet consists of brine, mysis, oraglo pellets, and some flake. He hasn't really taken to green marine algae yet, but we're still trying.

Help!

 

[paulamrein]

Maybe something bacterial, but I'm not too sure, the only reason I am posting is that ammonia should be completely undetectable. It may be the test kit though, I would give it another test, and depending on how much LR you have you should see the nitrite and nitrate numbers start to rise, that's why I'm thinking it may be the test kit.

 

[SSpiro]

Why would Nitrates and Nitrites rise? It's a 9 week old tank?

Also need to add that he has a cloudy eye now, too.

 

[paulamrein]

Nitrites and nitrates are a byproduct of the de-nitrification cycle, the bacteria takes the ammonia than turns it into nitrite, then more bacteria takes the nitrites and turn them into nitrate. Each progressively gets less harmful for the fish. Fish produce ammonia through their osmotic regulation, a skimmer won't take this ammonia out that is why we use live rock. A skimmer only takes out nutrients before it decomposes and turns to ammonia. So, regardless of the age of the tank, it will always be changing the ammonia into nitrite and nitrates. Pretty soon there will always be some sort of nitrates into your system that is why water changes are required.

 

[SSpiro]

OH OK, I follow. I thought you were thinking it was an un-cycled tank. I wasn't following.

Just did a water change on Sunday. I'll re-test tonight for sure.

 

[Bmgrocks]

Unnfortunately, I've had a Few Flames who also had the same thing.. I did however end up losing them... I had heard that the Cloudy, or Pop eye, are caused by too many nitrates, and or stress, and are easily remedied through the use of Mela or Pimafix..

however the white mouth, commonly known as cotton mouth is if i recall correctly a fungal infection... I had tried various medicines, but it had spread to the body, and I had lost the fish in a few days...

I wish you the best of luck.....