Anthias in QT - round 2

[Bues0022]

Ammonia is very low. I did my tank transfer last night, so they are only 12 hours in this water. I have a small powerhead with 80 gph in there, and an air stone too.

I’m not great at identifying bugs, but it’s definitely not quite right. I’ve been gone all day so when I get home in a little while I’ll see what it looks like.

Formalin is very hard to find. I just ordered some RRR that will arrive on Saturday. I hope that’s soon enough. The fish all just had a H2O2 bath yesterday, so can I do a FW or MB bath tonight?

 

[Bues0022]

Just got home. Ammonia badge is registering zero. 3/4 anthias look fine. The one is looking worse. Fuzz developing on the top of the dorsal fin, tail fin is looking ragged also. Staying still on bottom breathing heavy.

 

[Integrity]

Honestly just going off the picture doesn't look too bad imo. When's the rrr get there? I have an anthias that spends a good amount of the day sitting on the sand in the front of the tank, fairly normal behavior. It could just be some aggression but the bath wouldn't hurt imo

 

[Bues0022]

Honestly just going off the picture doesn't look too bad imo. When's the rrr get there? I have an anthias that spends a good amount of the day sitting on the sand in the front of the tank, fairly normal behavior. It could just be some aggression but the bath wouldn't hurt imo

It doesn’t look bad, but the breathing and zero food response has me worried. I could easily use a net and push it for this short video attached. There is definitely a change. Rrr gets here Saturday.

 

[Integrity]

If you don't think it would stress her too much you could give a fresh water dip

 

[Bues0022]

Checked a few hours later on her, remember that spot I thought was just a missing scale? It’s looking worse… she’s also swimming poorly, running into the sides of the tank and the PVC. I can’t win!

 

[Integrity]

@Humblefish @Dierks @Big G. You guys available to take a look at this girl?

If it were me I'd try a freshwater dip for 5mins and see if any flukes fall off then place her in a clean qt with antibiotics in case it's bacterial

 

[Big G]

I've seen something similar to this before. True fungal diseases are kinda rare in saltwater fish. But, stress of a small QT and less than pristine water quality conditions can be very hard on fish like Lyretails that have incredibly fast metabolisms. That being said, treating the QT with Sulfaplex + Neoplex covers both gram positive & negative bacterial infections and fungus. Do not use with any copper compounds with these medications.

These fast metabolism fish can benefit from extra care to reduce stress: lowered lighting, cover the back and end walls of the tank, it creates a kinda cave-like atmosphere; extra O2 from a powerhead aimed up at the surface to actively ripple the water; high quality foods mixed with vitamins (Selcon, VitaChem, etc.) + beta glucan to support their immune systems.

 

[Bues0022]

I’ve been worried about water quality. I feed them 3x per day plus a little extra new hatched baby brine shrimp. That’s why I’ve been doing about a 40% water change daily (I missed two days though). I can darken the tank easy enough. I’ll put another powerhead in the tank too. My homemade food already has vitamins in it, but I’ll make some fresh tomorrow to have a new batch just for them. I’ve never used beta glucan, but I’ll search for this and add it also.

I’ll call my LFS in the morning for some meds. I don’t have either one you mentioned yet.
Thanks for helping me try to save these girls!

 

[Bues0022]

I did the 5 min FW dip last night before bed. This morning here’s the status. Breathing heavy, laying on side, fins even more tattered. Ugh. I have meetings all morning so it’ll be close to 1pm by the time I can get to my LFS and pray they’ve got the meds I need.

 

[Bues0022]

talked to my LFS. No sulfaplex or neoplex. They have RRR, erythromycin, general cure, cloraquin phosphate, reef safe medic, hydroplex, and selcon

edit: lfs2 has them both. Running out now. But I fear the first gal is a lost cause. Still going to treat so the others stay healthy.

 

[Integrity]

talked to my LFS. No sulfaplex or neoplex. They have RRR, erythromycin, general cure, cloraquin phosphate, reef safe medic, hydroplex, and selcon

edit: lfs2 has them both. Running out now. But I fear the first gal is a lost cause. Still going to treat so the others stay healthy.

Good luck, you are doing everything you can. Sometimes these things are just out of our hands by the time we are able to intervene unfortunately

 

[Bues0022]

Holy smokes! I ran out to grab meds and when I came back the fish was dead. I’m going to do my daily water changes then begin dosing the meds. The other three may have what the first one had.

 

[Integrity]

Aw dang I'm sorry! She prolly came in with something fairly advanced. Just the fact the other anthias are doing so well means your doing a great job.

 

[Vincelovesfish]

I've seen something similar to this before. True fungal diseases are kinda rare in saltwater fish. But, stress of a small QT and less than pristine water quality conditions can be very hard on fish like Lyretails that have incredibly fast metabolisms. That being said, treating the QT with Sulfaplex + Neoplex covers both gram positive & negative bacterial infections and fungus. Do not use with any copper compounds with these medications.

These fast metabolism fish can benefit from extra care to reduce stress: lowered lighting, cover the back and end walls of the tank, it creates a kinda cave-like atmosphere; extra O2 from a powerhead aimed up at the surface to actively ripple the water; high quality foods mixed with vitamins (Selcon, VitaChem, etc.) + beta glucan to support their immune systems.

I agree to dose with sulfa and neo. I'm not really convinced its brook

@Bues0022 do you have access to a microscope to be able to perform a skin scrape or gill clipping?

 

[Bues0022]

I do not have access to a microscope at this time.

I’m heating up my saltwater right now to do a little water change then I’ll begin dosing the meds.

I was talking with a buddy of mine today who used to breed a lot of clownfish who has also had more than his share of brook issues with new broodstock. He thought that because I’ve done 2x full tank transfers in the last 7 days, and 5 50% water changes on non-swap days, the likelihood of the brook load coming up to kill this gal so quickly is a lower probability than a bacterial gill infection - especially since this gal died about 16 hours after the last tank swap.

 

[Bues0022]

I started sulfa and neo yesterday, and today was water change day. I’m thinking of half-dose on meds - reasons below.

I couldn’t find beta glucan local, so it comes tomorrow from Amazon. I’m putting selcon in their food, but with the meds their appetite has tanked. Maybe half meds won’t impact appetite as much? The water is clean so no meds are in there. Wait until morning to dose meds?

The remaining three are swimming less and are breathing more rapidly today. I don’t know if it’s due to the meds, dips, or tank transfer. Argh. Im still feeding 3-4 times per day and pour some fresh hatched brine shrimp and toss some white worms in there too hoping they eat something.

 

[Integrity]

How are you testing ammonia again? These fish aren't showing signs of disease correct?

kind of worried all the transferring is being hard on these guys. How many more transfers do you have?

 

[Bues0022]

I’m testing with an API test kit for ammonia. With all my water changes and tank swaps, it’s always stayed quite low.

I’ve also wondered if all the transfers have been rough. I have one more left according to the protocol. Of the remaining three, two seem to be swimming around ok this morning. One is breathing heavier and lounging on the bottom. That’s the one with popeye.

 

[Bues0022]

Just tested ammonia - it’s between .25 and .5 on the api color chart.