Hey everyone, first post here! I just set up my saltwater tank, got it cycled and added my first and only fish, a firefish goby. My plan with the tank was to add the first fish directly and then set up a QT for all the fish afterwards (realizing that was a poor choice). I got the firefish and he got right to business at being sick. He's been in the tank for about 10 days now and has acted completely normal up until 2 days ago. The only definite symptom is that several times an hour he will flash along the substrate, and as of today he's started flashing along the rocks as well. To my knowledge that indicates either early ich or flukes, or some internal parasite, although there's no stringy white poop so far. He eats frozen mysis readily and nips at pellets but often spits them out.
I'm wondering if there's anyway to determine if it's flukes or ich? He looks completely healthy on the outside so far, no white specks or other abnormal signs so I think whatever it is is early. I'm setting up a small 6 gallon QT tank but at the moment I have to wait to get more saltwater mixed. I'm looking into doing a FW dip and then possibly hybrid tank transfer with peroxide dips. I'm in Canada so medications like prazi and general cure seem to be unavailable. Any suggestions for what to do for him? Medications or otherwise? Or ways to better diagnose? If I pull him into QT do I need to leave the tank without fish for a while?
Some tank facts
Size: 32 gallon
Salinity: 1.024
Temperature: 79°F
Alkalinity: 11 dkh
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0
Phosphate: ~0
Nitrate: ~25 ppm (been slowly creeping up)
Stock
Red firefish goby
1 blue legged hermit
1 trochus snail
Thanks for any help! I'm not giving up 2 weeks into the hobby, but man it seems unforgiving!
I'm wondering if there's anyway to determine if it's flukes or ich? He looks completely healthy on the outside so far, no white specks or other abnormal signs so I think whatever it is is early. I'm setting up a small 6 gallon QT tank but at the moment I have to wait to get more saltwater mixed. I'm looking into doing a FW dip and then possibly hybrid tank transfer with peroxide dips. I'm in Canada so medications like prazi and general cure seem to be unavailable. Any suggestions for what to do for him? Medications or otherwise? Or ways to better diagnose? If I pull him into QT do I need to leave the tank without fish for a while?
Some tank facts
Size: 32 gallon
Salinity: 1.024
Temperature: 79°F
Alkalinity: 11 dkh
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0
Phosphate: ~0
Nitrate: ~25 ppm (been slowly creeping up)
Stock
Red firefish goby
1 blue legged hermit
1 trochus snail
Thanks for any help! I'm not giving up 2 weeks into the hobby, but man it seems unforgiving!