Bacterial or Uromema

[spartanman22]

Wanted some thoughts on a lesion I found on a multibar angel I have in observation. He’s been in an unmedicated observation tank for a week now. He’s a bigger specimen, about 3-3.5” and came in very healthy. He hasn’t eaten anything yet. Was going to move him into the display soon here but noticed this on him today. This was not there yesterday. He’s the only inhabitant of the observation tank right now. No noticeable symptoms. No rapid breathing, lethargy, scratching, flashing, etc. is this a bacterial deal or possibly uronema?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Wanted some thoughts on a lesion I found on a multibar angel I have in observation. He’s been in an unmedicated observation tank for a week now. He’s a bigger specimen, about 3-3.5” and came in very healthy. He hasn’t eaten anything yet. Was going to move him into the display soon here but noticed this on him today. This was not there yesterday. He’s the only inhabitant of the observation tank right now. No noticeable symptoms. No rapid breathing, lethargy, scratching, flashing, etc. is this a bacterial deal or possibly uronema?

This is a sore from an injury and with redness should be treated with Seachem Neoplex. May have stemmed from the rock you have in the tank.
Is tank currently medicated?

 

[spartanman22]

The tank is not currently medicated. Thanks for the insight!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Wanted some thoughts on a lesion I found on a multibar angel I have in observation. He’s been in an unmedicated observation tank for a week now. He’s a bigger specimen, about 3-3.5” and came in very healthy. He hasn’t eaten anything yet. Was going to move him into the display soon here but noticed this on him today. This was not there yesterday. He’s the only inhabitant of the observation tank right now. No noticeable symptoms. No rapid breathing, lethargy, scratching, flashing, etc. is this a bacterial deal or possibly uronema?

Looks exactly like Uronema except for the location. Most Uronema lesions are mid-body. Still, with the rapid onset and no apparent cause of an injury (no tankmate aggression) plus the way the scales seem to be erupting outward, I think that this may well be Uronema.

Despite what you will read, there is no treatment for internal Uronema unless you catch it before the lesion erupts and use an oral anti-protozoal. And then, the treatment is speculative.

You should proceed with an antibiotic treatment in case I’m wrong…..

 

[spartanman22]

Wanted some thoughts on a lesion I found on a multibar angel I have in observation. He’s been in an unmedicated observation tank for a week now. He’s a bigger specimen, about 3-3.5” and came in very healthy. He hasn’t eaten anything yet. Was going to move him into the display soon here but noticed this on him today. This was not there yesterday. He’s the only inhabitant of the observation tank right now. No noticeable symptoms. No rapid breathing, lethargy, scratching, flashing, etc. is this a bacterial deal or possibly uronema?

Looks exactly like Uronema except for the location. Most Uronema lesions are mid-body. Still, with the rapid onset and no apparent cause of an injury (no tankmate aggression) plus the way the scales seem to be erupting outward, I think that this may well be Uronema.

Despite what you will read, there is no treatment for internal Uronema unless you catch it before the lesion erupts and use an oral anti-protozoal. And then, the treatment is speculative.

You should proceed with an antibiotic treatment in case I’m wrong…..

I thought it looked like uronema but seemed like an unusual spot for it so was unsure.

Needless to say don’t put him in the display! And going to have to scratch the observation tank entirely then?

 

[spartanman22]

So shoulda checked on him before replying. All the redness is 100% gone. It’s just white and puffy this morning. So maybe just an abrasion with a mild bacterial infection? I’m not super familiar with uronema but I thought the redness stuck around?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So shoulda checked on him before replying. All the redness is 100% gone. It’s just white and puffy this morning. So maybe just an abrasion with a mild bacterial infection? I’m not super familiar with uronema but I thought the redness stuck around?

Correct - I’ve never seen a Uronema lesion turn white, they just get deeper and more red, then the fish becomes lethargic and begins breathing fast (since this is a systemic infection).

Now - the trick is how to get the fish eating. I’ve had terrible sucess with these, so I’ll defer to others…..

 

[spartanman22]

So shoulda checked on him before replying. All the redness is 100% gone. It’s just white and puffy this morning. So maybe just an abrasion with a mild bacterial infection? I’m not super familiar with uronema but I thought the redness stuck around?

Correct - I’ve never seen a Uronema lesion turn white, they just get deeper and more red, then the fish becomes lethargic and begins breathing fast (since this is a systemic infection).

Now - the trick is how to get the fish eating. I’ve had terrible sucess with these, so I’ll defer to others…..

I have too even with captive bred ones. My plan was to get him to the DT so he can graze. So far he’s had no interest in live clams, frozen clams, live and frozen bloodworms, various mysis and brine brands, live copepods, LRS, TDO and spectrum pellets, nori, Masstick, angel formula.

Running out of ideas! But the lesion made me hesitate on moving to the DT.

 

[spartanman22]

It looks better but still a little red. I’m not an expert but this looks more like an injury vs uronema. All the photos I see of uronema looks like the redness kind of spills out/bleeds and this location seems really odd for uronema.

He otherwise seems healthy. No elevated breathing, lethargy or symptoms. I did just give him a 90 minute Reef Rally Pro bath just to get him some antibiotics.

 

[spartanman22]

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Those raised scales really bother me, that's how Uronema erupts through the skin. The lesion being on the caudal peduncle, and not above any vital organs may slow down morbidity here, but I still cannot rule it out.

The fish still isn't eating though?

 

[spartanman22]

Those raised scales really bother me, that's how Uronema erupts through the skin. The lesion being on the caudal peduncle, and not above any vital organs may slow down morbidity here, but I still cannot rule it out.

The fish still isn't eating though?

Not eating but he hasn’t eaten since I got him in last week.

 

[winxp_man]

As Jay stated mid body, and I have seen cases a couple mm behind the gill plate, and only gets more red as time passes. Fish will stop eating and within a week tops, dead. Your fish is still eating and swimming fine. This is a hit from within the tank it’s in.

As for RRP a 90 min bath is set with 3ml per gallon. Neoplex as stated above of Kanaplex. Kana is a bit stronger. And clean water if it’s in a QT. Dirty water will keep the wound going.


You don’t have a microscope do you?

 

[spartanman22]

Those raised scales really bother me, that's how Uronema erupts through the skin. The lesion being on the caudal peduncle, and not above any vital organs may slow down morbidity here, but I still cannot rule it out.

The fish still isn't eating though?

What’re your suggestions for path forward? I’ve never dealt with uronema (knowingly) before.

My plan was to move him to the display since he isn’t eating, but if this is potentially uronema I don’t want to introduce that into the DT.